Using microbiology activities in the classroom is an effective way for teachers to address National Standards in the life sciences. However, they could be too risky to implement due to the likelihood of cultivating human pathogens. In addition, making sterile media and maintaining sterile conditions can be challenging. To address these problems, the authors developed a microbiology system that focuses on a specialized class of microbes that can live under extreme hypersaline conditions. The high salt content of the media (20 percent or more) eliminates the need for sterilization and aseptic techniques, and rules out the possibility of culturing bacterial pathogens. Furthermore, the activity has been developed with the use of low-cost, common household materials.