Glitter Germs Slides Germ Detectives
Seeing the Invisible!
What are Germs?
Germs are teeny-tiny bugs that can make us feel icky.
They are so small, our eyes can't see them without help!
🦠
👾
🤢
🧪
Where do they hide?
On our Hands
On our Toys
On Doorknobs
The Secret Handshake!
We are going to use "Glitter Germs" to see how they move!
Touch a little glitter
Shake a friend's hand
Look where the glitter goes!
How can we stop those sneaky germs from spreading?
Let's find out together!
Germ Transfer Teacher Guide Germ Transfer Guide
Teacher Facilitation Resource
Learning Objective
Students will understand that germs are invisible but can be shared through physical contact. They will observe the "movement" of germs from one surface to another.
Materials Needed
Fine cosmetic-grade glitter
Hand lotion or petroleum jelly
Magnifying glasses
Wet wipes (for cleanup)
The Glitter Handshake Protocol
1
The "Secret Sauce"
Apply a tiny bit of lotion to one student's hand (The "Original Carrier"). Sprinkle a pinch of glitter onto that hand. Explain: "The lotion is like the natural oils on our hands that help germs stick."
2
The Chain Reaction
Have Student A shake hands with Student B. Have Student B shake hands with Student C. Have Student C touch a common object (like a toy block or the doorknob).
3
The Investigation
Hand out magnifying glasses. Let students inspect their hands and the object. Ask: "Who has the most germs? Who has the least? How did they get there?"
Discussion & Inquiry Prompts
"If the glitter was real germs, and you touched your apple at lunch, what would happen?"
"Can we see germs normally? Why did we use glitter today?"
"How can we get the 'germs' off our hands right now?"
Pro Tip
Use different colors of glitter for different students to track which "germ" spreads the farthest. For example, Sarah has blue germs and Leo has pink germs!
Where Did the Germs Go Worksheet Germ Tracker
Where did the germs go?
Name: ________________
Date: ________________
Draw tiny dots (germs!) on the places where you saw the glitter go today!
My Hand
Friend's Hand
I also saw germs on...
Draw it!
Soap Magic Slides Soap Magic
The Secret Weapon!
Why do we need soap?
Water alone can't catch all the sticky germs.
Soap is like a magnet for dirt and germs!
🧼
The Pepper Germ Trick
Watch what happens when the soap arrives!
1
Sprinkle the "pepper germs" on the water.
2
Dip your finger in the germs. (They stick!)
3
Add a drop of MAGIC SOAP...
🦠
🦠
🦠
SQUISH! ZOOM!
The germs run away!
Soap makes our hands too slippery for germs to stay.
Let's make bubbles!
When we rub our hands together with soap,
Soap vs. Germs Teacher Guide Soap vs. Germs
Experiment Facilitation Guide
The Science for Teacher
This experiment demonstrates surface tension . Pepper flakes float on the surface of the water because water molecules cling together. Soap breaks this tension, causing the water molecules to pull away from the soap, taking the pepper flakes with them. For Pre-K, we frame this as the soap "scaring away" the germs.
What You Need
Shallow bowls or plates (white is best)
Water
Black pepper (The "Germs")
Dish soap (Liquid)
Cotton swabs (optional)
Preparation
Set up small stations if possible, or gather students around a central demonstration table. Ensure every student can see the surface of the water clearly.
Step-by-Step Experiment
1
The Germ Invasion
Pour water into the bowl. Let students sprinkle the pepper across the surface. Tell them: "The pepper is like the germs we find on our hands when we play outside."
2
Water Alone
Ask a student to dip their finger into the water. Show the class that the pepper sticks to their finger. Ask: "Did the water scare them away? No! They are still there!"
3
The Soap Power
Put a small drop of dish soap on a different student's finger (or a cotton swab). Have them touch the center of the pepper-covered water. Observe the immediate reaction.
Observation Questions
"What did the pepper do when the soap touched the water?"
"Why do we need soap to wash our real hands?"
Pepper Germ Lab Report Magic Soap Lab
My Experiment Report
Scientist Name
__________________________
Date
__________
1 The germs were...
STUCK to my finger
RUNNING AWAY
2 Circle what worked best:
Just Water
OR
🧼
Soap & Water
Draw your bubbles! 🫧
Handwash Hero Slides Handwash Heroes
Mastering the 5 Steps!
The 5 Magic Steps
1
WET
2
🧼
SOAP
3
SCRUB
4
RINSE
5
DRY
Scrub Like a Pro!
Germs love to hide in tiny places! Don't forget:
Between your fingers
Under your fingernails
The backs of your hands
The 20-Second Dance!
We need to scrub for as long as it takes
1... 2... 3... Scrub!
Are you ready?
Let's practice the 5 steps together.
🙌
✨
🧼
Suds and Scrub Sequence Cards Wash Cycle
Can you put the steps in order?
Activity: Cut & Order
1
First
2
Next
3
Then
4
Later
5
Last
🧼
Add Soap
Rinse Off
Scrub (20s)
Wet Hands
Dry Hands
All Clean!
Handwashing Song Poster The Handwashing Song
Tune: Happy Birthday
Verse One:
Happy birthday to you,
Don't stop yet! One more time!
Verse Two:
Happy birthday to you,
🚿
WET
🧼
SOAP
🤝
SCRUB
✨
DRY
Vampire Cape Slides The Vampire Cough
Our Secret Sneeze Shield!
A Sneeze is like a Rocket!
When we cough or sneeze, teeny water drops fly out of our mouth!
ACHOO! These drops can carry germs to our friends.
The Vampire Move
How do we stop the "Germ Rocket"?
Bring your elbow up to your nose, just like a vampire hiding behind a cape!
Why not our hands?
If we use our hands, we touch toys and friends... and spread the germs!
Our elbow doesn't touch anything else. It keeps the germs trapped!
Vampire Power!
🧛♂️
1. Elbow Up
🤧
2. Catch it!
✨
3. Germ Hero
Ready... Set... Vampire!
Sneeze Shield Teacher Guide Sneeze Shield Lab
Simulation Facilitation Guide
The Big Idea
Students will visualize how "droplets" (water spray) travel through the air during a sneeze and how a physical barrier (the elbow) stops them. This makes the invisible air-pathway of germs visible.
Materials
A spray bottle (set to 'Mist')
Water (tinted with blue food coloring - optional)
Large sheet of white paper or a dark-colored jacket/fabric
A paper towel or tissue
Teacher Prep
Check the 'Mist' setting on your bottle. You want it to be a fine spray that travels a few feet. Place your white paper "target" about 2-3 feet away from your standing position.
The Sneeze Rocket Simulation
1
The "Open Sneeze"
Hold the spray bottle at face level. Explain that the bottle is a "Nose." Spray one mist without covering it. Let students watch the droplets fly. Look at the paper target. Ask: "Where did the sneeze go?"
2
The "Hand Cover"
Hold your own hand in front of the nozzle and spray. Show students your wet hand. Ask: "The sneeze didn't hit the target, but where are the germs now? If I touch a toy, what happens?"
3
The "Vampire Shield"
Place your inner elbow tightly over the nozzle. Spray. Show that neither the target nor your hand got wet. Ask: "Where are the germs? Are they on my hand? Are they on the toys?"
Mastery Check
"Why do we call it a Vampire Cough?"
"What should we do right after we catch a sneeze in our elbow?" (Wash hands just in case!)
Cough Catcher Worksheet Cough Catcher
Where do the germs go?
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________
Circle the HERO way to catch a cough!
🖐️
My Hand
🧛
Vampire Elbow
🌬️
The Air
Draw yourself being a Germ Hero! Germ Fighter Graduation Slides Germ Fighter Graduation
Time to show our skills!
When do we wash?
🍎
Before we eat snack or lunch.
🚽
After we use the restroom.
🛝
After we play outside.
🤧
After we sneeze or cough.
The Clean Hands Promise
"I promise to use my soap and water
🥳
✨
🧼
You are Heroes!
You know the steps.
Clean Hands Promise Mural Template Clean Hands Promise
Color your hand and sign your name to the classroom mural!
Color & Decorate Me!
"I promise to use my soap and water to keep our classroom healthy!"
NAME: __________________________
Hygiene Hero Certificate Official
Hygiene Hero
Award of Mastery
This certificate is proudly awarded to:
__________________________
For becoming an expert Germ Detective,
________________
Teacher Signature
________________
Date
Handwash Checkpoint Teacher Rubric Handwash Mastery Check
Teacher Observation Rubric
Use this rubric during the Lesson 5 "Independent Sink Mastery" activity. Observe each student and check off the skills as they demonstrate them.
Student Name Sequence (5 Steps) Duration (20s) Scrubbing Technique Vampire Cough Ref. ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________
Target Skills
Sequence: Wet, Soap, Scrub, Rinse, Dry in order.Duration: Scrubs for full 20 seconds.Technique: Backs of hands and between fingers.
Recall
Vampire Cough: Can demonstrate the elbow cough when asked or observed naturally.
Mastery = 4/4 skills demonstrated independently.
