Easy Kids' Science Fair Experiments About Germs
Germs are living organisms that cause infection or disease. The four main types of germs are bacteria, viruses, fungus and protozoa. These germs affect not only people, but also plants and animals. Science fair experiments for children about germs may focus on hand washing, transfer of germs, making germs glow, food or killing germs.
Other People Are Reading
-
Hand Washing
-
Survey a number of people about how often they wash their hands, and even have them show you how they wash. Determine whether they wash their hands properly and whether they use antiseptics. Find out how often they get sick each year. Determine whether the length or amount of time washing hands affects the number of times someone gets sick.
Germ Chain
-
Have one person put his hands in a substance, such as wet flour, that can be washed off. Students should shake hands with one another and note how the flour spreads among students. Discuss how the same thing occurs when germs are transferred through contact such as shaking hands, picking up an object, touching a desk or other activities throughout the day.
-
Glowing Germs
-
Germs can be made to glow in order to teach children and adults about proper hygiene. Germs can be difficult to teach about because they're normally invisible, but a black light and lotion make them visible. Spread the germ lotion on the child's hands, including the backs, palms and fingernails. Children and parents can then put their hands under a black light to see what areas light up; these are the germs. Children can then go wash their hands and apply additional lotion to see how their hands light up after washing. Schools, health departments and hospitals often provide the light to see the germs light up.
As an alternative, you may use Glitter Bug Lotion, which, when rubbed on, simulates germs on the hands or other areas.
Fuzzy Food
-
Take pieces of bread, potatoes or another food item and put them in sandwich bags that zip. Put the bags in different places, such as a dark box, a place where it would be stored at room temperature, a fridge or another area. Check on the bags over the course of a week, noting changes during the week. After a week, take the bags out and examine them to determine what has the most growth. The germs growing on the food are mold, also known as bacteria. The germs multiplied over the week so that they are visible.
Ultraviolet Light
-
Hospitals and sewage treatment plants use ultraviolet lights to kill germs. A science experiment may show germs being killed by ultraviolet lights, as well as demonstrate that not all germs can be killed by ultraviolet lights.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
