Glowing Germs!

At Asa Adams, every Friday morning the first and second graders participate in Surprise Science. Each first and second grade teacher plans an hour long science investigation that the students rotate and participate in for five weeks. For Room 8's rotation, I planned an activity called Glowing Germs to investigate the importance of handwashing during flu season! I set up a chart for students to predict which method of handwashing was most effective - antibacterial hand soap, regular hand soap, or hand sanitizer. Not surprisingly, antibacterial hand soap got the most votes by a long shot. We then had three volunteers test the Glo Germ gel on their hands before washing. Glo Germ gel is a substance that sticks to germs and, when exposed to ultraviolet light, they glow! The students were fascinated and disgusted by how much their classmates hands were glowing! The class then broke up into three groups and washed their hands. The students each got a dab of Glo Germ gel and rubbed it in. They each got a chance to put their hands under the black light to see if there were still germs. We noticed that almost all of their fingertips were glowing! The students concluded that it didn't really matter what soap was used, as long as they wash their hands for the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" (20-30 seconds), rinse with warm water, and pay extra attention to washing their fingertips and fingernails. They recorded what they learned in their science journals!

Making our predictions!

Handwashing using antibacterial soap

Applying the Glo Germ gel

Handwashing with regular soap

Using the blacklight to see the germs

Glowing germs!

Reflecting on what we learned in our journals