Disease Demonstrations

Disease occurs when normal biological processes are disrupted by pathogens, genetic factors, or environmental influences. This category examines how diseases develop, how they affect body systems, and how they can be prevented or treated. Studying disease connects biology to health, medicine, and society.

Demonstration	Materials	Difficulty	Safety	Summary
Culturing Bacteria	★★☆	★☆☆	★★☆	Students grow bacteria on nutrient agar in Petri dishes by swabbing everyday surfaces and observing colony growth. The activity demonstrates the presence of microbes all around us and can be extended into a science fair project by testing antibacterial products.
Handshake Activity Disease Transmission	★☆☆	★☆☆	★★☆	This classroom activity demonstrates how easily infections (STIs) can spread by having students shake hands, representing sexual contact. A glove represents condom use, showing its protective effect against infection.
Mold Growth on Bread	★☆☆	★☆☆	★★☆	Students test how moisture affects mold growth on bread by comparing a dry slice with a moistened slice stored in sealed bags. Over time, they observe and record fungal growth, learning about decomposition and environmental factors influencing microbes.
Simulating Virus Transmission	★★☆	★★☆	★★☆	Students exchange clear solutions to represent contact with body fluids. A hidden “infected” sample (sodium hydroxide) reacts with phenolphthalein to produce a pink color, revealing which students have become “infected.” The activity ends with an epidemiology-style investigation to identify the original carrier.
Luminous Powder Germ Spread	★★★	★☆☆	★☆☆	A fluorescent or luminous powder is used with UV light to show how germs spread and to reveal areas of the hands that are often missed during handwashing. The demonstration highlights the importance of thorough cleaning for preventing contamination.
Simulating a Sneeze	★☆☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	Students simulate sneezing using a spray bottle filled with colored water to observe how far droplets travel and how infection spreads. They test different methods of covering a sneeze - no cover, covering with a hand, and covering with a tissue, to learn the most effective way to prevent the spread of microbes.
Simulating an Epidemic with GloGerm	★★★	★☆☆	★☆☆	Students simulate the spread of an epidemic using GloGerm, a harmless fluorescent powder that glows under UV light. After a series of controlled handshakes, they trace the spread of infection through the group and attempt to identify patient zero.
Teaching Hand Washing with UV Light	★★★	★☆☆	★☆☆	Students apply a special hand wash training lotion that glows under UV light, then wash their hands. Areas that were not washed thoroughly will still glow, providing a visual demonstration of the importance of using soap and washing all parts of the hands.

Materials
★☆☆ Easy to get from supermarket or hardware store
★★☆ Available in most school laboratories or specialist stores
★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories

Difficulty
★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
★★☆ Available in most school laboratories or specialist stores
★★★ Requires a more experienced teacher

Safety
★☆☆ Minimal safety procedures required
★★☆ Some safety precautions required to perform safely
★★★ Only to be attempted with adequate safety procedures and trained staff