The simple experiment of slices of bread to analyze the effects of germs

Jaralee Metcalf is a teacher who raised in her elementary school an experiment with slices of bread to study the effects of dirt on hands on food. He is inspired by an experiment he found in the children's area of ​​C.S. Michigan hospital.

It is so simple that anyone can do it and, best of all, understand it by seeing its effects after a few days. Simply take several slices of a bread roll container carefully and store it in transparent bags. One is kept carefully without touching it (or with gloves or tweezers), the rest touching them with clean hands, dirty hands, freshly washed hands or - as they did in their class - by rebozting them on the keyboard of one of the Chromebooks of class.

The simple experiment of slices of bread to analyze the effects of germs / Jaralee Metcalf The slices are labeled and hung on the wall and just wait. The effects began to be apparent at 3-4 weeks, something they believe is due to the preservatives that bread has, but this can vary. While the one that did not have "human contact" is reasonably well preserved, the rest show spots and mold where they came into contact with the germs, to varying degrees. Germs of which there are many on a computer keyboard.

The experiment is very "homemade" but effective; The teacher remembers that some form of "control slice" or other subtleties can be added, but to be an elementary school, the result is certainly not bad. Moral: It's important to wash your hands!