The Magic school bus Homework

The magic school bus and the giant germ 20/01/2010

Chapter 1
1. Microbes are small. According to Ms. Frizzle, how many microbes are you stepping on with each foot when you walk across the ground.
According to Ms. Frizzle, you step on billions of microbes.
2. Not all microbes are germs. Explain the difference.
Some microbes can make us sick, some microbes are bad for us and some are good.
3. List one example of a viral germ.
An example of a viral germ is chicken pox
4. List one example of a bacterial germ.
An example of a bacterial germ is strep throat.

Chapter 2
1. There are many beneficial types of microbes. List three types of beneficial microbes and how they are useful to man.
Some beneficial microbes are algae, fungi, and bacteria. Some microbes are the yeast that makes the bread rise, make medicines, and even clean nuclear waste. Microscopic algae’s produce the oxygen we breathe. Fungi’s are used to make cheese. And some bacteria’s are used to make yogurt.
2. Microbes can be made up of one or more cells. Why is it that you can only identify a “forest” of bread mold when each “tree” cannot be seen?
You can see a “forest” and not a “tree” because, only when there’s a lot of bacteria you can see it with the naked eye.
3. List two ways you can slow down the development of microbes on your food.
You can slow down the development of microbes in your food by either putting food in a hot or cold climate.

Chapter 3
1. Compost (food scraps, leaves, etc.) is broken down by bacteria and fungi into a beneficial soil material called humus. What environmental conditions encourage the development of bacterial and fungal microbes?
The development of bacterial and fungal microbes are encouraged from moist of warm environments
2. Which gas and form of energy is released when compost is broken down by microbes?
Carbon dioxide gas and energy is released when compost is broken down by microbes
3. Ms. Frizzle’s students observed ball, spore, and spiral shaped microbes floating in the air. These were all examples of which type of microbe?
The three were all examples of fungi bacteria or enzymes?
4. Explain why some types of bacteria and fungi are used as antibiotics so people can get well.
Some microbes eat other microbes of different kind that make plants and animals sick. Because antibiotics are made from microbes (bacteria and fungi), they kill bacteria that cause diseases to prevent people from getting sick or to make people better.
5. Bacteria and fungi break their food down by using chemicals called enzymes. How does a protozoan consume its food?
A protozoan consumes its food by swallowing it, not having to break it down.

Chapter 4
1. Why is it a good idea to cover food that might be exposed to flies?
The reason why it’s a good idea to cover food that might be exposed to flies is because flies pick up a lot of microbes including ones that make us sick.
2. Describe the cold virus particles that jimmy sneezed out.
They were a lot smaller than other microbes, and look like tiny ping pong balls with spikes all around them, billions came out from jimmy’s mouth.

Chapter 5
1. Bacteria and viruses are both small. Compare the size of each of the two types of microbes.
Viruses can be 20 – 100 times smaller than bacteria
2. What is the one purpose of all viruses?
The one purpose of all viruses is to make more of their selves (to do that they have to invade living cells)
3. Why do viruses make people sick?
Viruses make people sick because when they invade cells to reproduce they damage it, which makes living things sick
4. List three barriers the human body has to protect itself from entry by viruses
• Skin protects germs from getting in.
• Eyelashes, tears, and nasal hairs also protect germs from getting in
• Saliva and mucus make surfaces slippery, which makes it hard for bad microbes to do damage
5. Why when you are tired are you more vulnerable to germs?
Because when you are tired, your cells in your body are also tired, so it doesn’t protect your body too well sometimes.

Chapter 6
1. Why should a person use soap when hand-washing?
A person should uses soap when hand-washing because soap makes everything slippery, so it makes bad microbes unable to stick, which makes them unable to cause any harm
2. List Arnold’s how-to hand-wash guide rules
• Use plenty of soap and warm water
• Wash the palms, fingers, wrists and the back of the hands. Don’t forget to scrub under the fingernails!
• Wash for at least 10-15 seconds. That’s enough times to wash away microbes.
• Rinse!
• Dry your hands on your own towel or on a clean paper towel
3. According to Ms. Frizzle, you should wash your hands before you do the following two things.
You should wash your hand before you:
• Prepare or eat food
• Treat a cut or take care of someone who is sick
4. According to Ms. Frizzle, you should wash your hands after you do the following six things.
You should wash your hands after you:
• Go to the bathroom
• Handle raw meat
• Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze
• Handle garbage
• Are around someone who is sick
• Play with or touch a pet

Chapter 7
1. Yeast, a type of fungus, produces enzymes that break down the natural sugars in bread dough so that it can use it for energy. What gas is released in the process that causes the bread to rise?
The gas carbon dioxide is released in the process that causes the bread to rise
2. List three examples, other than for bread making, where microbial enzymes are useful.
Microbial enzymes are useful because they make:
• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Soy sauce
• Paper
• Laundry detergent
• Bubble gum
• And the stonewashed look on blue jeans
3. Why is a nutritious diet important for good health?
A nutritious diet is important for good health because they help you stay germ free, because good foods give your body energy to fight off bad microbes.
Chapter 8
1. List two types of germs that are attacked by white blood cells.
• Bacteria
• Viruses
2. List two ways that the body changes to fight infection germs.
• Our bodies pump extra blood to the spot, so that more white blood cells come to fight them off
• And our body temperature gets hot, because white blood cells can work faster in hotter temperature
3. What type of germs are antibiotics designed to fight?
(couldn't find)

4. How do white blood cells mark germs for destruction?
White blood cells mark germs for destruction by spraying a cloud of tiny white particles
5. How do antibodies help fight future disease-causing germs?
They keep track of the types of microbes that cause diseases they come across int eh body.
6. Explain how vaccines work against viruses.
Vaccines work against viruses by:
• Weakened germs put into body (those similar to the ones that make us sick although they are harmless)
• Bodies work by itself, to get rid of disease (white blood cells)
• When real bad ones come along, body can kill them off before they make us sick

Chapter 9
1. What did the magic school bus students do before they ate pizza at Paolo’s pizza restaurant?
The magic school bus students stopped to wash their hands with soap before they ate.