Be a Germ Stopper!

Lesson Plans K to Grade 3
:: Lesson Plan #10: How Clean are Your Hands?

Students will recall that germs can be on their hands although they cannot be seen.
Students will recognize that proper handwashing can remove germs from hands.

Glo Germ UV light unit (available from Public Health)
Glo Germ Potion (available from Public Health)
- A Material Safety Data Sheet for Glo Germ Potion is included in this resource kit.
Handwashing facilities
Liquid soap
Paper towels or air dryer

Place a small amount of Glo Germ Potion onto each student’s hand. A pea sized drop should be enough for small hands. Have students rub the potion all over their hands.
Explain that, like the potion, germs are on their hands although they cannot see them.
Have students place their hands under the UV light (you may have to dim the lights in the room). The areas where there is Glo Germ Potion will glow white under the light.
Explain to students that the white glow shows where “pretend” germs are on their hands.
Have students wash their hands using the proper technique and then look at their hands under the UV light again. There should be a significant reduction in the areas that glow white.
Have students discuss areas on their hands that are sometimes missed during
handwashing, (i.e. where the Glo Germ Potion continued to glow under the light).
These are usually the thumbs, between the fingers, and around the fingernails.
Encourage students to pay extra attention to these areas whenever handwashing.
Explain that, like the germs, the potion can be washed off through proper handwashing.

Discuss what personal changes need to be made in their handwashing routine to improve their hygiene by reducing the number of germs on their hands.

Divide the students into two groups. Have one group wash their hands with water only, and the second group wash with soap and water. After examining their hands under the Glo Germ light, discuss the results.
Put Glo Germ Potion onto the hands of one student and ask that student to shake hands with five classmates. Examine the hands of the student involved in the handshakes under the UV light. Discuss how the Glo Germ Potion has been transferred from the hands of the original student to the hands of others. This is representative of how germs can be transmitted from one person to another through direct contact.