Georgia S5L4.a
The Standard
Construct an argument using scientific evidence to support a claim that some microorganisms are beneficial.
Georgia Standards of Excellence for Science · Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how microorganisms benefit or harm larger organisms.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students make a clear claim about how a microorganism helps another organism. They select observations, data, or facts as evidence. They explain how that evidence supports the claim.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can name a helpful microorganism and describe its benefit. The student uses relevant evidence, such as yeast producing gas in bread dough. The reasoning clearly connects the evidence to the claim.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think all microorganisms cause disease. They may confuse evidence with opinions or repeat their claim as evidence. They may name a benefit without explaining how the microorganism causes it.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Claim that yeast is useful to people, give one piece of evidence, and explain how that evidence supports your claim.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Mix yeast, warm water, and sugar in one bottle, omit yeast in another, then compare balloon inflation and connect the gas to breadmaking.
Write a claim about helpful microbes using two evidence cards, then explain how each fact supports the claim.
Play Evidence Match by pairing microbe cards with benefit cards, then reject one unrelated evidence card for each claim.
Examine yogurt and bread labels, identify where microbes were used, and describe the benefit they provide to people.
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Printable S5L4.a Worksheet
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Related Standards
- S5L4
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how microorganisms benefit or harm larger organisms.
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