lenny

Hygiene Heroes

user image

Lesson Plan

Hygiene Heroes Lesson Plan

Students will identify key personal hygiene habits, understand their health benefits, and practice handwashing and routine planning by completing interactive activities and creating a daily hygiene checklist.

Building essential hygiene habits in 7th grade promotes health, prevents illness, and boosts confidence, laying the foundation for lifelong wellness.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive game, hands-on demo, and reflection.

Materials

Whiteboard and Markers, Hygiene Habits Matching Game Cards, Sink with Soap and Paper Towels, Daily Hygiene Checklist Sheet, and Timer or Stopwatch

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction and Discussion

5 minutes

  • Write “Personal Hygiene” on the whiteboard and ask students to share habits they know.
  • Highlight key habits: handwashing, tooth brushing, hair care, nail care, and bathing.
  • Note benefits: illness prevention, confidence, social comfort.
  • Explain the activities and objectives for today.

Step 2

Hygiene Matching Game

10 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups and give each group a shuffled set of Hygiene Habits Matching Game Cards.
  • Instruct groups to match each habit card with its benefit card within 3 minutes (use the timer).
  • After matching, have groups share one habit-benefit pair and discuss why it matters.
  • Provide feedback and clarify any misconceptions.

Step 3

Handwashing Demonstration

8 minutes

  • Bring students to the sink station and demonstrate proper handwashing steps:
    • Wet hands, apply soap, scrub for 20 seconds.
    • Rinse thoroughly and dry with paper towels.
  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to practice while classmates observe and count seconds.
  • Reinforce why each step (scrubbing, rinsing, drying) is important to remove germs.

Step 4

Reflection and Daily Routine Planning

7 minutes

  • Hand out the Daily Hygiene Checklist Sheet.
  • Ask students to fill in their own hygiene routine (morning, after school, before bed).
  • Prompt volunteers to share one routine item and how they’ll remember it.
  • Collect sheets for informal review to assess understanding and follow-up needs.
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Worksheet

Daily Hygiene Checklist Sheet

Instructions: Write at least three hygiene tasks for each part of your day. As you complete each task, check it off.

Morning RoutineAfter School RoutineBefore Bed Routine
[ ] ________________________

[ ] ________________________

[ ] ________________________

[ ] ________________________

[ ] ________________________

[ ] ________________________

[ ] ________________________

[ ] ________________________

[ ] ________________________

lenny
lenny

Activity

Hygiene Habits Matching Game Cards

Instructions:

  1. Print and cut out each card so habits and benefits are separate.
  2. Shuffle all cards face down and deal them evenly among student groups.
  3. Students take turns flipping two cards—one habit and one benefit—to find matching pairs.
  4. When a correct match is found, the group keeps that pair. The group with the most pairs wins.

Habit Cards

  • Wash hands thoroughly

  • Brush teeth twice a day

  • Bathe or shower daily

  • Comb or brush hair

  • Trim nails regularly

  • Use deodorant

  • Wash face each morning and night

  • Change into clean clothes daily

  • Floss after brushing

  • Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing

Benefit Cards

  • Removes germs and reduces spread of illness

  • Prevents cavities and gum disease

  • Removes dirt and sweat to prevent body odor

  • Keeps hair looking neat and healthy

  • Prevents hangnails and bacterial growth under the nails

  • Controls underarm odor and boosts confidence

  • Helps clear oil and prevent acne

  • Reduces bacteria on the body and keeps clothes fresh

  • Removes trapped food particles for healthy gums

  • Prevents spread of germs to others when sneezing or coughing

lenny
lenny

Slide Deck

Hygiene Heroes

A 30-minute lesson for 7th graders
Discover essential hygiene habits, health benefits, and how to build your own routine.

Welcome students and introduce yourself as their Hygiene Hero guide. Explain that today’s session will help them learn simple habits to stay healthy and confident.

Today’s Objectives

• Identify key personal hygiene habits
• Understand the health benefits of each habit
• Practice proper handwashing technique
• Create a daily hygiene checklist for morning, after school, and bedtime

Read the objectives aloud. Emphasize how each objective connects to their daily life and why these skills matter now and in the future.

Key Hygiene Habits

• Wash hands thoroughly
• Brush teeth twice a day
• Bathe or shower daily
• Comb or brush hair
• Trim nails regularly
• Use deodorant
• Wash face morning and night
• Change into clean clothes daily
• Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing

Ask for volunteers to name habits they already do. As you reveal each habit, write it on the board.

Why Hygiene Matters

• Prevents spread of germs and illness
• Protects teeth and gums
• Controls body odor and oil
• Supports healthy skin and hair
• Builds confidence and positive first impressions

Highlight how each habit prevents illness, boosts confidence, and makes social interactions more comfortable.

Hygiene Matching Game

  1. Divide into small groups and grab a set of Hygiene Habits Matching Game Cards.
  2. Flip one habit card and one benefit card to find matches.
  3. Keep correct pairs; the group with the most pairs wins!
  4. After 3 minutes, each group shares one habit-benefit pair and why it’s important.

Introduce the matching game. Explain the rules, materials needed, and time limit. Encourage friendly competition.

Proper Handwashing Steps

  1. Wet hands with clean running water
  2. Apply soap and scrub for at least 20 seconds (back of hands, between fingers, under nails)
  3. Rinse thoroughly under running water
  4. Dry completely with a paper towel

Guide the demonstration step by step. Invite volunteers and have classmates count 20 seconds to build engagement.

Create Your Hygiene Routine

• Take a copy of the Daily Hygiene Checklist Sheet
• Write three hygiene tasks for: Morning, After School, and Before Bed
• Check off each task as you complete it every day
• Be ready to share one routine item and how you’ll remember it

Distribute the checklist sheets. Circulate to support students as they plan their routines.

Wrap-Up and Reflection

• Which new habit will you focus on this week?
• How will you remind yourself to practice it?
Thank you for being Hygiene Heroes!

Invite a few volunteers to share their chosen habit and mnemonic for remembering it. Reinforce enthusiasm for applying these habits daily.

lenny
Hygiene Heroes • Lenny Learning