Gruesome Germs

Introduction:

Before the start of this lesson, discretely choose three students to be your disease carriers.  Outside the classroom, have them rub a a little hand lotion on their hands and then place a pinch of different colored glitter in each of their hands.  Each color of glitter represents the germs (microbes) for a particular sickness.  You might choose to have one student have a cold, one the flu and the other something more exotic  like the bubonic plague.  Next, give everyone in the class some lotion to rub into their hands. As you are doing this, tell your students that you are going to teach them the proper way to shake hands. Discuss the notion that, in order to make a good impression on new people that you meet, it is important for you to shake hands firmly with confidence.   Have them shake hands with 3-4 students and have them practice making polite and proper introductions. Then have the students sit back down and explain to them that you neglected to tell them that three people in your class actually came to school sick today. Explain that it is possible that the germs from these students have already spread.  Have them observe their hands to see if they notice anything unusual.   Tell them each illness they may be infected with and the color of these nasty germs.   Through a show of hands, count up how many students have now been infected with each of these ailments.  Discuss the idea that you have just demonstrated one of the most common ways that germs get transmitted from one person to another.

 Purpose:

In this activity, students will learn what germs are like, where they come from, and what they can do to keep from being infected by dangerous germs. Like doctors or nurses in college, they will explore  first-hand why it is important to wash their hands and practice the proper way to do so.

National Science Standard: Unifying Concept

Organisms are diverse in nature.

Georgia Performance Standards:

Students will use ideas of system, model, and change to explore.  S(K-5)CS4

Students will communicate scientific ideas clearly S9K-5)CS5

Students will understand that microorganisms can benefit or harm host organisms. S5L4

Materials:

Glitter (3 different colors)           Ultraviolet Lamp            Glo Germ Lotion            Soap              Water   

Ask your students to discuss the ways in which they think that germs can be spread from one person to another other. Have a student list these on the board. Common ways that germs are spread include through the air, coughing, carrier organisms (mosquitoes), and the direct transfer of saliva, sweat, or nasal secretions. The direct transfer of germs occurs through normal hand-to-hand contact that occurs frequently throughout the day.  As a result, the hands become a great place for those nasty germs to spread from one kid to another.

Tell the students that you are going to see how good of job they normally do at washing their hands. But before they start washing, place two drops of simulated germs (Glo germ) on one hand and have them spread it thoroughly like hand lotion on the front and back of both of their hands.  Explain to them that these simulated germs are completely harmless but are good to use because they glow when they are placed under a special (ultraviolet light). After doing so, explain to them that they should wash their hands like they normally do. If they don't usually use soap or scrub then they shouldn't do either.  Let each student wash their hands at the sink or nearest restroom.  

Turn off most of the lights in the room and using the UV light, have students place their hands under the light to check to see how many germs remained on their hands (make sure to have them check both the front and back). Students will be shocked to see the number of Glo germs that light up on their hands. If time permits, allow the students to wash more thoroughly a second time and then check their hands again. 

When students are checking their hands, use the UV light to check other areas in the classroom that may have been contaminated during this activity. Students will be amazed at the extent of the contamination and they will see clearly how quickly germs can spread.

To conclude this activity, have students discuss things that they can do in order to reduce the spread of germs from one person to another.  If needed, broader their understanding in this area.

Essential Questions:

1.  Explain the ways that you think germs can be spread from one person to another?

2. What are some of the places that you think germs are found?

3. When do think are the most important times to wash your hands?

4. What are the important things to do in order to wash your hands well?

5. What are some of the best ways to reduce the spread of germs?

Literature Connection:  Read and discuss the book Germs Make Me Sick by Melvin Berger.

Explanation:

Concept Discussion:

Germs are found almost everywhere but they are so small that you cannot see them,  They are on our skin, inside our bodies, and all around the the world we live in. There are many different types of germs including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Sometimes germs are called microorganisms and, fortunately, most of them are harmless. But some of them can make us sick, by causing infections that can attack different parts of our body.  For example, colds, the flu, and chicken pox are caused by germs. 

It is important to wash frequently and always after going to the bathroom, before eating food, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.  It is also important to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and avoid contact with the bodily fluids of others. 

Teacher Notes:

Ultraviolet Lamps and Glo germ lotion can be purchased from www.teachersource.com. Students should not stare directly at the ultraviolet lamp for extended periods.

Evaluation and Closure:

      Student science journals or writing should be evaluated to check for student understanding.