TEACHER’S G UIDE
Follow-up Discussion
R e s e a rch indicates that students will retain their previous misconceptions
about a topic, in pre fe rence to new information, until they active ly re c o gnize and correct their own errors.T h e re fo re, it is important to have yo u r
students re - examine the facts/beliefs they put on their “ E ve rything We
Think We Know About...” list. It might also be helpful to review the list by
m a rking each entry with a “+” or “-” to show which facts we re correct and
which were incorrect.
Thought provoking discussions provide a good way to assess the ove rall
depth of student unders t a n d i n g .The fo l l owing are some suggested discussion topics.
• Explain why Kingdom Protista is known as the “leftover kingdom.”
• Discuss the positive and negative contributions of protists to life on
Earth.
Follow-up Activities
• Encourage students to use microscopes to examine and identify samples of
protists, l i ke the ameba, p a ramecium or euglena. Samples of protists can be
obtained from science supply houses and even local ponds. Have students
p ractice drawing accurate illustrations of these simple organisms while
observing them under the microscope, and describing in wo rds what they
h ave observe d .
• Relating the difficulty scientists have had in justifying protists as a separate
kingdom, have each student bring in seve ral objects to sch o o l , combining
them into one large pile (each object should be nu m b e red for easy identification). C h a l l e n ge groups of students to create a cl a s s i fication system
that names and defines seve ral basic catego ries, and justifies the placement of each object into a specific category. Have groups compare and
contrast their cl a s s i fication systems.
• Students should select a member of the Kingdom Protista and conduct
re s e a rch into its appearance, move m e n t , method of obtaining food and
other ch a racteristics. Students should then pair up and create a Venn
diagram that compares the two protists.
• R e s e a rch the detrimental effect protists have had and continue to have
on human beings. Specifically study the catastrophic effect protists had in
I reland in the 19th century. Explain what happened to the Irish potato
c ro p . Could it happen again? Also, s t u dy the pro blem of malaria in subS a h a ran Africa. G i ve reasons why malaria continues to harm so many in
this particular region.
TEACHER’S GUI DE
Suggested Internet Resources
Periodically, Internet Resources are updated on our web site at
www.LibraryVideo.com
• megasun.bch.umontreal.ca/protists/gallery.html
A picture gallery of protists is offered on this Web site, in addition to details
about these interesting microorganisms.
• www.kent.wednet.edu/staff/kloschky/Protists%20Folder/
protists.html
This Web site presents descriptions and images of protists, in addition to
providing activities for students.
• commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/zoo/index.html
The “Microbe Zoo” is an excellent interactive site for middle-schoolers,
developed with the input of scientists from Michigan State University.
Teacher resources and activities about protists are included.
• www.microbe.org/microbes/protists1.asp
The American Society for Microbiology hosts “Stalking the Mysterious
Microbe,” a site for elementary students interested in learning more about
microorganisms including protists.
Suggested Print Resources
• Brady, Susan and Carolyn Willard. Microscopic Explorations. GEMS,
Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, CA; 1998.
• Pascoe, Elaine. Slime Molds and Fungi. Blackbirch Press,Woodbridge, CT;
1999.
• Silverstein,Alvin,Virginia Silverstein and Robert Silverstein. Monerans and
Protists. Twenty-First Century Books, New York, NY; 1996.
TEACHER’S GUIDE CONSULTANT
Conrad M. Follmer
25 years as a K–5 Science & Math Coordinator for a Pennsylvania public
school system, currently an independent consultant to elementary schools.
TITLES
• BACTERIA
• FUNGI
Teacher’s Guides Included
and Available Online at:
7/05
5
TEACHER’S G UIDE
• PROTISTS
• VIRUSES
800-843-3620
Teacher’s Guide and Program Copyright 2000 by Schlessinger Media,
a division of Library Video Company
P.O. Box 580, Wynnewood, PA 19096 • 800-843-3620
Executive Producers: Andrew Schlessinger & Tracy Mitchell
Programs produced and directed by Stone House Productions, LLC
All rights reserved
N6638
V6268
Protists
Grades 5–8
S
tudents in grade 5–8 classrooms possess a wide range of
b a ck ground know l e d ge . Student response to this video
program is sure to be va ried, so the teachers at these grades
need all the help they can get! This guide has been designed
to help the 5–8 science teacher by providing a brief synopsis of the pro gra m , p rev i ewing and fo l l ow-up questions,
activities, vo c ab u l a ry and additional resources.
Before Viewing: E x t e n s i ve re s e a rch tells how important
it is for the teacher to discover what the students know —
or think they know — about a topic, befo re actually starting a new unit.Therefo re , after prompting discussion with
the pre - v i ewing questions, lead your class to create an
“Everything We Think We Know About…” list.You may also
wish to preview key vo c abulary wo rd s , and have students
raise additional questions they hope will be answered.
After Viewing: Have your students share video excerpts
that fascinated or surprised them, then challenge your students to prove or disprove the accuracy of the facts they
put on their “ E ve rything We Think We Know About…” list.
Discuss what else they learned and use the fo l l ow-up questions and activities to inspire further discussion. E n c o u rage
students to re s e a rch the topic further with the Internet and
reading re s o u rces provided.
Program Summary
protists — A group of mostly single-celled simple organisms that are not
protozoa — (Gre e k :“ fi rst animal”) Heterotrophic, single-celled pro t i s t s .
We are giants in a world filled with small wonders.All around us — in the air,
in our drinking water and in our ve ry own bodies — are living things called
simple org a n i s m s . Among simple org a n i s m s , the group scientists call pro t i s t s
a re the most dive rse. Some of the organisms in Kingdom Protista re s e m bl e
plants, others re s e m ble animals and still others have characteristics similar to
fungi.
Some protists are stri c t ly autotrophs — organisms that make their own food
t h rough photosynthesis, like plants. Howeve r, unlike plants, p rotists do not
h ave stems, l e aves or roots. G reen algae are mostly microscopic, single-celled
protists that live in water and moist soil. Some types, like spirogyra, form trailing filaments from many cells that join toge t h e r. B rown algae, most of which
l i ve in cool ocean wa t e rs, come in single-celled varieties, but also fo rm the
h u ge , dense kelp forests in the Pacific Ocean. Some species are a common
i n gredient in food, p a rt i c u l a r ly in ice cream. Red algae usually thri ve in wa rm
ocean wa t e rs where they grow mu ch deeper than other plants or plant-like
p ro t i s t s . Red algae can also be used as a food source and are often used in
making sushi.Another variety of autotrophic protist is the diatom.These were
the fi rst organisms on Earth to develop a hard, g l a s s - l i ke shell. Nearly 20% of
Earth’s oxygen is produced by diatoms. After they die, their fossils form
diatomaceous earth, which is rougher than sandpaper and used as an abrasive.
The shells of diatoms can even be found in toothpaste. Another type of
autotrophic protist is the dinof l agellate.These tiny marine protists have fl age l l a , w h i ch are whip-like projections that help them move aro u n d . Certain
species of these organisms cause what is called a “ red tide” that can destroy
marine life and sicken people.
Some protists cannot make their own food but must get it from their wa t e ry
env i ro n m e n t s . Long believed to be the first animals on Earth, protozoa
(“proto” meaning “first,” and “zoa” meaning “animal”) are all single-celled organisms with nuclei.There are thousands of different species. Ciliates utilize hairlike projections called cilia to move around in their hunt for fo o d . The
paramecium, a ciliate, is one of the most complex single-celled organisms, able
to sense obstructions in its path. Some protists cause disease, l i ke plasmodium, the organism found to carry potentially fatal malaria.
The most baffling protists are the ones that share ch a ra c t e ris tics with fungi.
They are considered to be decomposers, like fungi, and many reproduce with
spores, just like fungi.These organisms appear to have little in common with
other protists. Some have sturdy cell walls and do not move easily. Others, like
slime molds, a re able to move around and unite thousands of single cells to
form one multi-nucleated slimy blob.
Overall, the organisms in the Kingdom Protista are simply amazing simple
organisms!
plants, animals or fungi. All protist cells have at least one nu cleus and a cell
membrane.Almost all protists in the Kingdom Protista live in wet places. Even
though many resemble plants, others resemble animals and still others resemble fungi.
Protozoa are single-celled protists, once thought to be the first real animals.
Ameba, paramecium and euglena are examples of animal-like protozoa.
Vocabulary
The following wo rds are included for teacher re fe rence or for use with students.They are listed in the order in which they appear in the video.
simple organisms — The smallest and simplest of all living things, some of
which can be seen only by microscope. Bacteria, protists, fungi and viruses are
examples of simple organisms.
(Continued)
2
nucleus (plural: nuclei) — A membrane-bound stru c t u re within the cell
flagella — Small whip-like extensions that help some bacteria and protists
to move around.
ciliates — Hetero t rophic protists that are cove red with tiny hairs called
that contains the genetic information needed to grow and divide.
cilia that they use to move.
kingdom — The highest grouping that scientists use to try to classify living
binary fission — A method of asexual reproduction in which an individ-
things. Protists belong to Kingdom Protista.
ual cell replicates its genetic information, then splits itself into two identical cells.
bacteria (singular: bacterium) — Simple, single-celled microorganisms
without nu cl e i .The most nu m e rous of all org a n i s m s , b a c t e ria are grouped in
the Kingdom Monera. Bacteria are the most ancient form of life on Earth.
photosynthesis — The process through which sunlight is trapped by
chlorophyll contained in the chloroplasts of plants and plant-like protists, and
ch e m i c a l ly combined with water and carbon dioxide to produce sugars and
oxygen.
slime mold — A hetero t rophic, fungus-like protist that has a mu l t i nu cleated stage and a micro s c o p i c , single-celled stage. Like fungi, slime
molds reproduce with spores and dissolve their food before they eat it.
Pre-viewing Discussion
symbiosis — A relationship between two species living closely together.
autotrophs — Organisms like plants, algae and diatoms that make their own
Befo re students ge n e rate their list of “ E ve r ything We Think We Know
About...” for this topic, stimulate and focus their thinking by raising these
questions so that their list will better reflect the key ideas in this show:
food through photosynthesis.
• Why do scientists put living things into separate groups?
heterotrophs — Organisms like animals, f u n gi and protozoa that must ge t
• What are some differences between plants and animals?
food from an outside source.
chlorophyll — The green pigment found in ch l o roplasts that absorbs sunlight used in the first step of photosynthesis.
chloroplast — The specialized stru c t u re found in the cells of autotro p h s
where photosynthesis takes place.
green algae — Au t o t rophic protists that are mostly single-celled and microscopic, l i ke vo l vox . Some, l i ke spiro gy ra , have many cells, joined end-to-end.
Most live in water or in damp soil.
• Are there organisms alive that are not plants or animals?
• What is a microorganism? How do we know that microscopic
organisms exist?
After the class has completed their “ E ve rything We Think We Know
About...” list, ask them what other questions they have that they hope will
be answe red during this pro gra m . H ave students listen cl o s e ly to learn if
everything on their class list is accurate and to hear if any of their own
questions are answered.
brown algae — Au t o t rophic protists that are mostly multi-celled. Some, l i ke
kelp, are the giants of the protist world and are edible. Most live in cool ocean
water.
red algae — Au t o t rophic protists that are found in wa rm ocean water and
Focus Questions
1.What are believed to have been the first living organisms on Earth?
can grow at greater ocean depths than green algae. Many are cultivated as
food, like nori, which is used to wrap sushi.
2.What are protists?
diatoms — Au t o t rophic protists that are re s p o n s i ble for nearly 20% of the
4. Explain the terms autotrophic and heterotrophic.
world’s photosynthesis. Diatoms were the first organisms on Earth to develop
hard shells.After they die, diatoms are used as ab ra s i ves in products such as
toothpaste.
5. Compare and contrast green, brown and red algae.
dinoflagellate — Ocean-dwe l l i n g , free-swimming algae with two fl agella fo r
move m e n t . Many form parasitic relationships with shellfish and other sea creatures. Dinofl agellates are also the cause of red tides, w h i ch can kill fish.
(Continued)
3
3.What is a symbiotic relationship?
6.What makes diatoms so unique in appearance?
7.What is a red tide?
8. Name a few common protozoa.Why are they considered to be
heterotrophs?
9.What makes the euglena different from the ameba and the volvox?
10.Why are slime molds considered by some to be the most unusual
members of Kingdom Protista?
4