My favorite experiment do with the kindergartners is definitely the Glow Germ experiment. Everywhere I look forward to starting off the year with teaching the students why we always ask them to wash their hands at school. Wash when they are dirty. Wash after the bathroom. Wash before lunch. Wash! Wash! Wash!
This experiment demonstrates to the kindergartners that germs can spread with just a little hand shake. Using a washable lotion that glows in the dark, students are greeted by Mrs. Chang who has the “fake” germs on her hand. They quickly see the germs transfer from my hand to theirs when they view it glowing the the UV light. WOW! The student’s reactions are always the funniest and most exciting part.
After they see they now have the “fake” germ from Mrs. Chang, they shake another person’s hand and share the germ with them. Then we check to see who has the germs now.
We have a discussion about how germs can spread easily and how they can make us sick. Students also learn about how to wash their hands appropriately. They explained to me that they wash their hands with warm water and soap for about 25 seconds. In order to make the time go by they sing the Happy Birthday song or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
So each student goes and washes his / her hands. Then we check again to see how well they did. WONDERFUL!! With only a few here and there under the finger nails, which is by far is one of the hardest places to wash, they washed away all those germs!
Take a look and see them in action!
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