Grade by Grade
D. Healthy Living · Healthy Living

Keeping Clean: Hygiene and Germs

D2.5About 30 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can explain what germs are and how they can spread.
  • I can wash my hands the right way and say when to do it.
  • I can cough and sneeze into my sleeve or a tissue.
  • I can brush my teeth and keep my body clean, and I know not to share things like hats and hairbrushes.

Words to know

germs
Tiny living things, too small to see, that can make people sick.
hygiene
Things we do to keep our bodies clean and healthy, like washing hands and brushing teeth.
spread
To move from one person or thing to another.
soap
Something we use with water to wash germs and dirt away.
tissue
A soft paper for blowing your nose or catching a sneeze.
floss
A thin string used to clean between your teeth.

The invisible travellers 🦠

All around us are germs: tiny living things that are too small to see. Most germs don't hurt us, but some germs can make us sick, with a cold, a sore tummy or the flu.

Germs can spread from person to person: on our hands, when we cough or sneeze, and on things we share. The good news? Hygiene habits help stop germs!

Washing hands: your super power

Washing your hands with soap and water is one of the best ways to stop germs.

A bathroom sink with water running from the tap, a bar of soap with bubbles and a blue hand towel.
Soap, running water and a clean towel are all you need to wash germs off your hands. AI-generated image
123456wetsoapscrubrinsedrytap off20 seconds!
Wet your hands, add soap, scrub for 20 seconds, rinse, dry, then turn off the tap with your towel.
StepWhat to do
1. WetWet your hands with clean, running water.
2. SoapPut soap on your hands.
3. ScrubRub for 20 seconds: palms, backs, between fingers, thumbs and under nails. Sing "Happy Birthday" two times!
4. RinseRinse all the soap off under running water.
5. DryDry your hands with a clean towel or paper towel.
6. Tap offUse the paper towel to turn off the tap if you can.

When should I wash my hands?

  • Before eating or helping make food
  • After using the toilet
  • After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
  • After playing outside or touching pets
  • When your hands look or feel dirty

More healthy habits

  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow (sleeve) or a tissue, not your hands. Put used tissues in the garbage, then wash your hands.
  • Brush your teeth twice a day (morning and bedtime) for about two minutes. With a grown-up's help, floss between your teeth.
  • Take a bath or shower regularly and wear clean clothes.
  • Don't share things that touch your head or mouth: hats, hairbrushes, toothbrushes, water bottles, forks or spoons.
  • Stay home when you are sick so you don't spread germs to friends.
Worked example

Let's follow the germs

Max sneezes into his hand. Then he holds the door handle. Then Zara opens the door and eats her snack without washing her hands. What happened? How could it be stopped?

  1. Sneeze into hand: the germs land on Max's hand.
  2. Door handle: Max's hand puts germs on the handle.
  3. Zara's hand: Zara touches the handle, and the germs move to her hand.
  4. Snack: Zara eats with germy hands. The germs may get into her body.
  5. Stop it: Max could sneeze into his elbow and wash his hands. Zara could wash her hands before eating.

Germs travelled from Max's sneeze → his hand → the door handle → Zara's hand → her snack. Sneezing into your elbow and washing hands breaks the chain.

Max sneezesinto his handMax holds thedoor handleZara touchesthe handleZara eatsher snackgerms travel from hand to handle to hand to mouthSTOPSneeze into yourelbow, wash handsSTOPWash handsbefore eating
Max's germs travelled all the way to Zara's snack. The stop signs show two places where good hygiene breaks the chain.
Worked example

Let's plan a bedtime routine

What hygiene habits can Ayla do before bed?

  1. Bath or shower (or wash face and hands).
  2. Brush teeth for about 2 minutes: front, back and chewing parts of every tooth.
  3. Floss with a grown-up's help.
  4. Use the toilet and wash hands.
  5. Clean pyjamas, then off to bed!

Bath, brush teeth for 2 minutes, floss, toilet and handwashing, clean pyjamas. Doing it every night makes it a habit.

Just for fun

You sing "Happy Birthday" two times every time you wash your hands. 🎂 That means your hands hear the birthday song more often than you do!

Hands-on activity

Glitter germs

You need: a little hand lotion or cooking oil, some glitter (or cinnamon or flour), soap and water.

  1. Rub a little lotion on your hands. Sprinkle on some glitter. Pretend the glitter is germs.
  2. Shake hands with a grown-up or touch a toy. Look: the "germs" spread!
  3. Try to wipe it off with just a dry paper towel. Is it all gone? (No!)
  4. Now wash with soap and water for 20 seconds using all the steps. Look again!

Talk about it: Why does soap and scrubbing work better? Where did the "germs" hide (between fingers, under nails)?

Your turn

1

What are germs?

2

For how long should you scrub your hands with soap?

3

Name two times you should wash your hands.

4

Where should you sneeze?

5

How many times a day should you brush your teeth?

6

Your friend wants to borrow your hairbrush. Is that a good idea?

7

Do it and check: Wash your hands using all the steps while a grown-up watches.

More practice: warm-up

1

Can you see germs with just your eyes?

2

Is it okay to share your toothbrush?

3

What do you use with water to wash your hands?

4

Should you wash your hands before or after using the toilet?

5

What should you do with a used tissue?

More practice: on your own

1

Why is coughing into your elbow better than into your hand?

2

Why should you stay home when you are sick?

3

Why is rinsing hands with only water not enough?

4

Name two things you should not share at lunch.

5

Where do germs like to hide on your hands?

Challenge

1

Explain the germ chain: how can a germ get from one sick person to another person?

2

Make a morning hygiene routine with at least three steps.

3

Your little brother doesn't like washing his hands. Give him two ideas to make it fun.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

How long should you scrub your hands with soap?

2.

Where should you sneeze?

3.

Which should you not share?

4.

When should you wash your hands?

5.

How often should you brush your teeth?

6.

What are germs?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: The Grade 1 expectation asks students to demonstrate an understanding of and apply proper hygienic procedures for protecting their own health and preventing the transmission of disease to others (for example, washing hands with soap, using a tissue, sleeve sneezing, brushing and flossing teeth, not sharing hats or hairbrushes).

How to help at home:

  • Post the handwashing steps by the sink. Children often skip the scrub; a 20-second song helps.
  • Supervise toothbrushing. Most young children need an adult's help to brush well and floss.
  • Make hygiene routines predictable: same order every morning and night.

Common difficulties: rushing handwashing, sneezing into hands out of habit (practise the "vampire sneeze" into the elbow), and sharing water bottles at school. If your child has questions about lice, explain that anyone can get lice; it isn't about being dirty, and not sharing hats and brushes helps.