In this lesson, created for grades 6 - 12, students learn about the harsh conditions of Spain's Rio Tinto River and research the microbes that nonetheless manage to thrive there. They then synthesize their knowledge by creating a reality television program set in the Rio Tinto in which the microbes are the "contestants." The lesson includes an article about the Rio Tinto with accompanying questions, a detailed classroom activity, vocabulary list, discussion questions, extension activities, interdisciplinary connections, and related academic content standards.
