ScienceMakers Toolkit Manual - The History Makers

Life Science
116
- Note: most viruses do not live long outside of a host. Most are transported directly from host
to host.
• Instead of exchanging microscopic particles (which may include viruses) by shaking hands, we are going to
use test tubes and eyedroppers. Divide into groups of four and exchange fl uid.
- Give each person you meet a couple drops from your test tube and have them give you a couple drops
from theirs.
• What I didn’t tell you is that _______ had the fl u and he/she might have spread it!
• What we are going to do: a test to see who is sick with the pretend fl u.
- I am going to add a drop of pretend virus/fl u detector to each test tube. If your test tube is green, you
are ok and healthy. If your test tube is red, you are not ok and have the fl u.
• Test patient zero fi rst, then the rest
• NOTE: do not tell the class that the fl u test is an acid/base indicator. That is not the point of the whole
experiment
• We can pass viruses from person to person without even knowing it and then we get sick! It is no fun to be
sick all of the time!
- Also, some viruses can live on surfaces we touch, what can we do?
• NOTE: Once we have a virus, there isn’t much we can do. Antibiotics work for bacterial infections, not
viruses.
1st Line of Defense
• PREVENT SPREAD (Kleenex demo)
- Viruses can travel through sneezes.
- Tell the class that you have the fl u, and “sneeze” on them with the spray bottle. Tell them my fake fl u
virus particles are now all over them and they might get sick too.
- Fastest sneeze recorded was 102 miles per hour, so the audience might get sick too.
- What can we do? Use a Kleenex! Repeat using Kleenex.
• Note: If you do not have a Kleenex, sneeze into your elbow – we don’t shake elbows!
• PROPER HYGIENE (hand washing demo)
- CDC: “Handwashing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection.”
• Have several people put on fake virus lotion.
• Instruct one not to wash.
• Instruct one to wash with water.
• Instruct one to wash with soap and water.
• Instruct one to wash with soap, warm water, for a while (20 seconds . . . so “Happy Birthday” twice).
- NOTE: depending on your audience, either have them sing “Happy Birthday” or tell them gross stories
about people not washing their hands)
• Check whose hands are cleanest.
• So wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds (antibacterial soap is not necessary).
- Tell the class that regular soap is good and that antibacterial soap is bad. Why?
• It creates superbugs (kills the weak bacteria and leaves the strong bacteria).
• It doesn’t kill viruses.
2nd Line of Defense
• Vaccine experiment (explain vaccines after you do the experiment)
- Give everyone a test tube.
- This time I have the fl u and I am going to give everyone my virus (give each a squirt of vinegar).
- Did everyone get the fl u from me?
- We are going to test again, red = sick, green = healthy.