How can we stop germs in their tracks?
GERMS. They lurk in every classroom. Each year, students miss an estimated 164 MILLION school days due to illness. In this project, students will fight back against these microscopic monsters with this public-service project designed to make your school—and the world—a safer and healthier place. They will collect germs from common surfaces such as desks, laptops, and more. Then they’ll test the effectiveness of disinfectants in fighting germs. Finally, they’ll create a public service announcement for their school!
Imagine if kids could keep themselves and their families healthier by developing smart habits to protect against germs. What a great way to build healthy routines to last a lifetime!
What’s included in your project?
Project Plan and Resources
Learning Targets
Lesson 1: Students begin to understand how germs spread.
Lesson 2: Students design a fair test to investigate the spread of germs.
Lesson 3: Students learn about and share knowledge about germs.
Lesson 4: Students make observations on germ growth.
Lesson 5: Students learn how to structure a public service announcement.
Lesson 6: Students create a first draft for their PSA.
Lesson 7: Students understand how to refine the work of their peers.
Lesson 8: Students share their PSAs with the world.
For lesson descriptions, download the project overview.
For K–8 content connections, download the content correlations.
Online Resources
Interactive Games and Activities
- Battle That Bacteria! Experiment Plan*
- Bread and Bacteria Investigation Plan
- Do You See What I See? Germ Observation Sheet
- Experiment Data Spreadsheet
- Fair Testing: The Unfairness of it All! Activity
- Glitter Games
- Following Directions Activity
- Measuring the Area of Weird Shapes Activity
- Observation and Data Analysis Form
Websites and Videos
- Meet the Microbes Article
- Model PSA Radio
- New Hand-Washing Tool Prevents Germs from Spreading Article
- KidsHealth.org
- Skype a Scientist
- Video: A Short History of Humans and Germs*
- Video: Experiment Data Sheet Tutorial
- Video: Glitter Germs
- Video: Growing Bacteria—Sick Science! #210
- Video: How Germs Spread
- Video: How to Prevent the Flu
- Video: How to Stop the Spread of Germs
- Video: Model PSA Kid President
- Video: Don’t Text and Drive PSA
- Video: Preventing the Spread of Illness
- Video: Qualitative vs. Quantitative Cheer
- Video: Prevent the Spread Student PSA
- Video: Science Project – Growing Bacteria In A Petri Dish
- Video: Speak Up PSA
- What are Germs? Article
Additional Resources
- Book List*
- Characteristics of an Effective Public Service Announcement
- Do You See What I See? Germ Observation Sheet
- Editing and Revising a PSA Checklist
- Fair Testing: No Fair! Resource
- Home Letter
- How to Create a PSA Guide
- Kid-Safe Search Sites List
- Learn the Germs Fact Sheet
- Let’s Learn about Germs! Resource
- Model PSA Poster
- Press Release
- Reflection Journal
- Share Fair Invitation
- Student Self-Assessment Rubric
- Teacher Assessment Rubric
- Virtual Student Edition
All lessons include:
- In-person, virtual, and hybrid options
- Modifications for primary grade students and/or emerging readers
About the Author
Each Blue Apple Project Includes:
- Engaging lessons designed to make learning memorable, meaningful, and fun
- Curated online resources to save you time searching for content
- In-person, virtual, and hybrid options for all learning environments
- Cross-curricular mini-lessons in English-Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Social-Emotional Learning
- Videos and contact info provided by real-world experts willing to meet with your students
- Opportunities to collaborate with other classrooms doing the same project
- Free project supplies to get you started right away
