Spread of Germs with Glitter
Yield: 0
Materials
- 1 glitter color per child
- Goggles specific for science experiments
Instructions
- Explain to the children that you are going to track how quickly and easily germs can be transferred to others.
- Begin by sprinkling a small amount of glitter in each child's hands. Be sure to use a different color of glitter for each child. This is so they can track their own 'germs' with their glitter.
- After each child has been given glitter, have them rub their hands together to spread their 'germs' all over. Then tell the children to go give each other high-fives and handshakes. Have them do this over and over for several minutes. If you are really courageous and glitter doesn't bother you, you could have them play in the backyard for 20 minutes or so with the glitter on their hands.
- Then have the children sit back down and tell them to look at their hands. Explain how their germs spread to each other and ask how many different colors of glitter are on their hands. Ask them to observe where the glitters went and explain that the glitter represents germs and then explain that if they aren't thorough in washing their hands the tiny germs on their hands will spread to anything they touch, including their food, faces, etc.
- Lastly, teach them the proper way to wash hands to rid the germs. The CDC recommends using antibacterial soap with warm water while singing a song that would last at least 30 seconds. Most sing the birthday song, the alphabet or Twinkle Twinkle LIttle Star also works.