Early Years: Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is one of the single most effective things children can do support preventing the spread of infection.
This lesson supports children aged 3-5 to learn why it is important to wash hands properly and how to do so. Scroll down to find out more and to download the resources.
Learning objectives
- Develop an understanding of how personal hygiene practices, such as handwashing and nose blowing, help to prevent the spread of germs and maintain health.
Background Information
Schools are a haven for potentially harmful microbes that can spread rapidly. Our skin naturally secretes oil which helps to keep our skin moist, but this is a perfect place for microbes to grow and multiply and helps microbes ‘stick’ to our skin. Our hands can easily pick up harmful microbes from our surroundings, surfaces and even through the air. These harmful microbes can spread quickly and easily from child-to-child via touch and can make us poorly if swallowed.
Washing your hands is one of the best ways to stop harmful microbes from spreading and prevent us from becoming sick.
This lesson plan supports you to educate children on why respiratory hygiene matters and how to practice it.
Activities
Main activity:- Balloon Hands
- Hand Washing and Nose Blowing Flashcards
- Picture Sequencing Activity
- Hand Washing Chart
Curriculum links
Curriculum Key Elements
- Personal Health and Moral Character
Curriculum Skills
- Communication
- Thinking
- Problem Solving and Decision Making
Curriculum Areas of Learning
- Language and Literacy
- Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (PDMU)
- The World Around Us (TWAU)