Glittering hands: best experiment to teach pre-teens about germs
We keep telling kids to wash their hands to stop the spread of germs. But germs can’t be seen, and children may not understand exactly how they can spread. This experiment is meant to visually demonstrate the spread of germs.
What you will need
You will need some very simple supplies for this experiment:
- Hand lotion
- Glitter
- Sink
- Paper towels
- Soap
- Water
How to do the experiment
Get these together, call the kids, and get them to do the following. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Ask them to put a drop of lotion on their hands and spread it evenly
- Now ask them to hold out their hands at the sink while you sprinkle glitters on them
- Ask them to clench the fingers to a fist and see how the glitters accumulate
- Ask them to press their hands to their arms and then remove to see how the glitters are stuck on the arms too
- Ask them to touch your hand, and see how they spread the glitters to you
- Now get a paper towel and wipe their hands clean. Some glitters still remain on both of you
- Finally, both of you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. The glitter is gone
You just demonstrated how germs spread and how it can be stopped.
How can you explain the experiment?
Explain to kids the glitter mirrored the behaviour of germs, spreading from one body part to another, and from person to person. They can go if we wash our hands thoroughly. Here are a few terms we saw in action:
Bacteria
Invisible, single-cell organisms that live on almost all surfaces. They may be harmful, but some are harmless or even useful.
Viruses
Invisible, disease-causing agents that live inside the cells of larger organisms, such as plants, animals, and humans, and spread from creature to creature.
Immune system
This is our body’s defence system to help fight off diseases and harmful germs. Boosting it means better protection against germs. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water is a good way of preventing germs from attacking the immune system.