Hygiene Habits Warm-Up

Instructions: Take a few minutes to think about and answer the questions below.

1. Think about a time you or someone you know got sick. What do you think might have caused it?
   
   
   

2. What are some things people do every day to try and stay healthy and avoid getting sick?
   
   
   

3. Imagine you have a magic spray that kills all germs on your hands. When would you use it most often throughout your day? List at least three times.
   
   
   

Germ Spread Activity: The Glitter/Cinnamon Challenge

Objective: To visually demonstrate how easily germs can spread from person to person and object to object.

Materials:

• A small amount of glitter (preferred for visibility) or cinnamon powder
• Hand sanitizer (optional, for cleanup)
• Wet wipes or paper towels for cleanup

Instructions:

1. Introduce the "Germs": Explain to students that the glitter (or cinnamon) will represent invisible germs. Emphasize that germs are real, but unlike glitter, we can't see them!

2. Select the "Initial Carrier": Choose one student to be the "initial germ carrier." Ask them to volunteer or select one randomly.

3. Apply "Germs": Lightly sprinkle a small amount of glitter (or cinnamon) onto the hands of the "initial carrier." Make sure to get some on their palms and fingers. Tell them not to rub their hands together too much, just let it sit.

4. First Round of Interaction (2-3 minutes):

   • Instruct the initial carrier to interact with 2-3 other students. This can involve a handshake, a high-five, or briefly touching a shared object like a pencil or a book. (Ensure interactions are brief and gentle).
   • After this, have those 2-3 students interact with another 2-3 students each.
     
     
     
     
     
     

5. Observation (2-3 minutes):

   • Ask students to look at their hands and the hands of their classmates. Where do they see the "germs" (glitter/cinnamon)?
   • Ask: "Who touched the initial carrier? Who touched someone who touched the initial carrier? What do you notice about how far the 'germs' traveled?"
   • Discuss how quickly and easily the "germs" spread even with light contact.
     
     
     

6. Cleanup & Discussion (3-4 minutes):

   • Have students try to wipe off the glitter/cinnamon with just a dry paper towel. Observe if it all comes off easily. This simulates not washing hands thoroughly.
   • Then, provide hand sanitizer or direct students to wash their hands with soap and water if possible. Emphasize that soap and water are best for removing germs.
   • Discuss: "What did this activity teach you about how germs spread? Why is handwashing so important?"

Hygiene Hero Cool-Down

Instructions: Reflect on today's lesson and answer the following questions.

1. Name one new thing you learned today about why hygiene is important.
   
   
   

2. List two specific hygiene habits you will try to practice more often starting today.
   
   
   

3. Why do you think it's important for everyone, not just you, to practice good hygiene?
   
   
   
   

Germ Busters: Your Health Habits - Teacher Script

Materials Needed:

• Germ Busters Slide Deck
• Hygiene Habits Warm-Up (one per student)
• Germ Spread Activity materials (glitter/cinnamon, wet wipes/hand sanitizer)
• Hygiene Hero Cool-Down (one per student)

1. Warm-Up: Think About Sickness (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, future Germ Busters! Today, we're going to talk about something super important: staying healthy! To kick things off, I've handed out a quick warm-up called Hygiene Habits Warm-Up. Please take about 3-4 minutes to quietly answer the questions on your sheet. Think about your own experiences and what you already know."

(Allow students time to complete the warm-up. Circulate to observe their responses.)

Teacher: "Alright, class, let's share a few thoughts. Who would like to share one thing they wrote about what might cause sickness?"

(Call on a few students. Guide the discussion towards germs, bacteria, viruses.)

Teacher: "And what are some things you mentioned that people do to try and stay healthy?"

(Prompt for answers like washing hands, eating healthy, exercising. Connect these to personal actions.)

2. Introduction & Discussion: What is Hygiene? (5 minutes)

Teacher: (Transition to Germ Busters Slide Deck - Slide 1: "Germ Busters: Your Health Habits")

"Great responses! Today, we're going to dive deeper into something called hygiene, which is exactly about those habits that keep us healthy. Our goal is to become 'Germ Busters' and understand how we can protect ourselves and others from getting sick."

(Advance to Slide 2: "What is Hygiene, Anyway?")

Teacher: "As you can see, hygiene is all about keeping clean and healthy. Think of it as your personal superhero power against tiny, invisible invaders we call germs. Can anyone tell me what they think these 'germs' are?"

(Listen to student responses, affirming and clarifying that germs include bacteria and viruses too small to see.)

Teacher: "Exactly! Germs are everywhere, and while many are harmless, some can make us feel pretty bad. So, how do these tiny invaders get around? How do they spread? Any ideas?"

(Allow a few students to share their thoughts, leading into the next activity.)

3. Activity: The Germ Spread Challenge (10 minutes)

Teacher: (Transition to Germ Busters Slide Deck - Slide 3: "Germs: The Invisible Travelers")

"Germs are truly invisible travelers, and sometimes it's hard to imagine how they move. So, let's do a quick activity to see it with our own eyes! We're going to do the Germ Spread Activity."

(Follow the instructions on the Germ Spread Activity material exactly. Choose a student for the 'initial germ carrier', apply glitter/cinnamon, facilitate interactions, and guide observation and discussion.)

Teacher: "Wow! Look at how quickly those 'germs' spread! What did you notice? How far did the glitter travel from our initial carrier?"

(Discuss student observations, emphasizing that real germs spread just as easily, if not easier, than the glitter.)

4. Review & Best Practices: Hygiene Heroes (5 minutes)

Teacher: (Transition back to Germ Busters Slide Deck - Slide 4: "Hygiene Heroes: Our Best Practices")

"That activity showed us just how important it is to be a Hygiene Hero! If glitter represents germs, what's our best defense against them? What did you do to get the glitter off your hands?"

(Elicit responses about washing hands.)

Teacher: "Absolutely! Washing your hands is the number one superpower against germs! But there are other ways we can be Hygiene Heroes too. Let's look at some key practices:"

(Review each bullet point on Slide 4, elaborating as needed and asking students for examples of when they might use each practice.)

Teacher: "Remember, these simple habits make a HUGE difference in keeping you, your family, and everyone in our classroom healthy!"

5. Cool-Down: My Hygiene Pledge (5 minutes)

Teacher: (Transition to Germ Busters Slide Deck - Slide 5: "Stay Healthy, Be Happy!")

"You all did a fantastic job today learning about the importance of hygiene and becoming Germ Busters! To wrap up, I have one last short activity for you. Please complete the Hygiene Hero Cool-Down as an exit ticket. This will help me see what you learned and how you plan to be a Hygiene Hero."

(Distribute the cool-down. Collect completed cool-downs as students finish. Thank them for their participation.)

Teacher: "Thank you all for being such great listeners and participants. Keep those hygiene habits strong, and you'll stay healthy and happy!"