Sneeze Zone

This hands-on classroom activity from Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute for Key Stage Two and Key Stage Three students aims to aid in the teaching of respiratory health and hygiene topics. This interactive, practical activity demonstrates how microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, can be spread through coughing and sneezing.

Using spray water bottles, students can test the range of a single simulated sneeze and its potential to infect people. The activity goes on to demonstrate the impact of covering the nose and mouth with a hand or tissue to highlight the importance of respiratory hygiene in preventing the spread of infection.

This activity can be used as an interactive classroom session when discussing topics on bacteria or viruses, e.g. influenza (flu). It can also be used as a science week activity or demonstration.