simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, hands-on learning, hygiene, Interactive Activity for Students, Science

Teach Kids to Prevent Germs with this Science Experiment

I love getting books for my son that explain basic germ prevention, hygiene and life skills. One day we were looking in the Children’s Science section of the library and saw the book, You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Soap! by Alex Woolf and Mark Bergin.

This book gives children the history of soap, how it is made and why it works. We learned that before soap was invented, people used urine, incense smoke, clay, sand pumice, and ashes to clean themselves.

The pictures in this book are colorful and appealing to children. It will make your children laugh, say “ewwww”, and become more curious. The authors have included hands-on activities and tips that will further your child’s understanding of soap and its purpose.

One experiment we did involved ingredients you have in your home such as oil, water, and dishwashing liquid. It teaches kids why soap is a better cleaner than water by itself. My son learned that water and oil don’t mix, so washing with water only leaves most of the dirt behind.

I will show you the experiment and other discoveries we made.

Let’s Get Started!

Materials Needed:

  • Cooking Oil
  • Water
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Jars (2)

Directions:

  • Put cooking oil and water in a jar.
Cory pouring water in a jar.
Now he is mixing oil with water.
  • Screw on the lid and shake
  • The oil and water should separate into layers
The water and oil have separated.
  • Add drops of dishwashing liquid to the jar and shake again
We are adding dishwashing liquid to the oil and water.
  • This time it should make a cloudy mixture
  • Oil and water are no longer separate layers
Here is our cloudy mixture of water, oil, and dishwashing liquid.
  • Compare two jars.
    • One jar should have oil and water.
    • The second jar should have a mixture of oil, water, and dishwashing liquid.
The left jar has water, oil, and dishwashing liquid. The right jar has oil and water.

Why this Experiment Works and How Germs are Washed Away

  • Most dirt contains oil.
  • Oil and water do not mix so washing with water only leaves most dirt behind.
  • Soap binds to water, dirt, and oil.
  • The tail of soap molecules attach to oil.
  • The head of soap sticks to water.
  • When soapy water mixes with dirt, the soap molecules form tiny clusters called micelles.
  • When you wash your hands with soap, dirt mixed with oil from your skin is pulled inside the micelles, then rinsed away.
  • In the experiment, the soap molecules grabbed the oil and water making a cloudy mixture in the jar.

I hope this helps! Have fun with this experiment!

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simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, game, hands-on learning, hygiene, morning routine

6 Games/Activities for Kids and Parents to Make your Morning Routine Efficient

I am a full-time working mom who occasionally rushes in the morning. There is so much to do such as packing my three-year-old’s lunch and snacks, exercise, get myself and son dressed, and so much more.

When I am in a hurry, it does not transfer well to my son. He is probably thinking, “Why do I have to do everything so fast?” 

One way I have solved this problem is by getting up earlier and playing games to lighten our morning routine. 

Below are some of the games we play…

Stop (Freeze) and Dance

Have your child dance in between self-care activities. Below are examples…

  1. DANCE to the bathroom then STOP to use the toilet. 
  2. Do a little DANCE to the sink then STOP to wash hands.
  3. DANCE while at the sink.
  4. STOP when they have to brush their teeth.

My son loves this game. It helps him to get dressed faster. When he STOPS, it provides an opportunity to focus on his self-care activity. Plus, this game encourages us to laugh in the morning.

Race against the Clock

Tell your child they have a certain amount of time to do a task. Then challenge them to beat the clock!

  1. Tell your child they have 45 seconds to take off their pajamas.
  2. Count to 45 and see if your child has beaten the clock. 
  3. Count in different languages if you are teaching your child to be bilingual.
  4. If you see your child struggling with a task, count a little slower to give them a better chance to win.
  5. You may also help your child with the task, so both of you are racing against the clock. 

This is a fun and educational game in the morning. For young children, it is a great time to practice counting. Once your child becomes more efficient in a self-care task, they will complete it faster. My son really concentrates during this activity because he wants to beat the clock and he is competitive!

Chant to put clothes in hamper or wherever they belong

Say a chant to encourage your child to put clothes in the hamper

  1. Our chant is “Shirt, pants, underwear, and socks in the basket!”
  2. We repeat this chant loud while marching from the bathroom to the bedroom.

This is a great way to incorporate song and movement in the mornings! The repetition in the chant helps the child to concentrate on one task at a time without getting distracted. Sometimes, we will clap and stomp our feet to make the chant more musical.

Storytime to keep child still while brushing their hair or putting on lotion

Tell a quick story that will interest your child and keep them still.

  1. I usually tell silly stories about skunks, elephants, cartoon characters, and cars.
  2. Create child friendly stories that will keep their attention.

After dancing and chanting, my son usually wants to move around. In order to settle him, I tell a story that interests him.  He likes stories where a problem is being solved. Sometimes, I will ask him to fill in the story details to ensure he is paying attention. This is a great activity to help your child listen, focus, and use their imagination.

Race Against You

You and your child have to put your shoes on before going out the door, right? Why not make it a friendly competition?

  1. We start the race by grabbing our shoes.
  2. My son says “Ready, set, go!”
  3. Then we both hurry to put our shoes on.
  4. The person to put their shoes on first, wins!

This is another friendly game that gets my son moving in the mornings. Sometimes, I forget to mention this game before putting our shoes on. However, he does not let me forget and reminds me every time!

Another Chant to Move Things Along

We say a catchy chant to go downstairs or to get dressed.

  1. Our chant is “LET’S GO FLOW JOE, LET’S GO!”
  2. We repeat this chant to help us get things done in the morning!

This chant is a reminder to us both that there is a certain task we need to complete. It helps us get finish quickly and more efficiently. We are definitely more focused when it is time for this chant!

Incorporate these games in the morning and make it a fun time! It has definitely help us to lighten our morning routine!

Happy Morning Play!

What are some tactics used in your household in the mornings?

OUR KID FRIENDLY FAST & FUN STUDY TRICKS FOR BETTER GRADES: 9 FUN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND SCHOOL HAS $29 OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE.

Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.“

THE TEACH YOUR TODDLER TO READ THROUGH PLAY ONLINE COURSE HAS A $97 DISCOUNT.

Click here for the PAYMENT PLAN OPTION!