Learner Name (s): Oarabile Setshedi Grade(s): 10

School Name: Fileds College

Region: Bojanala
Project: Experimental/Investigative
Title:Where are the most germs found at school?

Purpose
The objective of this research project is to help people identify the surfaces at school which
are riddled with germs.This investigation will help people to take preventative measures to
ensure that they do not acquire a disease of any kind from school. Independent variable: The
locations from which the bacteria samples came. Dependent variable: The colonies that grow
from specific bacteria samples. Controlled variable: The Petri dishes, the amount of nutrient
agar and water used in each Petri dish, sterile cotton swabs, and the incubator.My hypothesis
is that the bacteria samples from the Grade 10 boys' bathroom will grow the most bacterial
colonies out of all the other locations in the school.
Method

I poured 150 ml of water using the 100ml measuring tube into the glass beaker.I measured
3,45 grams of nutrient agar by putting a small tray on the measuring scale and then zeroing
it. I kept adding nutrient agar into the tray using a spbon until the measuring scale measures
3,45 grams.Then l added the 3,45 grams of nutrient agar into the glass beaker,and then
placed the glass beaker on top of the hot plate.I turned the hot plate on to a high temperature
and then turned the knob for magnetic stirring to a high speed to allow the water and
nutrient agar to mix conpletely while they boil.
Once all the Petri dishes have the bacteria samples in them,I placed them in an incubator
and allowed the bacteria samples to grow for at least 24 hours.Once the 24 hours have
passed,I took out the Petri dishes and counted the amount of bacterial colonies that grew in
each dish by using a marker to mark each individual colony to prevent over or under
counting.When all of the bacterial colonies have been counted in each Petri dish,I compared
the results and saw which Petri dish contained the most bacteria colonies. The sample that
contained the most bacterial colonies in the location where you can find the most
bacteria.After the data had been collected and recorded,I poured a smal amount of
Cloroxinto each Petri dish and mixed it around.Once the Clorox is/was mixed around with
the bacterial colonies,I disposed of the Petri disnes in a plastic bag.

Results

The place with the most bacterial colonies in the school was the girls' Grade 10 bathroom 60
CFU.The Auditorium had the least bacterial colonies of that'll the places in the school with
16 CFU.The boys' Grade 10 bathroom had 38 CFU,the Tuckshop had 39 CFU,the library
had 35 CFU bad the lobby had 18 CFU.

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Conclusion
My experiment was successful and I was able to complete it with little to no errors.
Everything that I expected to happen in my experiment occured except for my
hypothesis.I predicted that the door handle of the Grade 10 boys' bathroom would
contain the most bacteria due to the fact that bacteria grows in messy and warm
areas, which makes the Grade 10 boys' bathroom an ideal place for bacteria to
thrive.After my experiment, I concluded that the Grade 10 girls' bathroom contained
the most bacterial colonies with 60 CFU's compared to the Grade 10 boys' bathroom
door handle 39 CFU's.In conclusion, my hypothesis was incorrect , but I learned a lot
from my experiment and gained a lot of hands on experience with lab equipment and
general data collecting.

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