My Weekly Hygiene Goal Journal

This journal is your secret weapon to feeling great! Setting small, achievable goals can make a big difference in your personal hygiene, which boosts your physical health and helps you feel more confident in social situations. Let's make some awesome habits!

My Weekly Hygiene Goal:

Why is this goal important for my "Feeling Great Code" this week?

Weekly Tracker

Mark an X each day you achieve your goal!

My Reflection (End of Week):

How did I do with my goal this week? What did I learn about personal hygiene and feeling great? What's one thing I want to keep working on?

Hygiene True or False Game!

Instructions: Read each statement below. As a group, decide if the statement is TRUE or FALSE. Be ready to explain your answer!

Card 1

Statement: Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds helps remove germs.
Answer: TRUE
Why: Soap and water, with proper scrubbing for 20 seconds, physically remove and break down germs, significantly reducing the risk of illness.

Card 2

Statement: You only need to brush your teeth once a day.
Answer: FALSE
Why: Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time to effectively remove plaque and food particles, preventing cavities and gum disease.

Card 3

Statement: Sharing a water bottle with a friend is a perfectly hygienic practice.
Answer: FALSE
Why: Sharing water bottles can easily spread germs, bacteria, and viruses from one person to another, increasing the risk of getting sick.

Card 4

Statement: Taking a shower or bath regularly helps to remove dirt, sweat, and body odor.
Answer: TRUE
Why: Regular showering or bathing is essential for removing accumulated dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells, which helps prevent body odor and keeps your skin healthy.

Card 5

Statement: It's okay to wear the same socks for several days in a row if they don't look dirty.
Answer: FALSE
Why: Even if socks don't look dirty, they accumulate sweat and bacteria, which can lead to foot odor, skin irritation, and fungal infections. It's best to wear clean socks daily.

Card 6

Statement: Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze helps prevent the spread of germs.
Answer: TRUE
Why: Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing traps germs, preventing them from becoming airborne and infecting others.

Card 7

Statement: You don't need to wash your hands after using the restroom if you didn't touch anything dirty.
Answer: FALSE
Why: Germs are microscopic and can be present on surfaces in restrooms, even if they don't appear dirty. Washing hands after using the restroom is a critical habit for preventing the spread of disease.

Card 8

Statement: Deodorant makes you stop sweating.
Answer: FALSE
Why: Deodorant helps to mask body odor, while antiperspirant is designed to reduce sweating. Many products combine both functions, but deodorant alone primarily deals with odor, not sweat production.

Card 9

Statement: Eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep don't really affect your hygiene.
Answer: FALSE
Why: A healthy diet and sufficient sleep boost your immune system, which helps your body fight off infections that good hygiene also aims to prevent. They contribute to overall well-being, including skin and hair health.

The Secret Code of Feeling Great: Teacher Script

Connect and Check-In: What's Your Vibe? (5 minutes)

"Good morning, everyone! Let's start with a quick thought experiment. How does it feel when you wake up feeling fresh and clean, maybe after a good shower and brushing your teeth? You know, ready to take on the day! (Pause for student responses) Now, how about on a day when you might not have felt as fresh? Maybe you rushed, or just weren't feeling it? (Pause for responses). You can probably feel a difference, right? Today, we're going to unlock 'The Secret Code of Feeling Great' by exploring personal hygiene, physical health, and how all of that connects to feeling good, both inside and out. It's a really important topic, especially as you navigate middle school and beyond. Let's get started with our first slide!"

(Display Slide 1: "The Secret Code of Feeling Great!")

Learn and Discuss: Hygiene's Superpowers (10 minutes)

"Alright, let's dive into our first superpower: What exactly is personal hygiene? (Advance to Slide 2: "What is Personal Hygiene?") As you can see, it's all about taking care of your body to stay clean and healthy. What are some simple things you do every day, or almost every day, to keep yourselves clean? Think beyond just smelling good. (Encourage student examples: showering, brushing teeth, washing hands, clean clothes, etc.) Exactly! These seemingly small actions have big impacts."

"Now, how does hygiene connect to our physical health? (Advance to Slide 3: "Hygiene & Your Physical Health") Look at these points. Good hygiene is like having a team of tiny superheroes fighting off germs that can make you sick. It also helps keep your skin and hair healthy – nobody wants acne or greasy hair, right? We've also added a couple more important points: 'Prevents Infections' – keeping cuts and scrapes clean can stop them from getting serious. And 'Stronger Immunity' – being clean helps your body stay strong and fight off illness better. And, of course, fresh breath is a big one. Can anyone tell me what happens if we don't practice good hygiene in one of these areas? What might be some consequences? (Facilitate discussion on sickness, skin issues, bad breath, etc.)"

"Beyond just physical health, good hygiene has another amazing superpower: confidence! (Advance to Slide 4: "The Confidence Connection") When you feel clean and put-together, it often gives you a big boost in self-esteem. You walk a little taller, you feel ready for whatever the day throws at you. Has anyone ever felt that boost after getting ready for a special event or even just a regular school day? How does feeling clean make you feel inside? (Allow for brief sharing of feelings of confidence, preparedness)."

"And finally, let's talk about how hygiene affects our social world. (Advance to Slide 5: "Hygiene & Social Well-Being") This is a big one for middle school. When you practice good hygiene, it makes interactions easier and more positive. People generally feel more comfortable around you, and it shows that you care about yourself and others. Let's be honest, how do you feel when someone next to you smells… well, not so fresh? (Address this sensitively, focusing on the general impact, not specific individuals). It can be a little awkward, right? Good hygiene helps avoid those awkward moments and build better connections."

"So, to sum it up: (Advance to Slide 6: "The Secret Code: Unlocked!") Personal Hygiene isn't just about being clean. It's the secret code that combines Physical Health, Self-Esteem, AND Social Well-Being to help you feel great every single day!"

Activity and Practice: True or False Fun! (10 minutes)

"Now that we've unlocked the code, let's put our knowledge to the test with a fun game! I'm going to divide you into small groups. Each group will get a set of cards for our Hygiene True or False Game. Your task is to read each statement, discuss it within your group, and decide if it's TRUE or FALSE. Then, be ready to explain why you think that's the answer. I'll be walking around to listen to your discussions and help if you get stuck. You have about 7-8 minutes for this. Go ahead and get into your groups and I'll hand out the cards!"

(Circulate, listen to discussions, offer gentle guidance. After 7-8 minutes, bring the class back together.)

"Alright, let's bring it back! Who wants to share one of their cards and tell us if it's true or false, and why? (Review 2-3 key cards, prompting different groups to share their reasoning. For example: "Group A, what did you think about the 'sharing water bottle' statement?") Great job, everyone! It sounds like you're really understanding the importance of these habits."

Set a Weekly Goal: My Hygiene Mission (5 minutes)

"We've learned a lot about how personal hygiene contributes to feeling great. But knowing isn't enough; we need to do. Good habits start with small, achievable goals. So, for our final activity today, I'm going to give each of you a My Weekly Hygiene Goal Journal. (Distribute journals)"

"On the first page, I want you to set one personal hygiene goal for the upcoming week. It could be something like: 'I will brush my teeth twice a day, every day,' or 'I will remember to wear clean socks daily,' or 'I will shower every other day.' Pick something specific and achievable. Then, write down why this goal is important for your feeling great code this week. How will achieving this goal help you feel better physically, more confident, or improve your social interactions?"

"Use the tracker inside to mark an 'X' each day you achieve your goal, and make a quick note about how it felt. At the end of the week, you can reflect on your progress. Remember, taking care of yourselves is one of the most powerful ways to feel confident, healthy, and ready for anything. You've got this! Thanks everyone!"