How Germs Spread – Upper School Student Helps Preschool Students Understand the Importance of Masks

Nov 2, 2020 | Come to Play, Design Thinking, Have Fun, IMAMUSTANG, Inquiry, Maverick, Multiplier, Preschool News, Share the Well, Upper School News

Coming back to school in 2020 looked different than any other year. In addition to other precautionary measures, all students – even Preschoolers! – have been masked up, every day! But why are masks important? Class of 2024 Shea Griffith wanted to help our youngest Mustangs understand why their daily masks are important. More so, she wanted to share how germs spread when you’re wearing a mask, and how they spread when you aren’t wearing a mask.

Since Shea couldn’t be in the classroom with the Preschool students, she created a video explaining her activity, and packaged boxes for the students that contained everything they would need for the lesson.

The first box, which had a blue top, contained lotion, glitter, and play dough. The second box, which had a red top, contained lotion, glitter, one pink glove, and another glove that had holes in it.

The first activity demonstrated how germs are spread. In the video, Shea showed the students how to put glitter on one hand and another color glitter on another hand. When the students high-fived themselves, they saw that the two colors of glitter mixed on both of their hands.

Then the Preschool learners used the play dough to clean their hands, symbolizing washing their hands to get the “germs” off.

The next activity was similar to the first, but with a small change. The students were instructed to put glitter on one hand then cover that hand with a glove that had holes in it. On the other hand, students wore a glove without holes, symbolizing a mask. This time when they high-fived each other, they saw how little glitter was moved from hand-to-hand.

Throughout the process, Shea strived to make sure the activity was fun and engaging for young Mustangs, but also made sure that the information she provided was factual, but not scary for the students.

Cross-divisional learning is a pillar of the Mount Vernon experience, and even in times when students must remain in their “bubble”, the School and MV students are finding unique, innovative ways to connect across campuses.

Watch Shea’s germ activity lesson below.