Your Health, Your Hands! Script

Warm-Up: Health Habits Check-In (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon everyone! Let's kick off our health lesson today with a quick warm-up. On your desks, or projected on the screen, you'll see a few questions. I'd like you to take about five minutes to silently read and answer them. Think about your own daily habits. There are no right or wrong answers here, just your honest reflections."

(Allow students to complete the warm-up. Circulate to check for engagement.)

"Alright, let's hear from a couple of you. Can anyone share one habit they already practice to stay healthy, or one question they had after reading the warm-up?"

(Call on a few students, briefly acknowledge their responses, and connect to the day's topic.)

Introduction to Personal Health (10 minutes)

"Excellent responses! Today, we're diving into a topic that affects every single one of us, every single day: Your Health, Your Hands! (Display Your Health, Your Hands! Slide Deck - Slide 1). When you hear that, what comes to mind? What does it mean to be healthy? How do you think our daily habits play a role in that?"

(Allow for a few student responses.)

"That's right! Being healthy is about more than just not being sick. It's about feeling good, having energy, and being able to do the things you love. And a huge part of staying healthy comes down to our personal health habits, especially hygiene."

"Today, our mission, our learning objective, is clear: (Display Your Health, Your Hands! Slide Deck - Slide 2). We're going to identify key personal hygiene practices, explain why these practices are so important in preventing the spread of germs, and by the end, you'll each commit to at least two daily health habits that you can put into practice right away."

"Why is this so important, you ask? (Display Your Health, Your Hands! Slide Deck - Slide 3). It's not just about staying clean! Good hygiene helps prevent illness, it can actually boost your confidence because you feel good, and it protects your community. Think about it: when you don't spread germs, you're helping your friends, family, and teachers stay healthy too!"

Discussion: Germ Busters! (15 minutes)

"Now, let's talk about those sneaky things we're trying to prevent: germs! (Display Your Health, Your Hands! Slide Deck - Slide 4). What exactly are germs? Where do you think they hide? And perhaps most importantly, how do they spread from one person to another? Turn and talk to a partner for 30 seconds about these questions."

(Allow for partner discussion, then bring the class back together.)

"Who would like to share what they discussed? What are germs?"

(Guide the discussion to explain that germs are tiny organisms like bacteria and viruses, invisible to the naked eye, that can make us sick.)

"Exactly! They're microscopic! And they're everywhere! So, how do we fight back? One of our most powerful tools is handwashing! (Display Your Health, Your Hands! Slide Deck - Slide 5). Can someone tell me, when are the most important times to wash our hands?"

(Prompt for responses like: after using the restroom, before eating, after coughing/sneezing, after playing outside, after touching pets.)

"Fantastic! And what's the best way to wash our hands? It's not just a quick rinse! We need soap, water, and at least 20 seconds of scrubbing – that's like singing 'Happy Birthday' twice! (Demonstrate a quick, exaggerated handwashing motion or ask a student to describe the steps.)

"But it's not just about your hands. There are other important habits too. (Display Your Health, Your Hands! Slide Deck - Slide 6). What are some other ways we can practice good hygiene to keep ourselves and others healthy? Think about when you cough or sneeze, or even what you do in the morning."

(Encourage responses such as: covering coughs/sneezes with an elbow, showering, brushing teeth, keeping cuts clean, not sharing drinks/food.)

"These are all excellent points! Remember, these simple actions make a huge difference. So, to recap our germ-busting strategies: (Display Your Health, Your Hands! Slide Deck - Slide 7). Handwashing is essential, cover your coughs and sneezes, and overall good personal hygiene protects everyone. It's like being a superhero for public health!"

Activity: My Daily Health Pledge (10 minutes)

"Now it's time to make it personal. We've talked about many important health habits. I want you to think about your daily routine. What are two health habits that you want to improve, or perhaps start doing consistently? (Display Your Health, Your Hands! Slide Deck - Slide 8). This is your personal health pledge, a promise to yourself."

"Take a few minutes to think quietly and then write down your two pledges in your notebook or on a piece of paper. For example, you might write: 'I pledge to wash my hands for 20 seconds before eating dinner,' or 'I pledge to brush my teeth twice a day.' Make them realistic and something you can truly commit to."

(Circulate and provide support as students write their pledges.)

Cool Down: My Health Pledge (5 minutes)

"Great work on your pledges, everyone. To wrap up our lesson today, I'm handing out (or displaying) the Cool Down: My Health Pledge. Please fill this out and turn it in as your exit ticket. This will help me see what you're taking away from today's discussion and your commitment to your own health."

(Collect the cool-down slips as students finish.)

"Thank you all for an engaging discussion about personal health and hygiene! Remember, your health is in your hands, literally! Have a healthy rest of your day!"

Warm-Up: Health Habits Check-In

Take a few minutes to silently answer the following questions. There are no right or wrong answers, just your honest thoughts!

1. What are 3 things you do every day (or almost every day) to stay clean and healthy?
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one question you have about germs or staying healthy?
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Imagine you have a superpower to stop the spread of one type of germ. Which germ would you choose and why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Discussion: Germ Busters!

This discussion will help us understand what germs are, how they spread, and what we can do to stop them!

Part 1: What are Germs?

• Teacher Prompt: "What exactly are germs? Where do you think they hide? And perhaps most importantly, how do they spread from one person to another? Turn and talk to a partner for 30 seconds about these questions."

  • Student Sharing: Call on a few students to share their partner's ideas.
  • Key Points to Emphasize:
    • Germs are tiny living things (like bacteria, viruses, fungi) that can make us sick.
    • They are invisible to the naked eye.
    • They can be found everywhere: on surfaces, in the air, on and inside our bodies.

Part 2: The Superpower of Handwashing

• Teacher Prompt: "So, if germs are everywhere, how do we fight back? What is one of the most important things we can do to protect ourselves? When are the most important times to wash our hands?"

  • Student Responses: Guide students to identify key times (before eating, after using the restroom, after coughing/sneezing, after touching animals, etc.).
  • Key Points to Emphasize:
    • When to wash: After sneezing/coughing, before/after eating, after using the bathroom, after touching public surfaces, after playing outside.
    • How to wash: Use soap and water, scrub for at least 20 seconds (sing "Happy Birthday" twice), rinse well, dry thoroughly.

Part 3: More Hygiene Habits!

• Teacher Prompt: "Beyond handwashing, what are some other important hygiene habits that help us stay healthy and stop germs from spreading? Think about what you do in the morning, or when you cough."

  • Student Responses: Encourage a variety of responses.
  • Key Points to Emphasize:
    • Respiratory Etiquette: Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, not your hands.
    • Personal Cleanliness: Showering/bathing regularly, brushing teeth twice a day.
    • Avoiding Sharing: Don't share personal items like drinks, food, or lip balm.
    • Wound Care: Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered.

Part 4: Quick Recap

• Teacher Prompt: "Let's quickly recap what we've learned. What are the top 2-3 most important takeaways from our discussion about stopping germs?"

  • Student Responses: Reinforce correct answers.
  • Key Points to Emphasize:
    • Handwashing is your best defense.
    • Good hygiene protects everyone, not just yourself.
    • Small actions make a big difference in preventing illness.

Cool Down: My Health Pledge

Take a moment to reflect on what we discussed today about personal health and hygiene.

1. What is one new thing you learned about germs or staying healthy today?
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Write down your personal health pledge:

   • I, (Your Name), pledge to make these two health habits part of my daily routine starting today:
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     2. 
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

3. How do you think keeping this pledge will benefit you and the people around you?