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lenny

Clean Pals

cheriekaye

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Buddy Grooming Blueprint

Students will learn and practice essential personal hygiene habits by partnering up to perform grooming tasks together, building both self-care skills and positive peer relationships.

Establishing good hygiene early supports health and well-being while cooperative grooming tasks foster social skills, empathy, and teamwork in 1st graders.

Audience

1st Grade

Time

35 minutes

Approach

Guided partner activities and group discussions.

Materials

  • Team Hygiene Slides, * Partner Brush-Up Activity, * Why Helping Matters Discussion, * Student Hygiene Kits (comb, toothbrush, small mirror), and * Chart Paper & Markers

Prep

Review and Setup

10 minutes

  • Gather student hygiene kits and verify each kit has a comb, toothbrush, and small mirror.
  • Print or load Team Hygiene Slides on projector/computer.
  • Prepare chart paper with two columns labeled “Today I Helped” and “I Learned.”
  • Briefly review Partner Brush-Up Activity instructions and Why Helping Matters Discussion prompts.

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Invite students to sit in a circle and ask: “Why do we keep clean?”
  • Show first 2 slides of Team Hygiene Slides explaining basic grooming tasks (hair care, tooth brushing).
  • Highlight how helping each other can make hygiene fun.

Step 2

Demonstration

7 minutes

  • Select one volunteer pair at the front.
  • Model tooth brushing and hair combing on a stuffed toy or wig.
  • Describe each step clearly, pointing to slides for visual support.
  • Emphasize gentle, careful motions and taking turns.

Step 3

Partner Practice

15 minutes

  • Have students find their assigned partner and sit facing each other with hygiene kits.
  • Guide partners through the Partner Brush-Up Activity:
    • Partner A brushes Partner B’s teeth for 30 seconds, then switch.
    • Partner A combs Partner B’s hair, then switch.
  • Circulate, offer tips, reinforce safe, respectful touch and proper technique.

Step 4

Group Discussion

5 minutes

  • Reconvene as a whole class. Ask: “How did it feel to help your friend?” and “What did you learn?”
  • Use prompts from Why Helping Matters Discussion.
  • Record student responses on chart paper under “Today I Helped” and “I Learned.”

Step 5

Wrap-Up

3 minutes

  • Summarize key hygiene steps and benefits of helping friends.
  • Encourage students to practice these habits daily and support classmates.
  • Remind students to reflect on the chart tomorrow for continued growth.
lenny

Slide Deck

Team Hygiene with Clean Pals

Welcome, everyone! Today we’ll learn how to keep ourselves clean and help our friends do the same. Let’s become Clean Pals together!

Welcome the class and introduce today’s lesson: working together to stay clean! Explain that being a "Clean Pal" means helping friends and taking care of ourselves.

Why Stay Clean?

• Keeps germs away
• Helps us stay healthy
• Makes us feel fresh and happy
• Good hygiene is a superpower!

Discuss why cleanliness matters. Engage students by asking for examples of times they’ve washed up or brushed teeth at home.

Essential Grooming Tasks

  1. Hair Combing
  2. Tooth Brushing
  3. Face Washing (extra tip!)

Show real combs and toothbrushes or pictures. Describe each grooming task briefly so kids know what we’ll practice.

How to Comb Hair

  1. Hold the comb at the top.
  2. Part hair gently.
  3. Comb from scalp to ends in small sections.
  4. Check in a mirror.

Model each combing step first on yourself or a stuffed toy. Emphasize gentle strokes and taking it slow.

How to Brush Teeth

  1. Put a pea-sized dot of toothpaste on the brush.
  2. Hold the brush at a small angle.
  3. Move in gentle circles on each tooth.
  4. Spit, then rinse.

Demonstrate brushing on a stuffed toy. Explain circular motions and covering all areas.

Partner Practice: Brush-Up

• Pair up with your Clean Pal.
• Follow Partner Brush-Up Activity steps:
– A brushes B’s teeth for 30 seconds, then switch.
– A combs B’s hair, then switch.

Introduce the partner activity. Review safety rules first, then describe the timing and roles.

Safety & Respect

• Always ask, “May I help you?”
• Use gentle, careful motions.
• Keep brushes and combs clean.
• Stop if your friend says “no”.

Highlight safe, respectful touch. Ask students to repeat the rules aloud.

Let’s Talk About It

Ask your friend and the class:
• How did it feel to help?
• What new skill did you learn?
• Use prompts from Why Helping Matters Discussion.

Prepare students to share how it felt and what they learned. Point to words on the slide to cue discussion.

You’re a Clean Pal!

Great job today, Clean Pals!
• Practice these steps every day.
• Keep helping friends stay clean.
• Remember: healthy habits make happy friends!

Wrap up by celebrating students’ hard work. Encourage daily practice and kindness.

lenny

Activity

Partner Brush-Up Activity

Objective: Practice proper tooth brushing and hair combing with a partner to build hygiene skills and cooperation.

Materials:

  • Student Hygiene Kits (comb, toothbrush, small mirror)
  • Pea-sized toothpaste
  • Timer or stopwatch

Steps:

1. Setup (1 minute)

  • Find your Clean Pal and sit facing each other, each with your hygiene kit ready.

2. Round 1: Tooth Brushing (6 minutes)

  1. Partner A asks, “May I help you brush your teeth?”
  2. Partner B replies “Yes, please.”
  3. Partner A places a pea-sized dot of toothpaste on the brush.
  4. Holding the brush at a small angle, Partner A gently moves in circular motions on each tooth for 30 seconds on the timer.
  5. Partner B says “All done!” then spits and rinses.
  6. Switch roles: Partner B brushes Partner A’s teeth, following the same steps.

3. Round 2: Hair Combing (6 minutes)

  1. Partner A asks, “May I help you comb your hair?”
  2. Partner B replies “Yes, please.”
  3. Partner A divides hair into small sections and combs gently from scalp to ends for 30 seconds per side.
  4. Partner A checks progress in a mirror and smooths any tangles.
  5. Switch roles: Partner B combs Partner A’s hair, following the same steps.

4. Reflection & Clean-Up (2 minutes)

  • Discuss with your partner: “How did it feel to help? How did it feel to be helped?”


  • Return all items to your hygiene kits and wipe down brushes/comb if needed.

Safety & Respect Tips

  • Always ask permission first.
  • Use gentle, careful motions; avoid pulling hair.
  • Stop immediately if your friend feels uncomfortable or says “no.”
lenny
lenny

Discussion

Why Helping Matters Discussion

Objective

Students will reflect on their experiences helping and being helped, understand the feelings and learning involved, and discuss how cooperation builds kindness.

Guidelines

  1. Listen quietly while others speak.
  2. Raise your hand and speak one at a time.
  3. Use kind, respectful words.
  4. Look at the speaker and show you care.

1. Feelings of Helping

Prompt: How did you feel when you helped your Clean Pal brush their teeth or comb their hair?







Follow-Up: Why do you think helping someone else can make you feel good?







2. Feelings of Being Helped

Prompt: How did you feel when your Clean Pal helped you?







Follow-Up: Was it easy or hard to let someone help you? Why?







3. Learning from Each Other

Prompt: What new hygiene steps or skills did you learn from your partner?












Follow-Up: How can teaching someone else help you remember what you learned?







4. Cooperation & Kindness

Prompt: Why is it important to ask, “May I help you?” before helping?







Prompt: How can you be a Clean Pal at home or on the playground?







Closing Question: How does helping each other make our classroom a kinder, happier place?












lenny
lenny