UNIT OVERVIEW

Microorganisms are tiny living things that you cannot see without a microscope. Even though they are invisible, they are everywhere—in soil, water, air, and even inside your body. Some cause diseases like TB and malaria. Others help us digest food, make bread rise, or keep ecosystems healthy.

This unit teaches you about four groups: viruses, bacteria, protists, and fungi. You will learn how they are structured, how they cause disease, how your body defends itself, and how humans use microorganisms to make food and medicine.

What you will learn:

• The structure and features of viruses, bacteria, protists, and fungi
• How microorganisms help ecosystems stay balanced
• Symbiotic relationships involving microorganisms
• Diseases caused by each group and how to manage them
• How your immune system works, including vaccines and antibiotics
• How microorganisms are used in medicine and food production
• How to conduct a practical investigation on microbial growth

What you should already know:

• Grade 9: Basic cell structure and function
• Grade 10: Classification systems, symbiosis, and the biosphere

---