But my students ARE washing their hands! I’m washing my hands! Why are so many children and teachers coming down with all kinds of colds, flus, infections, and other communicable diseases?
Are you sure everyone is washing his/her hands properly? Are you SURE? Because a few soapy swishes under the faucet just aren’t enough to get rid of very many germs.
A good way to show students - and teachers – and parents – just how many germs are left on their hands even after what they considered “a good soaping,’ is to conduct an experiment.
There are several good products that will demonstrate just how ineffective merely washing one’s hands can be if the process isn’t thorough; my personal favorite is Glitter Bug Lotion. (It’s inexpensive, easy to find online, and works like a dream.)
Squirt a little Glitter Bug Lotion on each child’s hands and tell the students to rub the lotion all over their hands, including the palms, backs of hands, and wrists. Send your students to the restroom to wash their hands. When they return, conduct class as usual.
Just before lunchtime, turn off the lights and turn on a blacklight. Your students – and YOU – will be astounded and horrified to see all the places in the classroom that are glowing. For the students who did not do a thorough job of handwashing, and wherever the Glitter Bug Lotion remained, it will rub off on everything that is touched. Pay particular attention to things that everyone in the room has to touch, such as doorknobs, shared supplies (scissors, pencils, etc.) and the drinking fountain button.
Hands must be washed carefully and thoroughly if all the germs are to be killed; if one washes hurriedly and carelessly, there will be as many, if not more, germs on the hands on exit as when that person walked into the bathroom. He/she will then transfer those germs to everything that is touched.
After shining the blacklight, and showing your students all the germs that remained even after they thought they’d done a good job cleaning their hands, send them back to wash again. Show them, with the blacklight, that even two washings will probably not get rid of all the germs. Emphasize to the children that germs live under their fingernails, too.
Try this experiment weekly, all winter long, and hope that each time the children’s hands will be cleaner!
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