Lesson 4: Contamination Detectives

Prepare for lesson:

• Review Contamination Detectives Guide
• Print Contamination Detectives Worksheet for each small group
• Print Contamination Detectives Marker cards for each small group
• Select 5 contamination sites to add glo germ lotion within learning space
• Supplies for class:
  • Glo Germ Kit: includes lotion and UV light

During the lesson:

• Ask: 
  • What does DNA have to do with detective work? 
  • What skills are needed for detective work?
• Share with youth that they’ll be working as contamination detectives to find germs around the room.
• First, they’ll work in small groups to hypothesize which five areas are contaminated, jotting the locations on their handout and marking it with the yellow markers.
• Second, they’ll use the UV light to shine the locations they selected to determine if they indeed have germs.
• Ask youth if it matched. Have them work together to determine all the 5 spots, if they have not.