Skip to main
e-Bug@ukhsa.gov.uk

Germ Busters Academy Activities For Age Group 11-16

This activity pack uses a range of interactive activities to teach young people how infections spread, why antibiotics must be used responsibly, and how global issues such as climate change can influence the future of public health. These activities encourage critical thinking, discussion and informed decision-making, helping young people become confident Germ Busters!

What you'll find in this pack:

  • Clear step-by-step facilitator guidance
  • Background information to build your knowledge and confidence
  • Interactive, age-appropriate activities linking health, science and climate change
  • Easy-to-run activities using low-cost, readily available materials
  • Editable and printable worksheets, challenge sheets, badges and certificates
  • Adaptable content for different settings
  • Opportunities to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Practical ways to promote healthy behaviours and protect public health
Germ busters robot picture 3
Download the complete age 11-16 activity packDownload DOCXDownload DOCX: Germ Busters Academy Activities For Age Group 11-16Download PDFDownload PDF: Germ Busters Academy Activities For Age Group 11-16

Activity Pack Content

Complete the Germ Busters challenge!

This pack contains four exciting topics exploring microbes, food hygiene, antimicrobial resistance, and the impact of climate change on health.


Young people begin their journey as Microbe Masters and work through the challenge towards becoming Climate Carers. After completing all four topics, they graduate as Germ Busters and can be awarded a certificate to celebrate their achievement.


The Germ Busters Challenge Sheet can be used to track progress throughout the programme, with facilitators ticking or stamping each stage as it is completed.
Participants only need to complete one activity from each topic to achieve that stage of the challenge and earn the corresponding badge. Additional activities can be used to reinforce learning, encourage discussion and extend understanding.

The Challenge can be delivered as a structured programme by running 1 or 2 activities per week, or used flexibly by selecting activities that best suit your group. Links to all associated worksheets and answer sheets are included throughout the pack and can be accessed by clicking the relevant links within each section.

Click on the tiles below to access the different sections of the Germ Busters Challenge.

Microbe Masters
Introduces young people to microbes, exploring their role in health and disease, the infections they can cause, and the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance.
Healthy Hands & Handling
Explores the importance of food hygiene, including how food should be safely stored to protect against food-borne illness.
Antibiotic Awareness
Explains how antibiotics work, what antibiotic resistance is, and highlights the importance of using antibiotics responsibly to help keep them working effectively in the future.
Climate Carers
Helps young people understand climate change and its impact on human health, encouraging them to make choices that protect both their health and the environment.
Germ Busters Challenge Sheet and Certificate
This contains the challenge sheet, allowing young people to track the badges they have achieved, as well as the certificate for completion.
Creative Activities
This includes a range of additional, optional creative activities linked to the topics in the pack, helping to reinforce key messages.