Yuck, does my deodorant kill that? To test whether deodorant is anti-bacterial, class members use petri dishes to grow control bacteria and bacteria from sweat, and then compare them to see if deodorant effects the growth. 

Concepts

bacteria, salt, technology resources

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Instructional Ideas

• Use several types of deodorant to find which works best at controlling bacteria
• Compare deodorant to anti-bacterial lotion or soap
• Use a structured protocol so pupils can make accurate comparisons 

Classroom Considerations

• Requires scientific materials such as agar and bacterial samples

Pros

• Includes reasons if the bacteria did not grow as anticipated
• Provides a list of materials needed

Cons

• Requires overnight storage to allow bacteria to grow