Hands Off, Bacteria!

This lab challenges students to identify the variables involved in handwashing. They will design labs to discover the best method for washing their hands to reduce the spread of bacteria. Students will also analyze and present the data.

Grades
6 – 8
TX: Grades 6 – 12
Estimated Time
Two, 45-minute sessions
Updated
April 10, 2024

Background

Lesson Activities

Credits

Author

Food and Drug Association (FDA) and National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)

Acknowledgements

The Science and Our Food Supply Curriculum was brought to you by the Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and the National Science Teaching Association.

  • FDA Education Team Leader Food Safety Initiative: Marjorie L. Davidson
  • FDA Science and Our Food Supply Project Director: Louise H. Dickerson
  • FDA/NSTA Associate Executive Director and Science and Our Food Supply Program Director: Christina Gorski
  • FDA/NSTA Science and Our Food Supply Program Assistant: Jill Heywood

Standards

Texas Content Area Standards

  • Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.1

    The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected to:

    • Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.1.B: apply competencies related to resources, information, interpersonal skills, problem solving, critical thinking, and systems of operation in agriculture, food, and natural resources.
    • Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.1.C: demonstrate knowledge of personal and occupational safety, environmental regulations, and first-aid policy in the workplace.
    • Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.1.D: analyze employers' expectations such as appropriate work habits, ethical conduct, legal responsibilities, and good citizenship skills.
  • Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.6

    The student demonstrates appropriate personal and communication skills. The student is expected to:

    • Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.6.A: demonstrate written and oral communication skills appropriate for formal and informal situations such as prepared and extemporaneous presentations.
    • Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.6.B: demonstrate effective listening skills appropriate for formal and informal situations.
  • Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.7

    The student applies appropriate research methods to agriculture, food, and natural resources topics. The student is expected to:

    • Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.7.B: use a variety of resources for research and development.
    • Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.7.C: describe scientific methods of research.
    • Principles of Agricultures, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.7.A: discuss major research and developments in the fields of agriculture, food, and natural resources.
  • ELA: 7.110.23.b.5

    Comprehension skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student uses metacognitive skills to both develop and deepen comprehension of increasingly complex texts.

    • ELA: 7.110.23.b.5.H: synthesize information to create new understanding
  • Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.19

    Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired through established research methodologies from a variety of valid sources, including technology. The student is expected to:

    • Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.19.C: organize and interpret information from outlines, reports, databases, and visuals, including graphs, charts, timelines, and maps
  • Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.21

    Social studies skills. The student communicates in written, oral, and visual forms. The student is expected to:

    • Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.21.C: express ideas orally based on research and experiences
  • Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.22

    Social studies skills. The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others. The student is expected to:

    • Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.22.B: use problem-solving and decision-making processes to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider options, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a solution, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution
  • Social Studies: 7.113.19.c.20

    Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired through established research methodologies from a variety of valid sources, including technology. The student is expected to:

    • Social Studies: 7.113.19.c.20.C: organize and interpret information from outlines, reports, databases, and visuals, including graphs, charts, timelines, and maps
    • Social Studies: 7.113.19.c.20.E: formulate and communicate visually, orally, or in writing a claim supported by evidence and reasoning related to a social studies topic
  • Social Studies: 7.113.19.c.23

    Social studies skills. The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others. The student is expected to:

    • Social Studies: 7.113.19.c.23.B: use problem-solving and decision-making processes to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider options, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a solution, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution
  • Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.29

    Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired through established research methodologies from a variety of valid sources, including technology. The student is expected to:

    • Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.29.C: organize and interpret information from outlines, reports, databases, and visuals, including graphs, charts, timelines, and maps
    • Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.29.E: formulate and communicate visually, orally, or in writing a claim supported by evidence and reasoning related to a social studies topic
  • Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.31

    Social studies skills. The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others. The student is expected to:

    • Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.31.B: use problem-solving and decision-making processes to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider options, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a solution, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution
  • Science: 7.112.27.b.1

    Scientific and engineering practices. The student, for at least 40% of instructional time, asks questions, identifies problems, and plans and safely conducts classroom, laboratory, and field investigations to answer questions, explain phenomena, or design solutions using appropriate tools and models. The student is expected to:

    • Science: 7.112.27.b.1.A: ask questions and define problems based on observations or information from text, phenomena, models, or investigations;
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.1.B: use scientific practices to plan and conduct descriptive, comparative, and experimental investigations and use engineering practices to design solutions to problems;
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.1.C: use appropriate safety equipment and practices during laboratory, classroom, and field investigations as outlined in Texas Education Agency-approved safety standards;
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.1.D: use appropriate tools such as graduated cylinders, metric rulers, periodic tables, balances, scales, thermometers, temperature probes, laboratory ware, timing devices, pH indicators, hot plates, models, microscopes, slides, life science models, petri dishes, dissecting kits, magnets, spring scales or force sensors, tools that model wave behavior, satellite images, hand lenses, and lab notebooks or journals;
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.1.E: collect quantitative data using the International System of Units (SI) and qualitative data as evidence;
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.1.F: construct appropriate tables, graphs, maps, and charts using repeated trials and means to organize data
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.1.G: develop and use models to represent phenomena, systems, processes, or solutions to engineering problems; and
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.1.H: distinguish between scientific hypotheses, theories, and laws.
  • Science: 7.112.27.b.2

    Scientific and engineering practices. The student analyzes and interprets data to derive meaning, identify features and patterns, and discover relationships or correlations to develop evidence-based arguments or evaluate designs. The student is expected to:

    • Science: 7.112.27.b.2.D: evaluate experimental and engineering designs.
  • Science: 7.112.27.b.3

    Scientific and engineering practices. The student develops evidence-based explanations and communicates findings, conclusions, and proposed solutions. The student is expected to:

    • Science: 7.112.27.b.3.A: develop explanations and propose solutions supported by data and models and consistent with scientific ideas, principles, and theories;
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.3.B: communicate explanations and solutions individually and collaboratively in a variety of settings and formats; and
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.3.C: engage respectfully in scientific argumentation using applied scientific explanations and empirical evidence.
  • Science: 7.112.27.b.4

    Scientific and engineering practices. The student knows the contributions of scientists and recognizes the importance of scientific research and innovation on society. The student is expected to:

    • Science: 7.112.27.b.4.A: relate the impact of past and current research on scientific thought and society, including the process of science, cost-benefit analysis, and contributions of diverse scientists as related to the content;
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.4.B: make informed decisions by evaluating evidence from multiple appropriate sources to assess the credibility, accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and methods used; and
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.4.C: research and explore resources such as museums, libraries, professional organizations, private companies, online platforms, and mentors employed in a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field to investigate STEM careers
  • Science: 7.112.27.b.5

    Recurring themes and concepts. The student understands that recurring themes and concepts provide a framework for making connections across disciplines. The student is expected to:

    • Science: 7.112.27.b.5.A: identify and apply patterns to understand and connect scientific phenomena or to design solutions;
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.5.B: identify and investigate cause-and-effect relationships to explain scientific phenomena or analyze problems;
    • Science: 7.112.27.b.5.F: analyze and explain the complementary relationship between structure and function of objects, organisms, and systems; and
  • Science: 7.112.27.b.14

    Organisms and environments. The student knows how the taxonomic system is used to describe relationships between organisms. The student is expected to:

    • Science: 7.112.27.b.14.B: describe the characteristics of the recognized kingdoms and their importance in ecosystems such as bacteria aiding digestion or fungi decomposing organic matter.
  • ELA: 6.110.22.b.5

    Comprehension skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student uses metacognitive skills to both develop and deepen comprehension of increasingly complex texts. The student is expected to:

    • ELA: 6.110.22.b.5.H: synthesize information to create new understanding
  • ELA: 6.110.22.b.12

    Inquiry and research: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student engages in both short-term and sustained recursive inquiry processes for a variety of purposes. The student is expected to:

    • ELA: 6.110.22.b.12.J: use an appropriate mode of delivery, whether written, oral, or multimodal, to present results
  • ELA: 7.110.23.b.12

    Inquiry and research: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student engages in both short-term and sustained recursive inquiry processes for a variety of purposes. The student is expected to:

    • ELA: 7.110.23.b.12.D: identify and gather relevant information from a variety of sources
    • ELA: 7.110.23.b.12.J: use an appropriate mode of delivery, whether written, oral, or multimodal, to present results
  • ELA: 8.110.24.b.5

    Comprehension skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student uses metacognitive skills to both develop and deepen comprehension of increasingly complex texts. The student is expected to:

    • ELA: 8.110.24.b.5.H: synthesize information to create new understanding
  • ELA: 8.110.24.b.12

    Inquiry and research: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student engages in both short-term and sustained recursive inquiry processes for a variety of purposes. The student is expected to:

    • ELA: 8.110.24.b.12.D: identify and gather relevant information from a variety of sources
    • ELA: 8.110.24.b.12.J: use an appropriate mode of delivery, whether written, oral, or multimodal, to present results
  • Math: 6.111.26.b.1

    Mathematical process standards. The student uses mathematical processes to acquire and demonstrate mathematical understanding. The student is expected to:

    • Math: 6.111.26.b.1.A: apply mathematics to problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace
    • Math: 6.111.26.b.1.D: communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple representations, including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate
  • Math: 6.111.26.b.12

    Measurement and data. The student applies mathematical process standards to use numerical or graphical representations to analyze problems. The student is expected to:

    • Math: 6.111.26.b.12.A: represent numeric data graphically, including dot plots, stem-and-leaf plots, histograms, and box plots
  • Math: 7.111.27.b.1

    Mathematical process standards. The student uses mathematical processes to acquire and demonstrate mathematical understanding. The student is expected to:

    • Math: 7.111.27.b.1.A: apply mathematics to problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace
    • Math: 7.111.27.b.1.D: communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple representations, including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate
  • Math: 7.111.27.b.6

    Proportionality. The student applies mathematical process standards to use probability and statistics to describe or solve problems involving proportional relationships. The student is expected to:

    • Math: 7.111.27.b.6.G: solve problems using data represented in bar graphs, dot plots, and circle graphs, including part-to-whole and part-to-part comparisons and equivalents
  • Math: 8.111.28.b.1

    Mathematical process standards. The student uses mathematical processes to acquire and demonstrate mathematical understanding. The student is expected to:

    • Math: 8.111.28.b.1.A: apply mathematics to problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace
    • Math: 8.111.28.b.1.D: communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple representations, including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate