Activity 6: Don't Share Germs, Part 1
Identifying & Solving Problems
- Hands-on learning
- Taking care of yourself
- Solving problems
While students are learning to share, they need to know that
germs are something they don't
want to share. Try these demonstrations to show students how
germs spread. This activity may be best suited to students in Grade 1.
Getting Started
How germs spread - seeing is believing!
- Make
a simple face by taking a piece of paper and drawing a face
on it. Cut out a nose and mouth.
- Attach another piece of paper to the back of the face.
- Use the spray bottle of water to spray the face you have
made. The face will have water on it.
- Remove the piece of paper behind the face to show that it
too has water on it. This demonstrates how germs can enter the body when some
coughs or sneezes near our face.
- Remind students to always cover their mouth and turn their
head away from other people when they cough or sneeze to keep germs from
spreading.
Materials required:
A paper face, extra paper, water and a spray bottle
Hot potato!
1. Have
students sit in a circle and pass around a sponge ball covered with flour to
each other.
2. After
it has been passed to each student in the circle, tell them that the flour
represents germs. The students will see how quickly germs can spread from one
person to another.
3. Ask
students which of the following can spread germs:
- sneezing > yes
- running > no
- sharing a glass of juice > yes
- watching TV > no
- coughing > yes
- kissing > yes
Materials required:
A sponge or sponge-type ball
Activity 6: Don't share germs, part 2
Identifying & Solving Problems
- Hands-on learning
- Taking care of yourself
- Solving problems
Once students see how easily germs can be passed around,
they will understand why it's important to wash their hands when they've come
into contact with germs. This part of the activity teaches them how to wash
their hands properly and when they will need to do so.
Getting Started
Keeping germs from spreading
After passing the hot potato around students will understand
the need to wash their hands. The next step is to illustrate the importance of
using warm water and soap.
- Place a small amount of vegetable oil on your hands and sprinkle
cinnamon on your palms to represent germs. Ask students to predict what will
happen when you wash your hands in cold water. Students will notice that the
'germs' remain on your hands when you put your hands in cold water.
- Next, ask
the students to predict what will happen if you wash your hands with warm water
and soap. Students will see that the 'germs' are easily washed away. They
should understand that washing your hands with warm water and soap is an
important thing to do to stop germs from spreading.
Materials required:
Vegetable oil, cinnamon, basin of cold water, basin of warm
water, soap
How to wash your hands
- Photocopy and pass out the handout on the next page and go over the
six steps to washing your hands with the students. Have students practice
proper hand washing while singing the hand washing song.
- Have
students take home a copy of the handout and ask them to have someone help them
post it near the sink so they can follow the hand washing procedures at home.
When to wash your hands
Review with students when they should wash their hands:
- after using the bathroom
- before eating
- before preparing food
- after touching animals
- if they touch raw meat or fish
We gratefully acknowledge the Workers Compensation Board of
Prince Edward Island for permission to
adapt this activity.