KS1: Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is one of the single most effective things children can do support preventing the spread of infection. By taking part in a classroom experiment, students will understand how soap or sanitisers work and that hand washing is the best way to remove microbes.
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Learning objectives
- Explore and understand how soap and sanitisers help remove microbes, and develop an appreciation for the importance of proper hand washing as the most effective method for maintaining hygiene and preventing the spread of germs.
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.
Practicing good hand hygiene through regularly washing hands with soap 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 students on how microbes can spread from hand to hand and show the most effective way to wash hands.
Activities
Main activity:- Pepper and Water Experiment
- Healthy Hands Facts
- Hand Washing Flashcards
- Fill in the Blanks
Curriculum links
Curriculum Key Elements
- Personal Health and Moral Character
Curriculum Skills
- Communication
- Managing Information
- Thinking
- Problem Solving and Decision Making
- Working with others
Curriculum Areas of Learning
- Personal Development (PDMU)
- The World Around Us (TWAU)