Hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of infections.

Ottawa Public Health. (2025). Chain of infection.

Canadian Pediatric Society. (2015). Well Beings: A Guide to Health in Child Care. Ottawa, Ontario, p. 148-249.

Canadian Pediatric Society. (2015). Well Beings: A Guide to Health in Child Care. Ottawa, Ontario, p. 148-149.

15-20 minutes

Learning Objective:

Children will learn that germs can spread on our hands and that soap helps to remove germs. As part of the learning objective, review the Gratitude Statement.

Materials:

• Shallow bowl or plate
• Water
• Ground black pepper
• Liquid dish soap

Method:

1. Ask the children if they have ever heard of germs before. Ask the following probing questions:
1. Does anyone know what germ is?
2. Has anyone ever seen a germ?
3. What does a germ do to people like me, you and others (e.g., parents, family members, friends, etc.)?
4. Why do we wash our hands?
5. When should we wash our hands?
2. Explain to the class that:
1. Germs are tiny living things that cannot be seen using their eyes, and that they are everywhere.
2. Some germs can make us sick and how washing our hands properly with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer, helps remove them. Review Hand Washing Steps.
3. When we do not wash our hands, we spread our germs, which can make others sick.
4. The pepper in this experiment will represent germs.
3. Fill a shallow bowl or plate with water, then sprinkle a generous amount of black pepper “germs” across the surface of the water.
4. Ask the children to predict what will happen when a finger touches the water.
5. Have a child gently touch the water with a clean finger. The pepper flakes will stick to their fingertip. Explain that just like pepper sticks to our fingers, germs can stick to our hands when we touch things around us.
6. Ask the children to predict what will happen when a finger with soap touches the water.
7. Help a child place a small drop of liquid soap on their fingertip and have the child’s soapy finger touch to the center of the water and watch the magic. The black pepper “germs” will instantly run away from the soapy finger to the edges of the bowl.
8. Review that the soap helps move germs away and keeps our hands clean. Washing our hands before eating, after using the bathroom, after playing outside, and after coughing or sneezing helps keep our hands clean and our bodies healthy.

Method:

1. Ask the children if they have ever heard of germs before. Ask the following probing questions:
   1. Does anyone know what germ is?
   2. Has anyone ever seen a germ?
   3. What does a germ to to people like me, you and others (e.g.. parents, family members, friends, etc.)?
2. Explain to the class that:
   1. Germs are tiny living things that cannot be seen using their eyes, and that they are everywhere.
   2. Germs can make us sick.
   3. Germs can be removed from hands with proper hand-washing techniques using soap and water or hand sanitizer. Review Hand Washing Steps.
3. To prepare the sensory bags, remove the label from the zip top bag using nail polish remover and a cotton ball.
4. Help each child trace one or both of their hands onto construction paper and carefully cut them out.
5. Help each child trim another sheet of construction paper so that it is the same size as the zip-top bag. This will be the background for sensory bags, so let each child choose a color they like. Hint: blue looks like water.
6. Help each child use a glue stick to attach their hand cutout(s) to the trimmed background paper. Let each child decorate their hand cutout(s) by drawing bubbles, jewelry, fingernails, or any other details with markers.
7. Help each child place the decorated construction paper behind the zip-top bag. Fold the edges of the bag around the paper and secure them with tape, leaving the zipper top open.
8. Have each child add a handful of small pom-poms to the bag. Then carefully squeeze enough clear gel into the bag to cover the background. Approximately ½ cup of gel.
9. Help seal the bag tightly, then fold the sealed edge over the back of the paper and secure it with additional tape. The sensory bag is ready to use!
10. Demonstrate how to push the germs (pom poms) off their hands using fingers or a small soft nail brush. Encourage each child to move all the “germs” off their hands.
11. Play a hand washing song on YouTube in the background as children prepare or play with their sensory bags.

15-30 minutes

Learning Objective:

The children will learn that washing their hands with soap and water gets rid of germs. As part of the learning objective, review the Gratitude Statement.

Materials:

• Poster of hand with germs (available for loan from the Health Unit)
• Pictures of liquid soap

Method:

1. Ask the children if they have ever heard of germs before. Ask the following probing questions:
   1. Does anyone know what a germ is?
   2. Has anyone ever seen a germ?
   3. What does a germ do to people like me, you and others (e.g., parents, family members, friends, etc.)?
2. Explain to the class that:
   1. Germs are tiny living things that cannot be seen using their eyes, and that they are everywhere.
   2. Germs can make us sick.
   3. Germs can be removed from hands with proper hand-washing techniques using soap and water or hand sanitizer. Review Hand Washing Steps.
3. Have children take turns placing pictures of soap on the hand to get rid of all the germs.

(Adapted with permission from Ottawa Public Health, 2013)

Learning Objective:

The children will recognize that germs can be on their hands even though they cannot be seen and that hand washing can remove germs from hands. As part of the learning objective, review the Gratitude Statement.

Materials:

• Glo-Germ Kit (available for loan from the Health Unit)
• Hand washing sink
• Liquid soap
• Paper towel

Method:

1. Ask the children if they have ever heard of germs before. Ask the following probing questions:
   1. Does anyone know what a germ is?
   2. Has anyone ever seen a germ?
   3. What does a germ do to people like me, you and others (e.g., parents, family members, friends, etc.)?
2. Explain to the class that:
   1. Germs are tiny living things that cannot be seen using their eyes, and that they are everywhere.
   2. Germs can make us sick.
   3. Germs can be removed from hands with proper hand-washing techniques using soap and water or hand sanitizer. Review Hand Washing Steps.
3. Place a small amount of Glo-Germ on each child’s hand and have the children rub the lotion all over their hands. Explain that, like the lotion, germs are on their hands although they cannot see them.
4. Have children place their hands under the UV light (you may have to dim the lights in the room). The areas that have Glo-Germ will glow under the light.
5. Have the children wash their hands and return to look at their hands under the UV light again. There should be a significant reduction in the areas that glow.
6. Discuss areas on their hands that are sometimes missed during hand washing (i.e. areas that continued to glow under the light). These are usually the thumbs, between the fingers, and around the fingernails. Encourage children to pay extra attention to these areas whenever hand washing. Explain that, like germs, the lotion can be washed off through proper hand washing.

15-20 minutes

Learning Objective: 

The children will learn more about where germs come from and how they are spread. As part of the learning objective, review the Gratitude Statement.

Materials:

• Sick Simon hard cover book or YouTube read along. 
• Spray bottle filled with fresh clean water. Setting should be on a very fine mist.
• Cut out of a Sick Simon’s face. Cut out a nose and use the spray bottle as a nose (put nozzle of spray bottle through the hole). 

Method:

1. Ask the children if they have ever heard of germs before. Ask the following probing questions:
   1. Does anyone know what a germ is?
   2. Has anyone ever seen a germ?
   3. What does a germ do to people like me, you and others (e.g., parents, family members, friends, etc.)?
2. Explain to the class that:
   1. Germs are tiny living things that cannot be seen using their eyes, and that they are everywhere.
   2. Germs can make us sick.
   3. Germs can be removed from hands with proper hand-washing techniques using soap and water or hand sanitizer. Review Hand Washing Steps.
3. Have the children sit in a circle or in their usual spots for story time. 
4. Tell the children that the story is about a little boy named Simon who has a bad cold. Show the children the “Simon” spray bottle. 
5. Read the story (or play the YouTube read along). Each time Simon sneezes, coughs, or spreads germs, lightly spray a mist of water toward the children to show how germs can travel. Let the children know beforehand that they may feel a little mist if they are sitting close by. 

Additional Resources:

Some additional activities are available for school-age children. Help Sick Simon navigate the maze and get rid of bad germs.

15-30 minutes

Learning Objective:

The children will learn the proper moments for hand washing. As part of the learning objective, review the Gratitude Statement.

Materials:

• Printed photos of activities (petting dog, playing on swing set, using toilet, eating food, playing sports, sensory table play, dirty hands, blowing nose)
• Printed signs (“BEFORE” and “AFTER”) 
• Tape

Method:

1. Ask the children if they have ever heard of germs before. Ask the following probing questions:
   1. Does anyone know what a germ is?
   2. Has anyone ever seen a germ?
   3. What does a germ do to people like me, you and others (e.g., parents, family members, friends, etc.)?
2. Explain to the class that:
   1. Germs are tiny living things that cannot be seen using their eyes, and that they are everywhere.
   2. Germs can make us sick.
   3. Germs can be removed from hands with proper hand-washing techniques using soap and water or hand sanitizer. Review Hand Washing Steps.
3. Post the “BEFORE” and “AFTER” signs on a wall or board.
4. Show the children photos of activities one at a time.
5. After showing a photo of an activity, ask the children if they would wash their hands “BEFORE” or “AFTER” this activity. Tape the photo under or near the appropriate sign.

Note: Some of the activities may require handwashing “BEFORE” and “AFTER”. See the answer key page.

(Adapted with permission from Ottawa Public Health, 2013)

Learning Objective:

Children will learn how easily germs are spread, and how hand washing can prevent the spread of germs. As part of the learning objective, review the Gratitude Statement.

Materials:

• Glitter glue
• Hand washing sink
• Liquid soap
• Paper towels

Method:

1. Ask the children if they have ever heard of germs before. Ask the following probing questions:
   1. Does anyone know what a germ is?
   2. Has anyone ever seen a germ?
   3. What does a germ do to people like me, you and others (e.g., parents, family members, friends, etc.)?
2. Explain to the class that
   1. Germs are tiny living things that cannot be seen using their eyes, and that they are everywhere.
   2. Germs can make us sick.
   3. Germs can be removed from hands with proper hand-washing techniques using soap and water or hand sanitizer. Review Hand Washing Steps.

Part 1

1. Place a small amount of glitter glue on the hands of five children.
2. Ask the children to shake hands/high-five with two of their classmates that do no already have glitter.
3. Ask the children to raise their hands if they have glitter on them.
4. Ask how this is similar to how germs spread through hands (glitter represents germs).

Part 2

1. Ask all children to wash their hands using the proper steps of hand washing.
2. Ask the children to shake hands/high-five with each other again.
3. Ask the children to raise their hands if they have glitter on them (no student should have any glitter on their hands).
4. Ask how hand washing prevents the spread of germs.

20-40 minutes

(Adapted with permission from Ottawa Public Health, 2013)

Learning Objective:

Children will learn songs to help them wash their hands for the proper amount of time (20 seconds). As part of the learning objective, review the Gratitude Statement.

Materials:

• One of the songs or chants included on the next pages.

Method:

1. Ask the children if they have ever heard of germs before. Ask the following probing questions:
   1. Does anyone know what a germ is?
   2. Has anyone ever seen a germ?
   3. What does a germ do to people like me, you and others (e.g., parents, family members, friends, etc.)?
2. Explain to the class that
   1. Germs are tiny living things that cannot be seen using their eyes, and that they are everywhere.
   2. Germs can make us sick.
   3. Germs can be removed from hands with proper hand-washing techniques using soap and water or hand sanitizer. Review Hand Washing Steps.
3. Teach and sing the songs or chants listed on the following pages.
4. While children are simulating hand washing techniques, everyone sings or chants the same tune, for approximately 20 seconds.
5. To add to the experience for the children, the class can wash their hands in the class sink or take turns in the bathroom.