Black Light Germ Spray Experiment for Preschoolers

Black Light Germ Spray Preschool Experiment

Using science experiments to teach preschoolers about germs can be an effective way to help them understand the concepts of germs and the importance of handwashing.  Using black lights, and spray bottles preschoolers will uncover how germs hang around even when we can't see them! Black light germ spray experiment is a great hands-on experiment that your preschoolers will want to do over and over, again!

Preschoolers are naturally curious and love exploring the world around them. By conducting hands-on experiments, they can learn by doing and experiencing, which can help them remember the lesson better. Visual representations with science experiments are important for preschoolers because they help to make abstract concepts more concrete and understandable.
Follow along with this easy tutorial that you can do with your preschoolers to reinforce this skill development. 

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Materials:

• Blacklight flashlight 
• Tonic water
• Spray bottle

*If you're doing this with a big group we suggest giving each of your students a spray bottle with a little bit of liquid

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Let's Get Started 

Before jumping into this experiment have a discussion with your preschoolers about germs and how they like to linger on places that we touch. Ask questions about what are steps we can take to reduce germs and stay healthy. Setting the tone before this experiment will help them understand the purpose of what they' doing.

After you've talked about germs and where they like to live. Quickly demonstrate the black light and what it does. Then, you can fill each spray bottle with a little bit of tonic water for your students. I suggest giving each child a spray bottle because they're so fun to use. 

Teacher tip: give a quick reminder about how even though it's a small spray....a little goes a long way!

Encourage preschoolers to spray surfaces that we often touch including tables, hands, faucets, and places that they tend to touch the most throughout the day.

Ask your preschoolers to make a prediction about what will happen when you shut off the lights and use the black-light flashlights. 
 
*Remind them that the droplets are the "germs" 
Preschoolers are at a stage of development where they are very curious and eager to learn about the world around them. They are also at a stage where they are still developing their language skills and their ability to think abstractly. Visual representations in science experiments help to overcome these challenges by providing a tangible and observable way for preschoolers to engage with scientific concepts. Similarly, using the black-light tonic water experiment to show the presence of germs and the effectiveness of handwashing can make it easier for preschoolers to understand and remember the importance of handwashing.

Now have your preschoolers use the blacklight to revisit all of the places they sprayed the tonic water and watch how amazed they will be.

Now, compare this to germs. Reminding them the importance of washing hands, and cleaning surfaces because germs are invisible. Explain that washing hands with soap and water helps remove germs from our hands and can prevent us from getting sick.

If you're looking for another activity to pair with this, you can have add a bit of glitter to hand sanitizer and have preschoolers put a little bit on. They will wash their hands and with the blacklight flashlights they can see how much is left.
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Science experiments stimulate children's curiosity and inspire them to ask questions and explore the world around them. By observing and interacting with the materials and equipment used in the experiments, children can develop their observational and analytical skills, as well as their ability to make connections between what they see and what they know.

We hope you enjoyed this experiment and that your preschoolers have a better understanding of germs!

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