PROTOZOANS

WATER CIRCUS : PROTOZOANS 1

SYNOPSIS

Water Circus is a 17-minute videotape specifically developed to introduce students to protozoa. Because of its introductory nature, the program has applications from upper elementary through college. It also has value in teacher pre-service/in-service applications, particularly at the elementary and middle school level.

The first six minutes are devoted to classifying protozoa, illustrating how they are different from the metazoa, and showing their relative size and general habitat. Additionally, techniques for preparing slides, using the microscope and observing protozoa are demonstrated.

During the remainder of the program, four general types of protozoa are identified. They include the Amoeba, Paramecium, Peranema, and Volvox. Illustrated are their means of locomotion and methods of food gathering and synthesis. These organisms are also contrasted to some common animals found in pond water: Rotifers and Gastrotrichs. The sporozoa, with representative examples, are also illustrated as a phylum in this Subkingdom.

The printed material which accompanies this video is comprehensive and includes information on collecting, ordering and culturing protozoa. Additionally, there is a compendium of illustrations and student activity sheets to supplement the program and encourage further study.

Time (min.)
0	Introduction: Size relationship, obtaining samples, preparing slides, proper use of the microscope
4	Classification scheme (five Kingdoms: Animals, Plants, Monera, Fungi, and Protists. Two Subkingdoms in the Kingdom Protista: Protozoa and Algae) Difference between protozoa and metazoa.
6	Identification and characteristics of five phyla of protozoa Phylum Sarcodina: Amoeba, moves with pseudopodia Phylum Ciliophora: Paramecium, moves with cilia Phylum Mastigophora: Peranema and Volvox, move with flagella Phylum Sporozoa: Parasitic with usually no apparent means of locomotion
14	Metazoa sometimes confused with protozoa: Rotifers, Gastrotrichs
15	Review: different phyla of protozoa and their corresponding method of locomotion
16	Conclusion
17	End

IN THE EYE OF A NEEDLE : PROTOZOANS 2

SYNOPSIS

In The Eye Of A Needle is the second program of a series of three videotapes on protozoans. In this 25-minute presentation, there are three main sections. First, two types of microscopes are identified and their magnifying power is calculated. A metric measurement of length, the micrometer, is introduced and with on-screen graphics, many protozoans are identified with their corresponding sizes (in micrometers). The second objective of this video is to show a sample of the wide variety of protozoa found in nature. About twenty different types are illustrated. Additionally, the speed of a Paramecium is determined (we found them to be travelling very slow!).

The third and main objective of this program is to identify and describe the function of the many cell parts and organelles found in various protozoa. This includes the spring-like structure on a Vorticella, the many different types and shapes of nuclei and even the spear like trichocysts that a Paramecium shoots out under adverse conditions.

The information in this program builds upon knowledge gained in part I (Water Circus), offers important nomenclature referred to on part III (Wonder Down Under) and yet can be used as a stand-alone presentation for identifying many protozoans and illustrating the function of their organelles.

The program has applications from upper elementary through college and can offer additional value in teacher in-service education.

A 70-page printed handbook (with limited duplication rights) accompanies the series and includes information on collecting, ordering and culturing protozoa. Additionally, there is a compendium of illustrations and student activity sheets to supplement the program and encourage further study.

Time (min.)
0	Introduction: Types of microscopes, calculating magnifying power
3	Measuring size using the micrometer (micron); example: Euglena
6	Survey of twenty protozoa and their respective sizes: Amoeba proteus, Arcella, Actinophrys, Peranema, Volvox, Chlamydomonas, Anisonema, Vorticella, Oxytricha, Paramecium (three types), Bursaria, Blephaisma, Didinium, Stentor, Euplotes, Chilodenella. Topics discussed: Locomotion, myonemes, avoidance reaction, cirri, undulating membrane.
14	*Speed of a Paramecium* (experiment)**
16	Cell parts and organelles: pellicle, cell membrane, nuclei, protoplasm vs/ cytoplasm, food vacuoles, cytostome, uroid, cytoproct, water expelling vesicle, ectoplasm vs/ endoplasm, trichocysts, chloroplasts, stigma.
23	Conclusion
25	End

WONDER DOWN UNDER : PROTOZOANS 3

SYNOPSIS

Wonder Down Under is the third and final part of a videotape series on protozoans. In this 24-minute program, four major concepts are presented:

1. The food chain, focusing on the interrelationship between producers, consumers,scavengers, and decomposers. Also illustrated is the classification of bacteria (Kingdom Monera) and its value as both a decomposer and food source.

2. Reproduction, including the distinction between fission and conjugation and the basic mechanics of nuclear mitosis.

3. Encystment and excystment among protozoa

4. Experimenting with protozoa, including a high school science project which investigates the reaction to stimuli and an experiment demonstrating galvanotaxis.

This program can be used for both teacher instruction and classroom applications (grades 5-14), but it is recommended that the viewer have knowledge of basic protozoan organelles (oral groove, micronuclei, pellicle, etc.) prior to this presentation (refer to part 2 above).

When viewed with the other two programs in this series, the students will acquire a very comprehensive, in-depth understanding of protozoa and gain enthusiasm for continued studies and experimentation in microbiology.

Time (min.)
0	Introduction
1	Food chain: producers, consumers, scavengers, and decomposers (defined); Classification of bacteria, its value as a decomposer and food source
3	Consumers: Blepharisma, Stentor, Bursaria, Didinium, Amoeba
11	Scavengers: Chilodonella, Peranema
12	Reproduction (Fission): Stentor, Amoeba, explanation of nuclear mitosis, clones (daughter cells), Arcella, Paramecia (stained), Didinium, Cyclidium, Oxytricha, Vorticella, Euglena, Bursaria.
17	Reproduction (Conjugation): Stentor, Blepharisma, Paramecium bursaria
18	Mutations
19	Encystment / Excystment: Blepharisma, Bursaria, Didinium
20	*Experimenting with protozoa: High school science project (example); reaction of Paramecia* to electricity (galvanotaxis).**
23	Conclusion (note: concluding shots show a tiny species of Vorticella, Chilodonella, a large Vorticella with microconjugant attached, Blepharisma cyst, Stentor conjugating, and an Amoeba undergoing fission).