Glo Germ Classroom Activities and Experiments

Glo Germ is a lotion, gel or powder that acts like simulated germs and glows under UV light, so students can see where "germs" end up after they shake hands, touch surfaces or wash. Below are ready-to-run classroom activities with materials, time and grade level, plus free printable worksheets.

Which Glo Germ activities can I run in class?

Activity	Grades	Time	You need	What students learn
The Handshake Chain	K to 2	15 min	UV lamp, Glo Germ gel, soap, water, paper towels	Germs pass from hand to hand
How Well Did We Wash?	K to 3	20 min	UV lamp, Glo Germ gel, sink, soap, paper towels	Where handwashing misses, and how technique improves it
Germ Detective: Surface Trail	2 to 5	30 min	UV lamp, Glo Germ powder, a doorknob, pencil or ball, paper for notes	How simulated germs spread from surfaces to hands
The Glove Challenge	5 to 8	25 min	UV lamp, Glo Germ gel, disposable gloves (non-latex), soap, water	Technique when removing gloves
Data Experiment: Quick Rinse vs 20-Second Soap and Water Wash	4 to 8	40 min	UV lamp, Glo Germ gel, sink, soap, timer, results table, graph paper	How to run a fair test, record data and graph results

The Handshake Chain

• Grades: K to 2
• Time: 15 minutes
• You need: UV lamp, Glo Germ gel, soap, water, paper towels

What students learn: Germs pass from hand to hand.

Steps

1. Dim the lights, or set up the Soft Glo Box.
2. Put a small amount of gel on one student's hands. This student is the starter.
3. The starter shakes hands with two classmates. Each of them shakes hands with one more student.
4. Bring each student to the UV lamp and hold their hands under it, one at a time.
5. Count the glowing hands and trace how the glow travelled from the starter.
6. Have everyone wash, then check again under UV.

What to look for under UV

Glowing hands on students who never touched the gel bottle. The glow shows how simulated germs pass from hand to hand.

Discussion questions

• Who got glow without touching the gel?
• How many handshakes did it take to reach the last student?
• What could we do to stop it travelling?

Pair it with the free grade-level printables on the school worksheets page.

How Well Did We Wash?

• Grades: K to 3
• Time: 20 minutes
• You need: UV lamp, Glo Germ gel, sink, soap, paper towels

What students learn: Where handwashing misses, and how technique improves it.

Steps

1. Each student rubs a small amount of gel over both hands.
2. Students wash their hands the way they normally would.
3. Check each pair of hands under the UV lamp. Note where the glow remains.
4. Teach the 20-second technique (see how to handwash) and have students wash again.
5. Check under UV a second time and compare with the first check.

What to look for under UV

Missed spots are usually thumbs, fingertips and between the fingers. Less glow on the second check shows the technique working.

Discussion questions

• Where did you find the most glow the first time?
• What did you do differently the second time?

Pair it with the free grade-level printables on the school worksheets page.

Germ Detective: Surface Trail

• Grades: 2 to 5
• Time: 30 minutes
• You need: UV lamp, Glo Germ powder, a doorknob, pencil or ball, paper for notes

What students learn: How simulated germs spread from surfaces to hands.

Steps

1. Before class, apply a light dusting of powder to one object, such as a doorknob, pencil or ball. Keep powder away from faces and eyes.
2. Students go through their normal routine, passing the object or using the door.
3. Turn down the lights. Check students' hands, desks and nearby surfaces under UV.
4. Have teams mark on a sketch of the room every place they find glow.
5. Trace the trail back to the starting object and describe how it spread.
6. Wipe down surfaces and wash hands to finish.

What to look for under UV

Glow on hands and surfaces that were never dusted. Each glowing spot is a stop on the trail.

Discussion questions

• Which surface had the most glow?
• Who touched it first?
• Where would you look for the trail next time?

Pair it with the free grade-level printables on the school worksheets page.

The Glove Challenge

• Grades: 5 to 8
• Time: 25 minutes
• You need: UV lamp, Glo Germ gel, disposable gloves (non-latex), soap, water

What students learn: Technique when removing gloves.

Steps

1. Students put on gloves. Apply gel to the outside of the gloves.
2. Students remove the gloves the way they think is best, without instruction.
3. Check bare hands under UV and record any glow.
4. Teach a glove-removal technique that keeps the outside of the glove from touching skin.
5. Repeat with fresh gloves and gel, then compare the two checks.

What to look for under UV

Glow on bare hands after the first attempt shows where the outside of the glove touched skin. Compare it with the second attempt. See also how quickly germs spread even with gloves.

Discussion questions

• Where did the glow end up on your hands?
• What changed in your technique the second time?

Pair it with the free grade-level printables on the school worksheets page.

Data Experiment: Quick Rinse vs 20-Second Soap and Water Wash

• Grades: 4 to 8
• Time: 40 minutes
• You need: UV lamp, Glo Germ gel, sink, soap, timer, results table, graph paper

What students learn: How to run a fair test, record data and graph results.

Steps

1. Split the class into two groups: a quick rinse (about 5 seconds under running water) and a full wash (soap and water for 20 seconds, timed).
2. Every student applies the same amount of gel to both hands.
3. Each group cleans their hands using their assigned method.
4. Check each pair of hands under the UV lamp. Score the glow that remains from 0 (none) to 5 (a lot).
5. Record each score in a results table, one row per student.
6. Find the average score for each method and draw a bar graph.

What to look for under UV

How much simulated germ remains after each method. This measures how well each method removes simulated germs, nothing more.

Discussion questions

• Which method left the least glow?
• What could make our test unfair?
• What would we change to test again?

Grade 5 students can pair it with the Grade 5 section of the school worksheets page.

What do I need to run these activities?

Most classes are well served by Kit 1004 or Kit 1007, which pair a UV flashlight with gel or oil and powder. The Premium Mini Kit suits small groups. To compare options, read Best Germ Kit for Schools, or browse everything on the shop.

How do I set up the room?

• Dim the lights, or use a Soft Glo Box so each student can check their hands in a bright room.
• Set up a handwashing station with soap and paper towels before you start.
• Keep the lamp pointed at hands and surfaces, and never into anyone's eyes.
• Wipe down surfaces afterward, especially any that had powder.

Is Glo Germ safe for students?

Read the safety data sheets and the product label before your first session. The gel contains soy oil, so check for soy allergies before applying it to skin. An adult should supervise every activity.

Can I add a plush germ to the lesson?

Giant Microbes plush toys give students a "meet the germ" moment before or after an activity. See the Giant Microbes collection.

Frequently asked questions