We are surrounded with lots of living creatures that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Can you name any of them? Here are five magical facts about Microorganisms for kids.

Microorganisms Facts for Kids Fact Number 1: Microorganisms Can only Be Seen Under Microscope

The word microorganism is made up of two words, “micro” which means “tiny” and “organism” which means a “living creature”. Microorganisms are all around us yet they are so small they cannot be seen by the naked eye. A microscope is needed in order to be able to see microorganisms.

Some microorganisms are beneficial while others are quite harmful. Microorganisms are also known as microbes. They thrive in extreme conditions that no other life form could exist in.

Microorganisms Facts for Kids Fact Number 2: Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Was The First Person to Study Microorganisms

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek is known as the “Father of Microbiology”. Microbiology is the study of microorganisms. He became the first microbiologist in the world because he was the first to observe bacteria underneath a microscope.

Not only did he observe bacteria but he also made important changes to the microscope throughout his life. He created hundreds of different lenses and increased the magnification of microscopes.

Microorganisms Facts for Kids Fact Number 3: Microorganisms Are Found Everywhere

Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Microorganism are so small we cannot see them yet they are found everywhere. You name it and a microorganism is in it including the soil, air, water, on your skin and in your body.

Some microorganisms are actually quite beneficial and can make a lot of the food we eat. Many bakery products such as bread and dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt are made using microorganisms.

Microorganisms Facts for Kids Fact Number 4: There Are Five Types of Living Microorganisms

The five types of living organisms are bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae and protozoa.

Bacteria can be rod-shaped, spiral-shaped or spherical and they are single celled organisms. There are more bacterial cells in our bodies than there are human cells.

Viruses are parasites. This means viruses can only survive inside the cells of other living things. They can cause infectious diseases, such as chicken pox, measles or colds.

Fungi can be different sizes and forms. Yeastis a fungi that is used in baking and cooking for example, bread and pizza. Fungi also come in forms of mould and toadstools.

Algae can also be many different sizes. Some algae look like plants, such as seaweed.

Protozoa are single-celled organisms and can cause many diseases. They are bigger than bacteria.

Microorganisms Facts for Kids Fact Number 5: Microorganisms Are The Largest Number of Living Organisms on The Planet

Micro-organisms first appeared on earth about 3.5 billion years ago. This makes them the earliest and longest form of life. They are very important in sustaining life on our planet. They make up the largest number of living organisms on the planet.

There are trillions of microorganisms in the human body alone and it’s estimated that there are trillions upon trillions of microorganisms around the Earth. It is impossible to count how many microorganisms there are in the world.

We hope you enjoyed learning more things about Microorganisms as much as we loved teaching you about them. Now that you know how majestic the universe is, you can move on to learn about other living organisms and STEM articles like: Viruses, Cells, Trees, Marshes, Aquatic Plants, Insects, Animals, Palm Trees, Science Branches, Medicine, Patient Animals, Endangered Animals, Polar Animals, Koalas, Land Animals, Sharks, Raccoons, Moon and Sun Bears, Rats, Chickens, Cats, Pandas, Monkeys, endangered animals, waterfowl, Whales, Farm Pets, PH Scale, Chemical Reactions, Atoms, Acids and Bases, Electromagnetic Waves and States of Matter.

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The post Microorganisms Facts for Kids – 5 Magical Facts about Microorganisms first appeared on Learning Mole.