Elementary School’s Science Experiment With White Bread Is Going Viral

The flu season is here, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting widespread influenza activity in 23 states. However, if you want to tell people to be careful, stats rarely get the point across. Especially if you’re dealing with elementary school kids.

Jaralee Metcalf is a behavioral specialist who works in an autism unit with students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Recently, she and her coworker – special education teacher Dayna Robertson – found a science experiment on the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital website, called “How clean are your hands?”

Elementary School's Science Experiment With White Bread Is Going Viral

Image credits: Jaralee Annice Metcalf

“We chose this experiment for our science class because we had been learning about decaying leaves and toxic mold and flu season was approaching,” Jaralee Metcalf told Bored Panda. “We decided it would be a cool experiment to learn about germs by using moldy white bread!”

Together, they put five slices of bread in separate bags. One slice was inserted untouched, another one was touched by kids with dirty hands, one was touched by kids who washed with soap and water, and one was touched by kids who used hand sanitizer. Finally, they added a slice that they rubbed on the classroom Chromebooks.

Mold started forming on some of the slices in just a couple of days.

The mold that formed from the Chromebooks

Elementary School's Science Experiment With White Bread Is Going Viral

Image credits: Jaralee Annice Metcalf

Here’s the untouched slice of bread

Elementary School's Science Experiment With White Bread Is Going Viral

Image credits: Jaralee Annice Metcalf

The one that was touched by kids with dirty hands

Elementary School's Science Experiment With White Bread Is Going Viral

Image credits: Jaralee Annice Metcalf

The slice that was touched by washed hands

Elementary School's Science Experiment With White Bread Is Going Viral

Image credits: Jaralee Annice Metcalf

And the one that was touched by kids who used hand sanitizer

Elementary School's Science Experiment With White Bread Is Going Viral

Image credits: Jaralee Annice Metcalf

And it worked. “The students were very involved, they usually are with hands-on experiments!” Metcalf said. “Since the results were so shocking, the students and staff have taken a very serious turn toward better hygiene. Students from different classrooms in the entire school have come to our class to look at the moldy bread and learn about handwashing.”

Metcalf also wanted to use the opportunity to tell all the parents that hand washing isn’t always enough. “If you send your child to school when they are sick, they put everyone at risk. Including teachers and our families! I’d like to urge parents to keep their sick children at home!”

Metcalf described the experiment in a Facebook post, and it instantly went viral

Elementary School's Science Experiment With White Bread Is Going Viral

Image credits: Jaralee Annice Metcalf

Here’s what people said about it

Elementary School's Science Experiment With White Bread Is Going Viral

I'm the Visual Editor at Bored Panda, responsible for ensuring that everything our audience sees is top-notch and well-researched. What I love most about my job? Discovering new things about the world and immersing myself in exceptional photography and art.

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What do you think ?

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Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago

I certainly learned something. I'm never, ever eating another Chromebook.

117points

Ed Souza 4 years ago

LOL, that cracked me up.

13points

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AV7 4 years ago

I would love to see one wiped on a smartphone and toilet.

23points

Renee Gauthier 4 years ago

I remember the boy who tested the school water fountains & the school toilets for bacteria as a science project. The toilets were cleaner because they get cleaned every day. There's germs everywhere though, and most of them die a natural death & don't bother you.

21points

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Peko 4 years ago

I'd guess the results would be broadly similar to the Chromebook and the washed hands respectively. It's rather pointless either way, it's not the amounts of bacteria (or mould in this case) that will get you, it's the sort.

4points

Nathan Jones 4 years ago

They've done things like this with toilets and they're surprisingly clean. Doorknobs are where the real filth is.

4points

Janine B. 4 years ago

I suppose the toilet will be cleaner.

2points

Jo Bebe 4 years ago

@Krazy Kanuck you have not seen the mens toilet at my work.... sink much better lol

1point

BettyOnly 4 years ago (edited)

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Carol Emory 4 years ago

We did an experiment similar to this in college, but using swabs and petri dishes. I will say it changed the way I enter and leave places now, how I use the public taps. I'm so grateful for foot controlled trash bins and water fountains. People are gross. I can't tell you how many times I've used the public restroom and have seen little girls walking out without washing their hands. Remember that guys for the next time she touches your face. Blech!

10points

Night Owl 4 years ago (edited)

"I can't tell you how many times I've used the public restroom and have seen little girls walking out without washing their hands. Remember that guys for the next time she touches your face." EWWWW!! Edit: Wait, are those the cooties people keep talking about? 😃 😂

8points

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