Use of the book:
Teacher background on health concerns: p.62-64.
Teacher notes for activity: p.65-70.

Materials Needed:
4 rubber bands, 2 cotton balls, 2 pencils, 6 cotton-tipped swabs, liquid detergent that whitens without chlorine bleach (ie. Tide), UV light (with batteries and extension cord), Stuffed animal “rat”

Opening Strategy: p.66-67
Scenario - During a break, some teachers noticed a rat walking through some spilled liquid laundry detergent near the hotel laundry room. Then, they saw the rat scurrying toward the conference rooms. Some laundry detergents contain a special chemical that make them glow under a UV light, so we can try to look for “rat tracks” this way. We will use a UV light to detect if the rat has been in our room.

Procedure: p.66-70
Before the class arrives:
1. Make 2 rat feet using rubber bands, cotton balls, cotton swabs and pencils – diagram on p. 66. Dip the rat feet into the detergent, redipping as necessary.
2. Make “rat tracks” around the room. Be sure to include highly used areas such as backs of chairs, desk tops, garbage cans (in a classroom, the pencil sharpener and faucets).
After the class arrives:
3. Describe the scenario.
4. Use a UV light to search for the “tracks”, then look on participants’ feet and hands to see if any “pathogens” may have spread as participants moved around the room. Ask if anyone touched something, or passed something to someone else - other ways that pathogens may spread.