Before the meeting:
- Print Germs Alive 5 Germy Bread Investigation observation sheet, one for each Cub Scout.
- Place two sandwich bags at each place where a Cub Scout will work.
- Set up handwashing station.
During the meeting:
- Gather the Cub Scouts and inform them that germs are alive. Like all living things germs need to eat. Some germs are bacteria or fungi that eat the same food you and I do. If we don’t properly wash our hands and we have germs on them the bacteria or fungi will get on it and start to eat it and will get so big you can see them without a microscope.
- Ask Cub Scouts to label their two bags. One is labeled Dirty Hands, and the other is labeled Clean Hands.
- Provide a piece of bread to each Cub Scout and ask them to gently touch the piece of bread on one side.
- Tell Cub Scouts to place this piece of bread into their bag labeled Dirty Hands.
- Ask Cub Scouts to wash their hands.
- Provide a piece of bread to each Cub Scout and ask them to gently touch the piece of bread on one side.
- Tell Cub Scouts to place this piece of bread into their bag labeled: Clean Hands.
- Wash hands.
- Ask Cub Scouts to take their two bags home and place them somewhere they can see them easily such as a table or windowsill. Make sure they are kept at room temperature.
- Ask Cub Scouts to check on their bread slices and record what they see on a piece of paper. Make sure to note the differences between the “Dirty Hands” and “Clean Hands” bread.
Tip: For extra fun, have an adult or den chief do the same experiment and add other options such as rubbing the bread on their cell phone or laptop. Share the results at the next den meeting.
