Lesson Plans for Preschool
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Lesson Plan #1: The Two Friendly Hands!
Learning Objectives
- Children will learn to identify ways by which germs are spread from one person’s hands to another.
- Children will learn to recognize appropriate times to get rid of germs by washing or sanitizing their hands.
- Children will name ways to reduce the number of germs on their hands (and bodies).
Materials
- “The Two Friendly Hands!” story (3 pages, 86 KB)
- Hand Puppet Tracing Sheet (1 page, 330 KB)
- Popsicle sticks, glue
- Crayons, coloured pencils or markers
- Scissors
Key Messages
- Germs can be spread from one person’s hand to another when a clean hand touches a hand with germs.
- There are times when it is especially important to get rid of germs on hands by washing and/or using hand sanitizers.
- Washing hands, using hand sanitizers, and covering coughs and sneezes with your upper arm and not your hands, are all ways to reduce the number of germs on hands.
Method
- Before narrating this story to the children, read over and rehearse both the story and the hand gestures until comfortable performing them. Photocopy the Hand Puppet Tracing Sheet for each child.
- Gather children in a place where they will be comfortable while you tell them a story. Check to be sure that they can all see you clearly. Explain that you will be telling them a story about two friendly hands. Review the concept of germ transmission, if necessary. Discuss the things hands allow us to do (point, count, clap, snap, wave, shake, hold, touch), and what we know about how hands help spread germs. Encourage the children to participate in the story.
- Practice the following hand gestures with them: pointing, waving, snapping, counting, clapping, and high-fiving. Tell them to imitate these movements as you do them throughout the story. Perform the story “The Two Friendly Hands."
- Ask children what they can do to prevent sharing germs when playing with a
friend?
(Wash your hands with soap and water and/or use hand sanitizer: before and after eating and touching food, after using the washroom, after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose, after touching animals, after getting your hands dirty. Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your upper arm, not your hands. Keep your hands away from your face to keep germs out of your body). - Using the Hand Puppet Tracing Sheet, have the children place their hand over the Germ Stopper logo. Next, instruct children to trace their hand, colour the picture, and cut out (with assistance from the teacher). Glue cut-out hand to a popsicle stick. Write the name of the child on the popsicle stick and display cut-out hand puppets in the room.
Activity
- Children will listen to the story and participate by using hand gestures taught to them.
- Discuss with children how germs are spread from one person to another, and how to get rid of germs by washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizers.
- Have children make hand puppets using Hand Puppet Tracing Sheet and display around room.
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Used with permission of GOJO Industries Inc.
