Drawing conclusions

In my experiment, the desk bacteria grew the most, and I think I know why.  Almost everything that we touch goes on a desk, for example, we touch pencils, doors, napkins, erasers, and our noses, then we touch the desk.  The one that grew the second most bacteria  was the cafeteria table, I think the bacteria grew because our custodian washes it with a dirty rag,   Don't get me wrong, he's awesome but the rag maybe doesn't have enough sanitizer.  The water fountain grew the third most bacteria, I think this was because a lot of people put their mouths on it.  The one that grew the least bacteria was the toilet seat.  I think this is because our bottoms  never touch anything but our pants or underwear and hopefully people change them every day!

Day 7-8

There hasn't been much growth, but here are the standings.  In first place is the desk, next the cafeteria table, then the water fountain, and still in last is the toilet seat.  We showed our school nurse and she was grossed out by it.  We are trying to get our school's morning show people to get it on the morning show.

Day 6

The bacteria hasn't grown as much because I am checking it every day now and seeing the progress.  In first place is the desk, in second is the cafeteria table, in third is the water fountain, and in last is the toilet seat.  I polled my classmates about what they thought grew the most bacteria and I will put it up in a graph very soon.

LOTS AND LOTS OF BACTERIA!?

The bacteria is in full blast.  In first place is the cafeteria table (because it has the big red giant spot).  In second place is the desk.  In third is the water fountain.  And bringing up the"rear"is the toilet seat.

The Bacteria is Starting to Grow!!

Today when I looked in the closet I saw bacteria growing so I showed my mom.  She said that it really was bacteria growing. I was so excited, but I didn't know bacteria grew this fast.  The one with the most bacteria grown so for was the desk, not the toilet seat.  I didn't know desks were so dirty.  I will check Monday to see the progress.

I Started My Experiment!!!!

Last night I started preparing the agar using the instructions.  After I heated the agar, it smelled VERY BAD!!!  Lucky it turned out OK and I brought it to school with me this morning.  I took samples in the afternoon because I wanted to see how dirty they would be after a full day of school.  My mom took pictures of me taking the samples, except for in the bathroom because she wasn't allowed in!  I  put the samples in a dark closet and I will check it in two days and see the progress.

Getting Ready for my Experiment

I wanted to do this experiment because I wanted to find out how clean our schools were.  This is how I am doing this experiment.  I ordered  a test kit for bacteria on-line and waited to for it to come in.  I am setting up my experiment using the Scientific Method.

Problem:  What will grow the most bacteria...a school toilet seat, a school cafeteria table, a desk, or the water fountain spout?

Hypothesis:  I believe that the toilet seat will grow the most bacteria because lots of people use it every day, and it's a bathroom, not the cleanest place in the world!

Materials:  A bacteria growing kit, (I ordered mine from Science Bob).  The packet included 6 large Petri dishes, 1 pack of laboratory grade nutrient agar power, 250 ml plastic beaker and 6 extra-long bacteria gathering cotton swabs.  You also need a microwave, a refrigerator, a toilet, a cafeteria table, a desk and a water fountain.

Procedure:
1.  Prepare the agar powder using directions included in the packet. 
2. Go to the restroom of your local school, take the cotton swab and rub it on the toliet seat, be sure not to touch the cotton swab with your hands, this could contanimate your sample.  Rub the cotton portion of the swab to expose as much of the cotton as possible.  Do for at least 5 seconds for each sample. (You can label each swab with tape if you would like).
3.  Repeat this procedure for the rest of the objects tested.
Please note if you don't see anything on the cotton swab, that doesn't mean that there is not bacteria on it!!!
4.  After gathering each sample, put the sample on the agar surface.  Lift the lid and run the cotton tip very gently across the sureface in a zig-zag pattern...be careful, it can break easily.
5.  Tape the Petri dish shut and label it with information that might include the area tested and the date.
6.  Allow the Perti dishes to sit undisturbed in a warm, dark place like a cabinet or closet.
7.  Check the samples every few days to look at the growth and chart the progress.