How Clean Are Our Hands?

In September, our young Year 1 scientists carried out a very exciting (and slightly yucky!) experiment to find out how clean our hands really are. We used slices of bread to see what germs might be hiding on our skin — even when our hands look clean.

We set up several controls to test different surfaces and cleaning methods:

• Soap and water: hands washed properly

• Hand sanitiser: hands cleaned with sanitiser

• Pencil: handled as an example of a shared object

• Laptop: touched to represent technology we use every day

• Carpet: touched to see what germs might stick from the floor

Each slice of bread was carefully handled according to its control, then sealed in a labelled bag. At first, not much seemed to be happening, so we had to be patient and let the mould grow for a little while.

After a few weeks, the changes became clear! Some slices quickly developed mould, while others stayed mostly clear. The children noticed patterns and discussed how washing hands properly or using sanitiser can reduce germs, and how everyday objects like pencils, laptops, or even carpet can carry germs we can’t see.

This fun, slightly icky experiment showed us that germs are everywhere — but good hygiene really does make a difference!

Our Scientists Pose with the Bread That Proved Just How Sneaky Germs Can Be!