Students will investigate how much bacteria surrounds them in their daily lives, even though they cannot see it with the naked eye.  Students will conduct an experiment to obtain samples from a classroom surface of their choice, both before the surface is cleaned and afterwards.  Students will incubate the petri dishes under a heat lamp for a week, and then compare the pre-washed sample with the post-washed sample.  Students will try to identify the type of bacteria by using internet or paper bacterial guides, and to find out if their bacteria is helpful, harmful, or benign.  Also, students will be reminded of the importance of frequent hand washing, as well as how infections are spread when proper hygiene is not used.

In this video segment adapted from A Science Odyssey, follow two scientists and their Nobel Prize-winning efforts to cure bacterial infections using penicillin.