It is important for kids (and adults) to wash their hands frequently to prevent spreading germs. But many kids are reluctant to do so as frequently as they need to. I’ve found that showing kids WHY they need to wash their hands is the best way to encourage hand washing! This hand washing experiment is quick, easy, and effective at teaching kids to use soap and water to stay healthy. Perhaps you’ve seen the hand washing experiment with pepper, well this germ experiment for kids uses glitter! Youv’e got to try this hand washign science experiment for toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd graders too.
Germ Experiment for Kids
Did you wash your hands? Did you use soap? These are common questions heard by kids of all ages at home from their parents and at school in the classroom. We know that washing your hands with soap and water prevents the spread of germs and helps us stay healthy. But teaching kids the importance of these good hygience practices can take some coaxing. This germ experiment for kids allows toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 students to understand how germs spread and how washing hands with soap and water keeps them safe. Try this germs and soap experiment with just a few simple materials you probably alreayd have on hand.
Hand Washing Experiment
There are lots of germ experiments for kids to demonstrated the concept, but we decided using glitter was a great visual! All you need to try this kids germ experiment are a few simple materials:
- hand lotion
- orange glitter
- purple glitter
- blue glitter
- baby wipes
- soap and water
Germs Experiment for Preschoolers
Start out with clean hands. No put a little bit of lotion or hand cream on every participant. You can do this with just 2 people, 3 people like we did, or have the whole class involved.
Germ Experiments for Kids
Sprinkle kids hands with a little bit of glitter. We used a different color for all three participants so you can see how germs spread.
Ask children what they thing will happen? Will the glitter germs spread?
Hand Washing Science Experiment
Have children shake hands with one another as they usually would. For this demonstartion we limited to hands as my goal was to teach kids the importance of washing their hands. But you could show kids how the glitter germs could end up on sleeves, shoulders, faces, etc. GERMS SPREAD!
Now have students look at their hands. THe glitter germs have spread. Most kids will have a combination of all colors of glitter germs.
HINT: If yo uused yellow and blue it may start to look like green. You can use this as a chance to teach them how germs can combine to form a new strand or mutant germ that can be harder to eliminate.
Ask students how they clean their hands. If they are honest, kids will give a variety of answers like wipe them on their pants, wash with water only, wipe with a baby wipe, etc. have children make a hypothesis (great way to teach abou the scientific method) if the baby wipe will eliminate the germs.
Now give each student a wipe. While it did remove some of the glitter and makes our hands look cleaner, it did NOT get rid of all the germs.
Germs and soap experiment
Ask students how they should clean their hands to get rid of the germs. The correct answer is by washing with SOAPÂ and WATER for at least 20 seconds.
Washing your hands with soap and wter allows you to get rid of germs and have clean hands. Emphasize when should you use soap and water. Acceptable answers may include: after using the bathroom, before eating, after playing in the mud, when coming come, etc.
Kids Germ Experiment
This easy kindergarten science experiment is a great way to emphasie the importance of washing hands for good hygiene and stopping a cold or flu. We like to start the year off with a first day of school activity or a back to school activity to start the year off right.
Plus, don’t miss these handy FREE Hand Washing Printables. There are over 20 different choices!
Human Body Projects
- Parts of the Brain for Kids Activity with Playdough Brain Model & Free Brain Worksheets for Kids
- Lungs for Kids Working Model and lesson plan
- Blood for Kids – Actiivty to learn about the Human Body
- How do Hands Work – Human Body Muscles for Kids Project
Human Body Activities
Sneak in some fun human body science experiments so they can learn more about HOW their ears work, how eyes work, and how lungs work!
- Human Heart for Kids: 2 Fun Heart Models plus Worksheets
- Hands-on Digestive System Experiment
- How do Muscles Work – Simply Skeletal Muscle Model that works
- Kids will love learning about the ear with this model of ear for school project
- Amazing Vision eye science experiments
- Simple, Paper Bag Lung Project for Kids
- Human Body human body playdough mats – lots of choices to learn about various systems of the body including simple for preschoolers, skeletal system, organs, muscles, nerves, and more!
- EPIC, Life-size Human Body Project
- 4Â Skeletal System Project ideas for kids – using things like pasta, life saver gummies, lego, and more you can learn about the human body in a fun memorable way
5 senses for kids
We continued exploring the five senses with these grade school and human body preschool activities:
- Learn the importance of handwashing with this germ experiment for kids!
- Amazing 5 Senses for kids lesson to explore with hands on activities, videos, books, and more!
- Try this Jelly Bean sense of taste activities for preschool experiment.
- Huge pack of 5 Senses Worksheets to explore the senses and sneak in some math and literacy activities too
- Grab this free printable 5 senses preschool printables to explore the senses of sight, taste, sound, smell, and touch
- 5 Senses Coloring Pages
- See all of our hands-on ideas to make learning about the human body for kids FUN and more creative printable science experiments for all ages
- My Body Book Emergent Reader to learn about the different parts of the body under the skin
- Free Skeletal System Worksheets for Kids – everything you need to teach kids about their bodies!
- Teach kids about human cells for kids with hands on activities, free printable reader, human cell worksheets, and more!
- My Body Parts Preschool Book
  
  
First day of school activities for kindergarten
- Glue Number Bonds Worksheets – practicing addition within 20
- Practice what comes next with these Back to School Math pencil counting strips
- Work on color recognition with these adorable Crayon Box Craft for Preschoolers and Kindergartens
- Record your child’s favorite as they head off to school with these All about me printable poster for kindergarten
- Celebrate the 1st day of School with these First Day of School Hat.
- Back to School Rhyming Activities for Kindergarten
- Count to 20Â Clip Cards
- Back to School Counting Puzzles
- Printable Back to School ABC Games
- Back to School 1-10 Number Worksheets
- Back to School Color by Number
- Free School Supplies Tracing Worksheet
- I Spy Back to School Printable
- Free Back to School Worksheets Preschool
- Back to School Theme for Preschoolers
- Apple Worksheet Preschool
- Crayon Colors Printable Crafts for Kids
- School Bus Beginning Sounds Activity
- Free Back to School Coloring Pages
- Free printable first day of school signs
- School Supplies Tracing Lines Free Printables
- Super Cute and Easy Pencil Craft
- Free Back to School Worksheets – Crack the Code
- School Supplies Free sudoku printables
- Back to School Printables Bundle
- Super cute, Free All About Me Printable Poster for Kindergarten
