Hi friends,
Today I’m excited to share with you some of my tips on fighting the flu this season. As a superhero, it is important for me to stay as healthy as possible so I can help the city whenever I am needed. During the winter, particularly the months of December, January and February, risk of the flu is higher. What can we do to prevent the flu? Here are some suggestions below:
• The best prevention of the flu is the flu vaccine. It is available for everyone who is over 6 months old.
• Washing your hands is also important to protect yourself from the flu. I often keep a pocket-sized hand sanitizer on my utility belt to keep me germ-free!
• Stay away from others who are sick. Don’t share any drinks, juice boxes, hats, scarfs or gloves with someone if they may be sick.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Pack a small packet of tissues in your backpack or desk at school in case you have to sneeze or cough.
• Be sure to drink enough water and get enough sleep! It is truly the best medicine.
As you can see, many of the tips to fight the flu include preventing germs. As a superhero, I have always been fascinated by science. This is a fun experiment (one of my favorites) to do at home for you to see the effects of germs, and how they are all around us. You’ll need a parent or guardian to help with Step 4.
What you’ll need:
• A potato
• 4 Ziploc bags
• Waxed paper
• Toothpicks
• Magic Marker
1. Label the bags 1-4. Then write the following on each bag with the magic marker
Bag 1- Control
Bag 2- Breath
Bag 3- Surface
Bag 4- Hands
2. Line a table with waxed paper.
3. Wash your hands thoroughly then wash the potato.
4. Ask a parent or guardian to wash cut the potato into four slices with a clean knife. Place the slices on the waxed paper with a toothpick.
5. For the first potato slice, pick it up with a toothpick and place it into the bag that says Control. Then seal the bag closed.
6. For the second potato slice, use the toothpick to hold the potato slice. Take a few breaths onto the potato, and ask your guardian or sibling to do the same. Then, while using the toothpick, place the slice in the bag that says Breath and seal it closed.
7. For the third potato slice, use one surface (such as the floor, door handle, etc.) and rub the potato slice on the surface. Then while using the toothpick, place the potato in the bag that says Surface and seal it closed.
8. Take the final potato slice and place it in your hands. Hand it over to your guardians, friends, or siblings and ask them to hold the potato in their hands. Then, place the potato in the bag that says Hands and seal it closed.
9. Place the bags in a dark area (like a pantry or closet) and at the end of the week, record what you see. What are the differences between the potato slices in bags 1 and 4? 2 and 3? How do you think the different germs around us affected the potato?
Let me know your results below! What other experiments do you like to do?
Cheers to Science!
-RG
Ready Girl 