It's cold season again and at RisingOaks | John Sweeney, Preschool two is learning about germs and how we can get in contact with germs. At our gathering time we discussed ways we can get germs in the classroom and in our homes. The Preschoolers talked about touching door knobs, touching toys that have been in people’s mouths, using the washroom without washing hands, etc. Through our daily conversations we talk about ways we can get rid of germs and are healthy for the rest of the winter season, so we did a science experiment to help learn about germs.
The children created a circle and we placed a bin with water, we then added black pepper as germs into the water. The children first added one finger into the black pepper water and nothing happened as they dipped a finger into soap and placed it into the water the black pepper started to move into clumps. Each child tried the science experiment and was amazed how soap washed away the germs that were in the water. At the end of the experiment the children were saying, “Cleaning hands with soap takes all the germs away.” and, “Can we try it again?”. The next day we extended the experiment to friends that wanted to try it again, the educator grabbed bins and filled with water and added the black pepper, and the children added soap to their fingers and placed it in the water continuously to see the pepper fade away. By observation of this activity they recognized that soap helps clean our hands from all the germs to keep us healthy.
The educators noticed with this experience the children are gaining independent skills and learning self-help skills. Through daily practise and routines the Preschoolers have learned about being hygienic and taking care of themselves. Through practise at school, they are learning to take this practise of cleaning germs home where they continue to promote well-being and caring for others.
