A Teacher Did an Experiment to Show the Power of Handwashing, and You Can’t Stay Unimpressed
At times, a tangible demonstration trumps verbal explanations — this holds especially true when teaching children. With this notion in mind, Idaho-based educator Jaralee Metcalf set out to illustrate to her young students just how crucial proper hand hygiene is. Her approach has since caught the attention of a global audience!
We at Bright Insight were thoroughly captivated by the simplicity yet profound clarity of this experiment, and we simply couldn’t resist the urge to share it with you.
© Treddy Chen / unsplash, © depositphotos.com
In the onset of winter and with it flu season, Jaralee Metcalf, a behavioral specialist from Idaho Falls Elementary School, grew weary of the constant illness. Determined to teach her pupils about germ transmission and the vitality of hand cleansing, she devised a simple yet striking experiment.
The essence of the experiment
© Jaralee Annice Metcalf / facebook
Aiming to visually convey germ spread and the significance of regular and thorough handwashing, Jaralee involved her students in a simple task: children of varying levels of hand cleanliness were asked to touch five separate slices of white bread taken from the same loaf. Each slice was then sealed in its own plastic bag to observe changes over a month.
How the project unfolded
© Jaralee Annice Metcalf / facebook, © Jaralee Annice Metcalf / facebook, © Jaralee Annice Metcalf / facebook
Jaralee elaborates in her viral Facebook post — “We simply touched the bread with our hands.” — which subsequently was shared around 70,000 times.
The initial slice was swiped across the classroom’s laptops. Another, the control slice, remained untouched and was immediately placed inside a bag, labeled “Fresh & untouched.” A third was handled by the whole class with unwashed hands. The fourth slice was touched post hand-washing with warm soap and water. The fifth and final piece was handled after using hand sanitizer.
A laptop swabbed slice
© Jaralee Annice Metcalf / facebook
A month in, the laptop-tainted bread looked to be the most affected. Jaralee clarifies that while the school does clean their laptops, they bypassed this step for the experiment’s purposes.
The prowess of soap & warm water
© Jaralee Annice Metcalf / facebook, © Jaralee Annice Metcalf / facebook
The standout slice was, without question, number four. This sample, following a wash with soap and hot water, displayed no conspicuous bacterial presence, underscoring the lesson of regular handwashing for the children.
The “unwashed hands” slice
© Jaralee Annice Metcalf / facebook
Resulting in a dramatic display of mold, the third slice — the one labeled as “unwashed hands” — visually confirmed the need for hand hygiene without the need for extra commentary.
The “hand sanitizer” bread piece
© Jaralee Annice Metcalf / facebook
Moreover, the bread piece sterilized by hand sanitizer showcased unexpected bacteria growth, serving as a clear indicator that nothing beats a proper wash with soap. The experiment’s results, shared by Jaralee across Facebook, inspired not just many other schools but families as well to instill the practice of meticulous handwashing.
The findings from the hand sanitizer slice certainly give pause for thought! What tactics do you employ to encourage habitual and thorough handwashing in your young ones? We are eager to read your insights and strategies in the comment section below!
