Scripture: Exodus 19
Learning Objectives:
- Students will review the ten commandments and how they were given lovingly by God to protect us.
- Students will learn there were other laws given on Sinai, including laws regarding diet and health.
- Students will learn the importance of cleanliness and not spreading germs.
Guiding Question: How can students learn how quickly germs spread?
Materials: Flour, soap, water
Procedure: Review the story of Moses on Mt. Sinai focusing on the Ten Commandments. Emphasize that even though it seems like a long list of things that we cannot do, it is actually a blessing because it protects us. It also leaves a very long list of things that we can do. It would be worse if there were only ten things that we could do! Emphasize the use of the word “not.” Explain that some of the laws God gave Moses helped slow the spread of disease and infections.
Have the students wet their hands and cover their hands in flour. Then have students do some regular tasks at their desks, including passing an item to the person next to them. How quickly do their flour “germs” spread to other surfaces and people! Teach students proper hand washing techniques to wash the flour “germs” off of the things they touched and their hands.
Additional Questions: How can students see how germs evolve?
Supplemental Activity: Complete the germs and bread experiment. Give each student two slices of bread. Have them touch one slice of bread with dirty hands and put it in a zip bag. Have the students then wash their hands thoroughly and touch the other slice of bread and put in a zip bag. Students can observe differences in the bread’s appearance over a period of time.