Lesson Plans Grades 4 to 8
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Lesson Plan #17: "Bac Off!"
Learning Objectives
- The student will
- describe how germs are spread and how it relates to personal hygiene
- explain the difference between germs, bacteria and viruses.
- identify some of the illnesses and diseases that germs can cause.
- explain that proper hand cleaning removes germs from hands and prevents the spread of illnesses and diseases.
Materials
- Hand Cleaning Criss-Cross Puzzle (1 page, 79 KB)
- Secret Code Hand Cleaning Game (2 pages, 83 KB)
Key Messages
- Germs are micro-organisms that include bacteria and viruses.
- Viruses are always harmful.
- Some bacteria are harmful and some are not.
- Examples of beneficial bacteria can be found in yogurt and cheese. People also have beneficial E. coli bacteria in their intestines that help them digest food.
- Some examples of illnesses and diseases caused by bacteria and viruses are:
- colds
- influenza or the “flu”
- chicken pox
- hepatitis
- food poisoning
- SARS
- Germs must get into your nose, mouth, eyes, cuts or scrapes to cause infection (e.g. by rubbing eyes, nose, eating, biting nails, etc.).
- Washing with soap and water removes germs from your hands and washes them down the drain.
- Cleaning your hands with sanitizers kills germs. However, it does not remove food residues on hands (like peanut butter, seafood, dairy products) that can cause allergic reactions.
- Cleaning your hands properly can prevent the spread of many illnesses and diseases.
Method
- Explain the above key messages, followed by a question and answer format with students.
Activity
- Ask each student to complete and write their name on the bottom of the
accompanying activity sheet(s) promising to clean their hands.
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Adapted with permission from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit.
