Meet the four groups

The idea

Microorganisms include protozoa, algae, fungi and bacteria: algae are green due to chlorophyll, fungi such as moulds are branched filaments without chlorophyll, and bacteria are spherical, comma, spiral or rod-shaped.

A drop of pond water

Under a microscope, a drop of pond water and a pinch of soil in water show many different microorganisms.

How many kinds of microorganism do you think we will find?

• Just one kind
• Four main groups
• None

Find them on the slide

Read each clue and tap the microorganism.

Four groups

Microorganisms include protozoa, algae, fungi and bacteria. Algae are green due to chlorophyll. Fungi such as moulds are branched filaments without chlorophyll. Bacteria are spherical, comma, spiral or rod-shaped.

• Group | How to recognise it
• Protozoa | Single cell, such as Amoeba and Paramecium
• Algae | Green, because of chlorophyll
• Fungi (moulds) | Branched filaments, no chlorophyll
• Bacteria | Spherical, comma, spiral or rod-shaped

Notes

Microorganisms: protozoa, algae (green, chlorophyll), fungi (branched filaments, no chlorophyll) and bacteria (spherical, comma, spiral, rod).

Check yourself

Which group of microorganisms is green because of chlorophyll?

A mould looks like branched filaments. What does it lack?

Which list gives the four shapes of bacteria?

• Algae — correct. Yes. Algae are green because of chlorophyll.
• Fungi. Fungi do not have chlorophyll.
• Bacteria. Bacteria are spherical, comma, spiral or rod-shaped. They are not green because of chlorophyll.
• Chlorophyll — correct. Yes. Fungi such as moulds have no chlorophyll.
• Cells. Moulds are made of cells too.
• Branches. Their branched filaments are what we see.
• Spherical, comma, spiral, rod — correct. Yes. These are the shapes the book names.
• Green, branched, hairy, flat. Those are not the shapes of bacteria. Think of round, curved, twisted and straight.
• Only round. Bacteria have four shapes.