Germs: Health Education/Science for Early Years

Dr Katie Laird and Dr Sarah Younie | View as single page | Feedback/Impact

What are microorganisms?

Microorganisms are microscopic organisms that can take the form of a bacteria, virus or fungi, they are found everywhere and can be useful in cheese, bread, insulin and vaccine production. However, it is the pathogenic bacteria (faecal coliforms such as Escherichia coli) that cause stomach aches, and viruses (Rhinoviruses and Influenza) that cause coughs and colds, that should be the focus of early years children's learning. Hence, children need to be taught preventative measures, such as hand washing and covering their mouths and noses when they cough and sneeze, as well as understanding the relationship between microorganisms and disease.