Handwashing has a strong influence on children’s health due to the spreading and multiplying of germs that can make our youth sick. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that handwashing education results in healthy communities and a reduction in the number of people that fall ill by 23-40%. 

The Marion County Cooperative Extension Nutrition Education Program partnered with the Marion County Public School Family Resource Youth Service Center to provide Glow Germ/Handwashing Classes to 363 K-3 elementary students. These interactive classes educated children on food safety, the spread of germs and foodborne illnesses by performing The Story of BAC skit, introducing germs using Giant Microbes, the purple Germ Monster and Glo Germ. 

Before ending each class, students were asked to share one new thing that they learned. Within the student responses, the ones that stood out the most included responses like “Sing the ABC’s”, “Germs hide under my nails”, “My desk is covered in germs”, “Wash fruits and veggies” and “(I know) when I need to wash my hands”.