Lesson Plan
Bathroom Bling & Being Kind?
Students will learn and commit to practices that ensure a clean, respectful, and positive bathroom experience for all members of the school community, aligning with our school-wide expectations.
Maintaining a clean and respectful bathroom environment is essential for the health, comfort, and well-being of every student and staff member. It teaches shared responsibility, empathy, and reinforces our school-wide values: respect yourself, respect each other, and respect the environment.
Audience
5th Grade
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, visual examples, and a class commitment.
Materials
Bathroom Bling Slide Deck, Bathroom Bling Script, and Bathroom Behavior Warm-Up
Prep
Review Materials
5 minutes
- Review the Bathroom Bling Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
- Read through the Bathroom Bling Script to prepare for leading the discussion.
- Print copies of the Bathroom Behavior Warm-Up, one per student, if using a physical copy (alternatively, display on screen).
Step 1
Warm-Up: Think-Pair-Share
3 minutes
- Distribute or display the Bathroom Behavior Warm-Up.
- Ask students to individually brainstorm one word to describe an ideal school bathroom and one word for a not-so-ideal school bathroom.
- Have students turn to a partner and share their words, discussing why they chose them.
Step 2
Introduction & Discussion (Slides 1-3)
5 minutes
- Use the Bathroom Bling Slide Deck to introduce the topic and our school-wide expectations: Respect Yourself, Respect Each Other, Respect the Environment.
- Begin with the title slide and guide the discussion on how 'bling' connects to respecting our environment and how kindness connects to respecting ourselves and each other.
Step 3
What Would I Do?
2 minutes
- Introduce the scenario, connecting the actions to respecting the environment and others: "Imagine you walk into the bathroom, and you notice the sink is wet and there are paper towels on the floor near the trash can. No one else is in there. What would you do? How does your action show responsibility and kindness, tying into our school expectations?"
Step 4
Kindness in the Classroom
3 minutes
- Facilitate a brief discussion using the following questions, focusing on 'Respect Each Other':
- "Why is it important to be kind to our classmates, even in unexpected places like the bathroom?"
- "What are some small ways we can show kindness and respect in shared spaces, like holding the door or giving someone privacy? How does this demonstrate 'Respect Each Other'?"
- "How does treating others with kindness in the bathroom contribute to a more positive school environment overall?"
Step 5
Cleanliness Counts
4 minutes
- Guide a discussion on bathroom cleanliness, linking it to 'Respect the Environment':
- "Why is it important to leave the bathroom clean for the next person? How does this show 'Respect the Environment'?"
- "What specific actions can we take to ensure the bathroom stays clean? (e.g., flush, wash hands, throw trash away, make sure water is off, put paper towels in the trash)"
- "How does a clean bathroom reflect on our school community and our commitment to 'Respect the Environment'?"
Step 6
Our Bathroom Commitment
3 minutes
- Lead a class discussion on creating a class commitment to responsible bathroom use, based on our school-wide expectations.
- Ask students: "How can we commit to 'Respect Yourself,' 'Respect Each Other,' and 'Respect the Environment' every time we use the bathroom?"
- As a class, agree upon 2-3 key expectations for bathroom behavior that reflect these values.
- Conclude by emphasizing that everyone plays a part in making the school bathrooms clean and respectful, guided by our school's core values.
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Slide Deck
Bathroom Bling & Being Kind?
Let's talk about making our shared spaces sparkle and shine with respect!
Greet students and introduce the lesson topic with enthusiasm. Explicitly state the school-wide expectations: Respect Yourself, Respect Each Other, Respect the Environment, and explain that the lesson will explore how these apply to bathroom behavior.
What Makes a Bathroom 'Bling'?
- Sparkling Clean: Toilets flushed, sinks wiped, floor clear. (Respect the Environment)
- Fresh & Tidy: No trash on the floor, paper towels in the bin. (Respect the Environment)
- Ready for the Next Person: Leaving it better than you found it! (Respect the Environment, Respect Each Other)
Ask students to share words from their warm-up. Guide discussion on what 'bling' means in this context – clean, tidy, fresh. Emphasize why cleanliness matters for everyone, linking it directly to 'Respect the Environment'.
How Can We Be Kind in the Bathroom?
- Respect Privacy: Give others space. (Respect Each Other)
- Be Quick & Efficient: Others might be waiting. (Respect Each Other)
- Quiet Voices: It's not a place for loud conversations. (Respect Each Other)
- Help Others Out (Safely!): If you see a mess, report it or safely clean it if appropriate. (Respect Each Other, Respect the Environment)
- Always Flush & Wash! (Respect Yourself, Respect Each Other, Respect the Environment)
Shift focus to kindness. Prompt students to think beyond just physical space to how they interact (or don't interact) with others in the bathroom. Discuss privacy and respect, connecting these directly to 'Respect Each Other' and 'Respect Yourself'.
Our Classroom Commitment
We, the 5th grade class, commit to:
- Respecting the Environment: Keeping the bathrooms clean and tidy.
- Respecting Each Other: Showing kindness and giving privacy.
- Respecting Ourselves: Taking responsibility for our actions and hygiene.
Facilitate a short discussion, asking students what key actions they will commit to, framing them within the school-wide expectations. This slide is for summarizing their commitments visually.
Script
Bathroom Bling & Being Kind? Script
Warm-Up: Think-Pair-Share (3 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about a very important shared space in our school: the bathrooms. I know, I know, it might not seem like the most exciting topic, but it's super important for all of us.
To start, I want you to silently think of two words. One word to describe what an ideal school bathroom would be like. And another word to describe a not-so-ideal, or even unpleasant, school bathroom. Just one word for each."
(Pause for 30 seconds as students think.)
Teacher: "Now, turn to the person next to you and share your two words. Discuss briefly why you chose those words. What made you think of 'ideal' or 'unpleasant'? You have about a minute and a half for this."
(Circulate, listen to discussions. Bring class back together.)
Introduction & Discussion (Slides 1-3) (5 minutes)
Teacher: (Display Bathroom Bling Slide Deck - Slide 1)
"Great discussions! I heard some really interesting words. Today's lesson is called 'Bathroom Bling & Being Kind?' – and no, we're not talking about actual jewelry in the bathroom! Before we dive into what 'bling' means, let's talk about our school's core expectations: Respect Yourself, Respect Each Other, and Respect the Environment. We're going to see how these important values apply every time we use the bathroom.
Let's explore what 'bling' means in this context."
(Display Bathroom Bling Slide Deck - Slide 2)
Teacher: "When we say 'bling' in the bathroom, we're talking about cleanliness and neatness. Look at these points on the slide. How do keeping things sparkling clean, fresh, and tidy, and ready for the next person connect to Respecting the Environment? Why is it so important to leave the bathroom ready for the next person? Think about how it feels to walk into a clean bathroom versus a messy one, and how that impacts our shared school environment."
(Allow a few student responses. Guide them to discuss flushing, wiping, throwing trash away, washing hands, turning off water, and how these actions show respect for our school environment.)
Teacher: "Exactly! It's about respecting the space and everyone who uses it. Now, let's talk about the 'being kind' part, which ties directly into Respect Each Other and Respect Yourself."
(Display Bathroom Bling Slide Deck - Slide 3)
Teacher: "Beyond just cleanliness, how can we show kindness and respect in the bathroom? It's a shared space, so how do we make sure everyone feels comfortable and safe? What about privacy? What if someone is waiting? How do being mindful of these things show Respect Each Other and also Respect Yourself by acting responsibly?"
(Encourage students to share ideas: giving space, keeping voices down, being quick, not wasting time, reporting issues. Emphasize respect for privacy and personal space.)
What Would I Do? Scenario (2 minutes)
Teacher: "Let's try a quick 'What Would I Do?' scenario. Imagine you walk into the bathroom, and you notice the sink is wet and there are paper towels on the floor near the trash can. No one else is in there. What would you do? How does your action show responsibility and kindness, and how does it connect to Respecting the Environment and Respecting Each Other?"
(Allow a few students to share their responses, guiding them towards taking a moment to tidy up if safe and appropriate, or reporting it if it's a bigger mess.)
Kindness in the Classroom (3 minutes)
Teacher: "Great responses. Now, let's think bigger. Why is it important to be kind to our classmates, even in unexpected places like the bathroom? What are some small ways we can show kindness and respect in shared spaces, like holding the door or giving someone privacy? How does this specifically demonstrate 'Respect Each Other'? And how does treating others with kindness in the bathroom contribute to a more positive school environment overall?"
(Facilitate a brief discussion, connecting bathroom kindness to overall school climate and the expectation of 'Respect Each Other'.)
Cleanliness Counts (4 minutes)
Teacher: "Let's bring it back to cleanliness. Why is it important to leave the bathroom clean for the next person? How does this show 'Respect the Environment'? What specific actions can you take every single time you use the bathroom to ensure it stays clean? And how does a clean bathroom reflect on our entire school community and our commitment to 'Respect the Environment'?"
(Guide students to reiterate concrete actions: flush, wash hands thoroughly, put all trash in the bin, turn off water. Discuss how a clean space shows respect for everyone and our shared environment.)
Our Bathroom Commitment (3 minutes)
Teacher: (Display Bathroom Bling Slide Deck - Slide 4)
"So, to wrap things up, we've talked about a lot today. We've seen how our school-wide expectations – Respect Yourself, Respect Each Other, and Respect the Environment – are super important even in the bathroom. If we were to make a class commitment, what 2-3 key expectations would we agree upon for bathroom behavior that reflect these three values?"
(Write down student suggestions on the board or chart paper. Help synthesize into 2-3 actionable points that clearly align with the three expectations. For example: "We will always flush, wash our hands, and put trash in the bin to Respect the Environment." and "We will respect everyone's privacy and use quiet voices to Respect Each Other." and "We will take responsibility for our actions to Respect Ourselves.")
Teacher: "Wonderful! Remember, everyone plays a part in making our school a great place, and that includes our shared spaces like the bathroom. Let's all commit to making our school bathrooms 'bling' and being kind while we're in there, by living our school-wide expectations: Respect Yourself, Respect Each Other, and Respect the Environment. Thank you, 5th Grade!"
Warm Up
Bathroom Behavior Warm-Up: Word Association
Instructions:
- Think silently for a moment.
- Write ONE word that describes an ideal school bathroom. (What does it look, feel, or smell like?)
- Write ONE word that describes a not-so-ideal or unpleasant school bathroom. (What does it look, feel, or smell like?)
- Once you have your words, turn to a partner and share them. Discuss why you chose each word. What makes an ideal bathroom ideal, and what makes a not-so-ideal bathroom unpleasant?