What are Germs?

Daily Question:  Do you know what a germ is? (How do I get sick?  How can I avoid getting sick?  How do I wash my hands properly?)  These are all questions we answered in preschool today.

Toys:  Play Doh, Linkin Blocks, Mega Blox Road Racer and track Set, Traffic Rug and Race Cars.

 

Snacks:  Sliced bananas and Goldfish Crackers 

Discussion:  What are Germs?
We learned that germs are all around us. Germs are so tiny that we cannot see them without a special machine called a microscope. There are different types of germs. Some are called viruses and some bacteria and they could make us sick. They come in many different shapes.

Recess:

Germ Identifying Activity:  After recess, we all lined up and washed hands and those who chose to used some lavender lotion.  We sat in a circle to begin a "Getting to Know You" ball activity.  I made a big show of sneezing on the ball (in the which I slipped some tiny purple glitter--representing "germs" onto the ball.)  As we rolled the ball around and shook hands, the glitter was distributed so that pretty soon, the children looked down to find the glitter germs all over their hands.  We read some books and talked about how you don't see germs but they are there.  That is why we wash our hands--to keep from catching or spreading germs.  We also practiced "safe sneezing" into an elbow, sleeve, shirt front, or tissue and then washing hands.

 





 

 

 We learned about proper hand washing and then went to the bathroom to practice scrubbing our hands and singing the alphabet or a Happy Birthday song while we clean under our nails, "inside, outside, and in between" our fingers, rinse and then dry our hands on a clean towel.

Show N' Teach:

Ethan & Kayson brought in disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer.

 

Brody showed us his tissues.

Eleanor showed us her favorite Lamb.

For our follow-up art activity, we used glitter glue on traced hands (the glitter representing microscopic "germs"). In our mini discussion group, we talked about how frequent hand washing before meals/snacks and after playing outside or being at school will keep us from catching germs and getting sick. We also spoke briefly about coughing and sneezing into our elbow, hands, or a tissue and then washing our hands to keep others from catching the same "bug." Also, we need enough sleep and to eat nutritious foods to keep us healthy.

Some books on germs:

Another book about how medicine works to help us feel better after getting a "bug" is Buz by Richard Egielski.

Related song:

The Green Grass Grew All Around. (The children laugh at the end of this cumulative song because they speak of a tiny germ that jumps on a flea.)

Books we read and talked about today:
Show & Tell Day by Anne Rockwell& Lizzy Rockwell
Germs Are Not For Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick & Marieka Heinlen