Scrub the Germs Away: How to Wash Your Hands
Germs are so tiny that you cannot see them, even with the sharpest eyes. Thousands of germs can hide on just one fingertip! Some germs can make your tummy hurt or give you a cough. The good news? Soap and water wash those germs right down the drain. Washing your hands is like a superpower you can use every single day.
What You'll Learn
- Why germs are hard to see but easy to catch - The 5 steps to wash your hands the right way - How long to scrub (hint: sing a song!) - The best times of day to wash
Why Soap Works
Germs like to stick to the oil and dirt on your skin. Soap grabs that oil and lets the water carry it away. When you rub your hands with soap, you make bubbles. Those bubbles help pull the germs off your skin. That is why we scrub instead of just splashing water.
Scrub for about 20 seconds. That is how long it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' two times. Sing it slow and do not stop scrubbing until you are done!
The 5 Washing Steps
1. WET your hands with warm water. 2. SOAP up and make lots of bubbles. 3. SCRUB the tops, the palms, between your fingers, and under your nails. 4. RINSE all the bubbles off. 5. DRY with a clean towel. Do every step, even the tricky spots between your fingers where germs love to hide.
When Should You Wash?
Wash your hands BEFORE you eat, so germs do not go into your mouth. Wash AFTER you use the bathroom. Wash after you play outside, pet an animal, or cough and sneeze into your hands. Ava washes before lunch every day. Because she washes, she catches fewer colds and can play with her friends more.
How long should you scrub your hands with soap?
Match each moment to whether you should wash your hands then.
Terms
Definitions
Drag terms onto their definitions, or click a term then click a definition to match.
Why do we use soap instead of just water?
Glitter Germ Test
1. Ask a grown-up to put a tiny bit of glitter on your dry hands. Pretend the glitter is germs. 2. Try to shake it off with only water. Notice how much glitter stays. 3. Now wash with soap for 20 seconds using all 5 steps. 4. Look at your hands. Draw a before-and-after picture showing how much 'germ glitter' the soap washed away. Your deliverable is the two pictures with your name on them.
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