The rising concern about flu exposure has many families and schools looking for information about how to stay healthy. Mary Fish, an EMT and firefighter in the state of New Hampshire, recently described in an email interview a hands-on activities that can be incorporated into current lesson plans about hand washing, germs, flu and more. A can of Glo Germ and a black light are the materials necessary for both activities, as well as access to soap, water and a sink.
How to Properly Wash Hands
While teaching children about proper hand washing techniques, but before showing them proper washing techniques, Ms. Fish suggests having each child rub Glo Germ lotion onto their hands like hand cream. Show them their hands under the black light to see how they look. Next, have them wash their hands and use the black light again. Most children will still have germs glowing under the light, especially between the fingers, under the nails, and on the backs.
Continue by providing a demonstration of proper hand washing techniques, using the black light to show the difference. Send students back to the sink to try it themselves, following up with the black light each time so they can see the improvement.
How Germs Spread Through a Classroom
To view how germs can spread through a classroom, Ms. Fish says to start by contaminating an object with Glo Germ, such as a pen, door knob, or a hand. Students should then handle the object, and other objects in the classroom, as they normally would. To start this activity, especially with older students, the initial object might be secretly contaminated.
After a predetermined amount of time, shut off the lights and turn on the black light. Anyone who touched the object, and anything else they in turn touched, will glow. Students can see how germs, such as caused by sneezing into a hand, can be spread throughout the classroom.
This can then be the starting point for demonstrating how to clean classroom items. Desks, pencil sharpeners, door knobs and other commonly used objects in the room will be glowing from the spread of the Glo Germ and can be washed clean. Remember to use the black light to help determine when the germs are gone.
Though not a lesson on its own, these activities are easy to implement as a hands-on addition to already existing plans. Glo Germ can be found at sites such as Educational Innovations, and black lights can be found in many lighting sections of local stores.
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