Growing Bacteria For Science Fairs
Testing for bacteria (germs) can be a great idea for a science fair experiment since there are so many possibilities for science questions, and because carrying out the experiment is pretty easy using widely available bacteria growing kits. Besides, who doesn’t like checking out bacteria and fungus?
All good science experiments start with a question – this is what you want to find out by experimenting. Here are a few example questions to get you started using the scientific method for growing bacteria:
- Is a dogs mouth cleaner than a humans mouth?
- Who has the cleanest mouth in the class?
- Do antibacterial soaps really kill bacteria?
- Which door handle in the school has the most bacteria?
- Does toothpaste kill bacteria in your mouth?
- Do dark socks create more bacteria in a shoe than white socks.
- Do hand sanitizers work to kill bacteria?
- What location in the school contains the most bacteria?
- Is there more bacteria in tap water, bottled spring water, rain water, or pond water?
Step 1 – Ask A Question: Let’s imaging that you want to answer the question, “Which door handle in the school has the most germs?”
Step 2 – Research: You can’t just jump in and start experimenting. It’s important to do a little research. Ask the school nurse which door handle he or she thinks the most germs (bacteria) are. Observe and chart which door handles get the most use, survey friends and family to get opinions and write down the results. All this information will help you narrow down which door handles are the most likely to contain germs – and which ones you should choose to use in your experiment.
Step 3 – Make a Hypothesis: This is when you make a prediction based on your research. This is not an “I think…” prediction, it is a statement that will either be proven true or false based on experimenting. An example would be, “The handle to the nurse’s room contains the most bacteria.”
Step 4 – Experiment: This particular science experiment requires a simple bacteria testing kit. You would choose several door handles that you think might contain the most bacteria. These door handles are considered the Independent Variable in your experiment because each handle is independent and you control which ones are chosen. In a typical kit you would touch a separate cotton swab to each door handle, and then touch it to the bacteria growing Petri dish so that you would have one dish for each handle. Take good notes that would include when you collected each sample and where you collected the sample, and be sure to label everything well in any experiment.
Step 5- Collect Data: In this experiment, bacteria will start to grow in the Petri dish over the next few days, and you may be surprised by just how much gross bacteria is lurking in your school. Take good notes each day and determine which dish has the most bacteria growing in it.
Step 6 – Make Your Conclusion: This is when you decide if your hypothesis is correct. If your hypothesis was, “The handle to the nurse’s room contains the most bacteria,” your experiment will show if your hypothesis was right. It is not bad at all if your hypothesis is incorrect, what is important is that you answered your question from step 1. Now pat yourself on the back for your fine scientific discovery using the Scientific Method.
CLICK HERE for information about Bacteria Growing Kits.
hi. i love bob. umm this project seems cool. ok byee.
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
hey bob i saw this idea and then showed it to my mom, then i said hey mom can i do that for my science fair idea? and she got the kit for it.
oh…..i love your website!!!!!
:):):)
it look cool but the pic looks really gross but still very cool
That’s great. Be sure to let us know how it went.
-Science Bob
love the website am at school so holla!!!!!
^_^ **hugs**
thank you for your info.
we will be sure to use some of your research to get a good mark that will significantly have an impact on our reports.
Gracias.
Megan and Carla.
hey bob um….i got my kit and we just started on it!
:):):)
love your website!
hey bob whats up i love ur web site
i love you webite! you helped me with my science fair project!
That’s great. Tell me how the experiment went.
-Science Bob
i think this experment is really cool i would love to try this out one day
This was awesome! ^.^
awesome can’t wait to do it
hey your cool
i love this idea and plan on using it for my science fair
i love it is so cool i thingi willdo it
hey science bob i lov this website
hey bob you are a true genius i love you!
That’s very nice
cool
keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewl
THiS iS NiCE
love this idea going to use it for school ok good bye
love this website
I noticed the dry ice expirement video on the side. Sounds like fun!
This project seems cool is going to do it 4 a sicence project.. I LOVE SCIENCE!!!!!!!!!!
OMG, me and my friend were totally stuck for ideas for science fair, and then, i found this spectacular website. I think we are going to win our science fair! Thanks heaps!!
-omg…i love this website at first we was stuck in a moment trying tew find a website then i ask mii teacher for website and it was a great website tew be on i love this website it gives yhu great ideas and topics tew get information from i love this site it is like omg__________
i really like your mouse trap demonstration it really trapped me in science.
you know how to rock it Bob.
i tryed the penny demonstration and the duck sound one and it wasawesome
i think that the one about the bird food is an excellent project bob!;}
hi bob i love science bye!!
YOU HAVE AWSOME IDEAS I LOVE YOUR WORK
YOU HAVE AWSOME IDEAS I LOVE YOUR WORK AND I ALSO LOVE SCIENCE BECAUSE OF YOU BOB
I’m Going To Use This For A Science Project
I going to do this project
wonder how you can make home grown bacteria?
this website is AWESOME
where can i get all the materials for this.
Hey Bob I Wan To Choose The “Do dark socks create more bacteria in a shoe than white socks.”
But What Do I Do? I Try To Click It So I Can Do It As My Science Fair Project But It Only Shows The Tittle Not More Info Please Help.
love’n the web site
that helped me with my science fair experiment !!!
Most of our bacteria is growing nicely, but one petri dish looks a little different. This one has a long white squiggle, nothing fuzzy, just a streak. To me it looks like I may have pushed to hard on the agar with the Q-tip. How can I tell for sure if I did or if this is bacteria growing?
Thanks!
Laura
omg i love this site
hi science bob i love this website
my school is doing a science fair and i don’t know what science fair project to do
Scince bob u rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!
omg i have to work on a project and idk what to do!!! BOB is awesome!!! i have like three idea’s of what im going!!! This Web Site is Cool and Colorful!!!! I love it!!!
Hey Bob, I absolutely love your website. I’m currently doing my science project on where you can find the most germs in a school. I’m going to try to buy a kit soon…
thx much