DRIVING QUESTION:

How can we design and share a set of activities for kids to do at home while their parents are working?

Day 3: Building Knowledge

Overview

Today children are investigating how germs spread.  There are plenty of options for teaching children about spreading germs so they understand the importance of prevention.  They could make a poster for the bathroom about steps to wash hands, or a “How-To Book” about the same topic. Or, they might write an informational text about how germs spread.

Key Questions

• How do germs spread? 

• How does washing our hands prevent illness?

• How can we remind others about keeping our hands clean?

Project Work Time: Science

Video: Glow Soap and Black Light

Article: 4 Types of Germs

See the original article HERE.

Our bodies are pretty amazing. Day after day, they work hard — digesting food, pumping blood and oxygen, sending signals from our brains and much more.

But there is a group of tiny invaders that can make our bodies sick — they're called germs.

Some kids may think that germs are bugs or cooties or other gross stuff. Actually, germs are tiny organisms, or living things, that can cause disease. Germs are so small and sneaky that they creep into our bodies without being noticed. In fact, germs are so tiny that you need to use a microscope to see them. When they get in our bodies, we don't know what hit us until we have symptoms that say we've been attacked!

What Types of Germs Are There?

Germs are found all over the world, in all kinds of places. The four major types of germs are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. They can invade plants, animals, and people, and sometimes they can make us sick.

Bacteria (say: BAK-teer-ee-uh) are tiny, one-celled creatures that get nutrients from their environments in order to live. In some cases that environment is a human body. Bacteria can reproduce outside of the body or within the body as they cause infections. Some infections that bacteria can cause include ear infections, sore throats (tonsillitis or strep throat), cavities, and pneumonia (say: new-MO-nyuh).

But not all bacteria are bad. Some bacteria are good for our bodies — they help keep things in balance. Good bacteria live in our intestines and help us use the nutrients in the food we eat and make waste from what's left over. We couldn't make the most of a healthy meal without these important helper germs! Some bacteria are also used by scientists in labs to produce medicines and vaccines (say: VAK-seens).

Viruses (say: VY-rus-iz) need to be inside living cells to grow and reproduce. Most viruses can't survive very long if they're not inside a living thing like a plant, animal, or person. Whatever a virus lives in is called its host. When viruses get inside people's bodies, they can spread and make people sick. Viruses cause chickenpox, measles, flu, and many other diseases. Because some viruses can live for a short time on something like a doorknob or countertop, be sure to wash your hands regularly!

Fungi (say: FUN-guy) are multi-celled (made of many cells), plant-like organisms. Unlike other plants, fungi cannot make their own food from soil, water, and air. Instead, fungi get their nutrition from plants, people, and animals. They love to live in damp, warm places, and many fungi are not dangerous in healthy people. An example of something caused by fungi is athlete's foot, that itchy rash that teens and adults sometimes get between their toes.

Protozoa (say: pro-toh-ZOH-uh) are one-cell organisms that love moisture and often spread diseases through water. Some protozoa cause intestinal infections that lead to diarrhea, nausea, and belly pain.

What Do Germs Do?

Once germs invade our bodies, they snuggle in for a long stay. They gobble up nutrients and energy, and can produce toxins (say: TOK-sinz), which are proteins that act like poisons. Those toxins can cause symptoms of common infections, like fevers, sniffles, rashes, coughing, vomiting, and diarrhea.

How do doctors figure out what germs are doing? They take a closer look. By looking at samples of blood, pee, and other fluids under a microscope or sending these samples to a laboratory for more tests, doctors can tell which germs are living in your body and how they are making you sick.

How Can You Protect Yourself From Germs?

Most germs are spread through the air in sneezes, coughs, or even breaths. Germs can also spread in sweat, saliva, and blood. Some pass from person to person by touching something that is contaminated, like shaking hands with someone who has a cold and then touching your own nose.

Steering clear of the things that can spread germs is the best way to protect yourself. And that means . . .

Hand washing! Remember the words that germs fear — soap and water. Washing your hands well and often is the best way to beat these tiny warriors. Wash your hands every time you cough or sneeze, before you eat or prepare foods, after you use the bathroom, after you touch animals and pets, after you play outside, and after you visit a sick relative or friend.

There is a right way to wash your hands. Use warm water and soap and rub your hands together for at least 15 seconds, which is about how long it takes to sing "Happy Birthday."

Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze and cover your mouth when you cough to keep from spreading germs. So if you have to cough, it is best to do it in your elbow so you are not contaminating your hands.

Using tissues for your sneezes and sniffles is another great weapon against germs. But don't just throw tissues on the floor to pick up later. Toss them in the trash and, again, wash your hands!

Another way to fight and prevent infections is to make sure you get all the routine immunizations from your doctor. No one likes to get shots but these help keep your immune system strong and prepared to battle germs. You can also keep your immune system strong and healthy by eating well, exercising regularly, and getting good sleep. All this will help you to be prepared to fight germs that cause illness.

Now that you know the facts about germs, you may still pick up a cough or a cold once in a while, but you'll be ready to keep most of those invading germs from moving in.

Video: What is Coronavirus

Article: Teaching about Germs for Kids: Making it fun, Making it real, Making it Stick

by Karen Peles
(View original article HERE at Care.com)

"But my hands are clean," your 4-year-old insists after he sneezes right into them. "Look at them — I don't see any germs on them."

How do you explain the concept of germs for kids to understand? Should you just focus on the actions behind hygiene — washing your hands, catching your sneeze with your elbow and not sharing utensils or food — without dwelling on the explanations?

According to health experts, giving kids explanations or even educational activities behind these basic hygiene practices can go a long way toward helping them become more germ-conscious.

Know the nuts and bolts of germ education

Even young children can understand the basic concept of germs, according to Dr. Dina Kulik, M.D., a pediatric emergency medicine physician. She describes germs as tiny "bugs" that live on all things and explains to kids that sometimes these bugs can make you sick. When you're sick, you miss out on having fun, going to school and going to friends' homes. You can explain to older kids that these germs are called bacteria, she advises, and they're so small they can only be seen with a microscope. While they're not actually insects, they are living organisms that can grow and multiply quickly.

Dr. Danelle Fisher, M.D., a pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center, agrees on the importance of teaching even very young children about germs. In her opinion, it's important to explain to kids, as they get older, that some germs are good — for example, probiotics — and that others are bad, such as cold viruses. When they get even older, you can explain the difference between viruses and bacteria to them, so they understand why antibiotics can help with some illnesses but not others.

Point out several examples of ways that your child can avoid becoming sick from germs, such as coughing into her sleeve or washing her hands after blowing her nose. And there's one important step of teaching about germs for kids that many parents miss: having your child repeat back to you what you said so that you know that they understand it. Fisher believes that this step can help you clear up any misunderstandings before they take root.

Having a hard time figuring out how to explain such an abstract concept to your child? Consider using outside sources. "As pediatricians, we're always happy to help parents explain complex ideas to their children," says Fisher. If parents aren't sure what to say, they can ask their pediatrician for advice or even ask their pediatrician to broach the topic with the child.

Play games and activities about germs

Try one of these fun, interactive activities to teach your child about germs and how to stop them from spreading. 

1. Glitter Germs  In this activity from the Columbus Public Health website, sprinkle a little glitter on your child's hands. Then have them wash with just water. Repeat the experiment, washing with soap and water the second time. Have your child observe which method removes more glitter. You can also put glitter on your hand and touch your child's shoulder, hands and hair. Show them how the glitter (like germs) can spread by touch.

2. Everything You Touch This activity, also from Columbus Public Health, has children make and color their own germs and then tape them to anything they touch to see how widely germs spread by touch.

3. Connect the Dots Check out these lesson plans and activities at the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

4.  Happy Handwashing Song  Teach your kids this simple song from the CDC. Sing it twice through to reach the recommended time for handwashing.

5. Scrub Club  Go online and check out the songs and activities from NSF International.

6. Germs! Video Let kids learn about germs along with Sid the Science Kid and his parents in this short, animated video.

7. "Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands" Song Wash hands along with Little John in this sing-a-long video from Little Angel.

Watch out for hygiene overkill

While it's important to teach our kids about basic hygiene, some kids are prone to going overboard. In general, parents should have a relaxed, matter-of-fact attitude towards germs and cleanliness. While washing your hands after using the bathroom should be sacrosanct, keeping your hands completely clean at all times is not only unreasonable, it also may be unhealthy.

"The reason we're seeing more food allergies in children, according to one theory, is that we're doing too good for a job with hygiene," says Fisher. So if your child drops a raisin on the floor and wants to eat it, it probably isn't worth the battle. Just think of it as building up his immune system.

Kulik believes that the way you introduce germs for kids can affect whether they become overzealous about hygiene. "I try not to instill fear, as this can lead to over-washing," she says. "If kids think of them as cute little things, like a cartoon, they can understand we need to stay clear of them, but not be fearful." In addition, if your child seems to be obsessing a bit over hygiene, make sure you're modeling normal germ control and not going overboard yourself.

* This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be providing medical advice and is not a substitute for such advice. The reader should always consult a health care provider concerning any medical condition or treatment plan.  Neither Care.com nor the author assumes any responsibility or liability with respect to use of any information contained herein

More Activities

Select age appropriate activities from Care.com, like putting flour on kids' hands and having them touch things and shake hands to see how germs spread.

Create a free Brainpop Jr. account or access the free Washing Hands video by clicking here.

Project Work Time: Writing

After learning more about the importance of washing their hands, children can create an informational text or simple poster with pictures that teach others how to wash their hands, how to keep germs from spreading, or how germs do spread. Break down the steps, have kids draw pictures, and dictate/write words.

Project Work Time: Music/Writing

Listen to songs and write down the lyrics to songs that last for 20 seconds to help with hand-washing.  Children could make up their own songs, find a favorite poem, or develop a list of favorite people’s names or words to say. Write The goal is to have the text be equivalent to the recommended 20 seconds of scrubbing.

Checking for Understanding

Read over your child’s poster of steps to washing hands. Is it clear? Are there pictures and words?

Share Your Progress

Share photos of your child’s posters, or post song lyrics they chose to help with hand-washing.