Hygiene Habits Warm-Up

Instructions: Take a few minutes to think about the following questions. You will share your thoughts with a partner and then with the class.

1. What does "personal hygiene" mean to you in your own words?
   
   
   
   
   

2. Why do you think personal hygiene is important for teenagers like you?
   
   
   
   
   

3. Can you name one daily habit related to hygiene that you practice?
   
   
   
   
   

Hygiene Habits Script

Warm-Up: Think-Pair-Share (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! To kick off our lesson today, I want you to grab the Hygiene Habits Warm-Up sheet I just handed out. Take about two minutes to quietly think about the questions on the sheet: What does personal hygiene mean to you, and why do you think it's important? Also, what daily hygiene habit do you practice?"

(Pause for 2 minutes while students write.)

Teacher: "Alright, now I want you to turn to a partner sitting near you. You have two minutes to share your thoughts and answers to these questions. Listen to each other's ideas!"

(Pause for 2 minutes while students discuss.)

Teacher: "Can I get a few volunteers to share some of the interesting points or ideas that came up in your pairs? What does hygiene mean to you, and why is it important?"

(Call on 2-3 pairs to share briefly.)

Introduction & Discussion (Slide Deck & Script) (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Excellent job, everyone! You've already got some great ideas about this topic. Today, we're going to dive deeper into personal hygiene and understand why it truly matters for each of you. Let's look at our first slide."

(Advance to Why Care? Slide Deck - Slide 1: "Hygiene Habits: Why Care?")

Teacher: "Our lesson today is titled, 'Hygiene Habits: Why Care?' We'll explore why taking care of ourselves is so important, not just for our physical health, but for how we feel and interact with the world around us."

(Advance to Why Care? Slide Deck - Slide 2: "What is Personal Hygiene?")

Teacher: "As many of you mentioned, personal hygiene refers to the practices we do to care for our bodily health and well-being. It's simply about keeping our bodies clean and healthy. Why do you think this is a daily, ongoing thing, not just a one-time event?"

(Allow for a few student responses, guiding towards continuous exposure to germs, sweat, etc.)

(Advance to Why Care? Slide Deck - Slide 3: "Why is Hygiene Important? (Health)")

Teacher: "Let's talk about the health side first. One of the biggest reasons for good hygiene is to prevent illness. Think about washing your hands – when you do that, what are you preventing?"

(Guide students to say "germs," "sickness.")

Teacher: "Exactly! It protects your body from germs that can make you sick. It also keeps your skin, hair, and teeth healthy. When your body is healthy, it can fight off sickness much better. Who can give me an example of how a hygiene practice helps protect their body?"

(Call on 1-2 students.)

(Advance to Why Care? Slide Deck - Slide 4: "Why is Hygiene Important? (Social & Emotional)")

Teacher: "But hygiene isn't just about avoiding sickness. It also plays a huge role in how we feel about ourselves and how we interact with others. When you feel clean and fresh, how does that make you feel inside?"

(Guide students to say "confident," "good.")

Teacher: "It boosts your confidence! And when you feel good, you tend to make more positive impressions on others. It also shows self-respect and respect for the people around you. Can anyone share a time when they felt really confident because they felt fresh and clean?"

(Allow for 1-2 brief shares.)

Key Hygiene Practices & Worksheet (10 minutes)

(Advance to Why Care? Slide Deck - Slide 5: "Daily Hygiene Practices: An Overview")

Teacher: "So, with all that in mind, what are some of the things you do every day, or almost every day, to stay clean and healthy? Let's brainstorm a few. Shout them out!"

(Write down student suggestions on the board or chart paper as they come. Try to hit on handwashing, showering, brushing teeth, clean clothes.)

Teacher: "Great ideas! Now, let's look at some key practices more closely."

(Advance to Why Care? Slide Deck - Slide 6: "Washing Hands: Your Superpower!")

Teacher: "Washing hands. It sounds simple, but it's one of your most powerful tools against germs. When should you always wash your hands?"

(Prompt for before eating, after restroom, after coughing/sneezing, etc.)

Teacher: "And remember, scrub with soap and water for at least 20 seconds – that's like singing 'Happy Birthday' twice!"

(Advance to Why Care? Slide Deck - Slide 7: "Showering/Bathing: Stay Fresh!")

Teacher: "Regular showering or bathing helps remove dirt, sweat, and oils. Why do you think this is especially important for teenagers?"

(Guide discussion towards puberty, increased sweating, body odor.)

Teacher: "Exactly. It prevents body odor and keeps your skin healthy."

(Advance to Why Care? Slide Deck - Slide 8: "Oral Care: Smile Bright!")

Teacher: "Oral care – brushing and flossing. How often should we be doing this?"

(Expect: "twice a day," "daily.")

Teacher: "That's right! It prevents cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. A healthy smile is a confident smile."

(Advance to Why Care? Slide Deck - Slide 9: "Clean Clothes & Deodorant: Fresh Start!")

Teacher: "Finally, clean clothes and deodorant. These go hand-in-hand with feeling fresh and preventing body odor. These are important tools in your daily hygiene routine."

Teacher: "Now, I'm going to hand out the Hygiene Check-In Worksheet. This is for you to reflect on your own habits. Take about 5-7 minutes to complete it quietly."

(Distribute Hygiene Check-In Worksheet and allow students to work. Circulate and assist if needed.)

Teacher: "Let's briefly go over some of the items on the worksheet. Is there anything that surprised you or something you realized you could improve on?"

(Allow a few students to share without judgment, reinforcing the positive aspects of good habits.)

Cool-Down: Reflection (5 minutes)

(Advance to Why Care? Slide Deck - Slide 10: "Wrap-Up: Your Hygiene, Your Health!")

Teacher: "To wrap up today, I want you to think about what we've discussed. Remember, good hygiene is a daily habit that impacts your physical health, how you feel about yourself, and how others perceive you."

Teacher: "I'm handing out a Personal Hygiene Cool-Down sheet. On this sheet, I want you to write down one new thing you learned today, or one hygiene habit you plan to improve or focus on in the coming days. This is your exit ticket for today."

(Distribute Personal Hygiene Cool-Down and collect as students finish.)

Teacher: "Thank you for your participation today, everyone! Have a great rest of your day!"

Hygiene Check-In Worksheet

Instructions: Read each statement and answer honestly. This is for your personal reflection.

Part 1: My Hygiene Habits

1. How often do you typically shower or bathe?
   
   A) Every day
   
   B) Every other day
   
   C) A few times a week
   
   D) Less often
   
   
   
   

2. How many times a day do you brush your teeth?
   
   A) Two or more times
   
   B) Once a day
   
   C) Less than once a day
   
   
   
   

3. When do you usually wash your hands? (Check all that apply)
   

   • Before eating
     
   • After using the restroom
     
   • After coughing or sneezing
     
   • After playing outside/sports
     
   • When they look dirty
     
   • Rarely
     
     
     
     

4. How often do you wear clean clothes?
   
   A) Every day
   
   B) Every other day
   
   C) A few times a week
   
   D) Less often
   
   
   
   

5. Do you use deodorant or antiperspirant daily?
   
   A) Yes
   
   B) No
   
   C) Sometimes
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Understanding Hygiene

6. List two reasons why good personal hygiene is important for your physical health.
   
   
   
   
   

7. List two reasons why good personal hygiene is important for your social life and how you feel about yourself.
   
   
   
   
   

8. What is one specific hygiene habit you think you could improve upon, and why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Personal Hygiene Cool-Down

Instructions: Please answer one of the following questions before you leave today.

1. Write down one new thing you learned about personal hygiene today.
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one personal hygiene habit you plan to improve or focus on in the coming days? Why did you choose this habit?