Be a Germ Stopper!

Other Suggestions
:: Other Cross-Curricular Activities

Conduct a germ investigation by swabbing commonly touched surfaces like doorknobs, computer keyboards, water fountains, sinks; culture bacteria using agar plates and monitor growth using a microscope.
Conduct experiments to discover effects of soap on various substances.
Divide students into research groups. Each group picks a harmful bacterium or virus. The group researches where it is found, what illness or disease it causes, how it is transmitted, and how to prevent becoming ill from their micro-organism. Have at least one group select a beneficial bacterium. Discuss different types of beneficial bacteria after presentations are complete.

Create special posters for use in the school and at home. Highlight where germs hide and focus on the importance of good hand hygiene.
Hold poster competitions within classrooms and schools.

Write and deliver speeches on topics such as ‘Clean Hands’, ‘The Effects of Healthy Hands on Good Health’, ‘School Bathroom Maintenance’.
Write a description of students’ hand cleaning routine and how they can see it improved.
Develop content about a school hand cleaning campaign for school newsletters, morning PA announcements (e.g. choose a logo, poster contest, musical jingle, etc.).
The Story of Bacteria: Have students write an adventure story from the point of view of the bacteria, including efforts to stay on hands during hand cleaning.
Have public speaking contests.
Have students maintain a journal reflecting on their own habits, their observations of others and descriptions of family facilities and habits over a one-week period.

Discuss the importance of good health.
Report on local/provincial regulations about hand cleaning facilities.
Create a story entitled “A Day in the Life of a Germ”, describing its travel throughout the course of one day.
Report on hand cleaning facilities in public places.