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Your body has a team of defenders called the immune system. Its job is to stop harmful germs from making you ill.

Your skin is like a strong wall. It helps keep germs out of your body.

Sticky mucus in your nose traps germs. Your tears and spit have something in them that can break down some germs.

Inside your body, white blood cells travel in your blood, looking for problems. Some of them gobble up germs.

Experiment: Glitter germs

1. The teacher puts a little hand cream on your hands and sprinkles on some glitter. These are pretend germs!
2. Shake hands with a friend or touch a book. Where do the 'germs' go?
3. Try to wash the glitter off in a bowl of water with no soap. Rub for 20 seconds (sing 'Happy Birthday' twice). Look: how much is left?
4. Now wash with soap and water, rubbing the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails for 20 seconds.
5. Dry your hands. Which way worked better?

	How much glitter is left? (lots / some / a little)
Before washing	Which wash will remove more glitter?
After water only	Which wash will remove more glitter?
After soap and water	Which wash will remove more glitter?

Questions

1. Draw yourself washing your hands. Show the soap!

   🍎

2. Name one part of your body that helps keep germs out.

3. The glitter came off better with water only / with soap and water.

   water only / soap and water

4. Why should we wash our hands before eating?

Sources for every fact on this sheet: echoesof.science/school/immune-system/sources/

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