Exploring Hidden Life at Westsyde Elementary
In June 2025, the Microbiology Outreach Foundation visited Westsyde Elementary School to deliver its Bacteria in the Environment program to students in Grades 3 through 5. Nestled in Kamloops’ Westsyde neighbourhood near the North Thompson River and surrounded by grasslands, forests and diverse wildlife, Westsyde provides an ideal setting for students to explore the living world around them. MOF’s visit encouraged students to look beyond what they could see with the naked eye and discover that microscopic life is just as much a part of their local environment as the plants, animals and ecosystems they encounter every day.
The session began by introducing students to bacteria and challenging a common misconception—that bacteria are only associated with sickness. Instead, students discovered that microorganisms can be found almost everywhere, from riverbanks and forest soils to lakes, deserts and even some of Earth’s harshest environments. This provided a natural connection to many of the environmental concepts students encounter throughout elementary science, helping them recognize that bacteria play important roles in healthy ecosystems.
Students then explored how different environments influence the way bacteria survive. Working alongside MOF Leaders, they discussed the characteristics of various biomes, including forests, oceans, deserts and colder climates. They considered factors such as temperature, moisture, sunlight and nutrient availability before thinking about how microorganisms adapt to thrive under these different conditions. These conversations encouraged students to apply observation, critical thinking and problem-solving while drawing connections between microbiology and the natural world surrounding Westsyde.
The learning continued with one of the program’s most creative activities as students designed their own bacteria. Using craft materials, each student imagined a microorganism specially adapted to survive within a particular environment. They then shared their creations with classmates, explaining the unique features and adaptations that would help their bacteria live successfully in its chosen habitat. By combining creativity with scientific reasoning, students transformed abstract concepts into something tangible while strengthening their confidence in communicating scientific ideas.
One of the greatest strengths of the Bacteria in the Environment program is its ability to shift students’ perspectives about the microscopic world. Rather than viewing bacteria simply as germs to avoid, students begin to appreciate them as essential members of ecosystems that help recycle nutrients, support plant growth and contribute to countless natural processes. For many students, this represented an entirely new way of thinking about the invisible organisms that exist all around them.
Westsyde Elementary’s emphasis on curiosity, environmental learning and community made it a wonderful setting for this program. By connecting microbiology to familiar local landscapes and encouraging students to think like scientists, MOF helped demonstrate that meaningful scientific discoveries don’t always require travelling far—they can begin by simply looking more closely at the world just outside the classroom.
The Microbiology Outreach Foundation is grateful to the students and staff at Westsyde Elementary for welcoming the team into their classrooms. Visits like this continue MOF’s mission of making microbiology engaging, accessible and relevant while inspiring the next generation of scientists to explore the hidden life that surrounds them every day.