Youth Activity Archive

Activity Description: Learn the difference between removing visible dirt and washing away invisible germs through a practical hand inspection and a handwashing exercise.

Items Needed:

• Wet wipes or damp paper towels
• Hand soap and running water
• Paper towels
• (Optional) Glitter or lotion to simulate germs

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 15–25 min):

1. Do a hand check. (5–10 min)
   • Check hands for any visible dirt or mud at the very beginning of the meeting. Use a wet wipe or damp paper towel to clean off any noticeable dirt.
   • Ensure all hands look visually clean before moving to the next activity.
2. Talk about invisible germs. (5 min)
   • Explain the concept of invisible germs and how important it is to have clean hands from germs right before snack time. Share that hands can look clean but still carry invisible germs that can transfer to food.
   • (Optional) Apply a tiny amount of glitter or lotion to their hands to demonstrate how hidden germs stick and spread to objects.
3. Wash hands. (5–10 min)
   • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Scrub all parts for 20 seconds. Turn off water while scrubbing hands to conserve water. Remind them all they should not get their hands wet after getting soap for at least 20 seconds so the water does not need to keep running.
   • Dry hands completely with a clean paper towel before eating.

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