Brushing the teeth and benefits of oral cleanliness for Primary 1

Class: Primary One
Term: Third Term
Week: 5
Age: 6 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Physical & Health Education
Curriculum Theme: Health and Wellness
Focal competence: Practising habits that promote personal well-being, prevent illness and support a healthy lifestyle
Skills:

• Maintaining general body cleanliness through bathing, teeth brushing, cutting of nails and hair care

Previous Lesson: Bathing and keeping the skin clean
Topic: Health And Hygiene: Care Of The Teeth
Subject Matter: Brushing the teeth, benefits of oral cleanliness

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• State benefits of keeping the teeth clean.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate correct tooth-brushing movements.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Primary Health Education for Primary 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• A clean toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• A model of teeth or clear picture sequence showing brushing steps
• Clean water

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important because it teaches young pupils essential personal hygiene practices that contribute to their overall health. Learning how to care for their teeth properly helps prevent dental problems and promotes a healthy lifestyle from an early age. It equips them with practical skills for maintaining oral cleanliness.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have a basic understanding of personal hygiene and the importance of keeping their bodies clean.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Health And Hygiene: Care Of The Teeth

Materials Needed for Tooth Care

To care for our teeth, we need the following materials:

1. Toothbrush: A brush with soft bristles to clean the teeth.
2. Toothpaste: A paste that helps clean teeth and makes them strong.
3. Clean water: Used for rinsing the mouth after brushing.

Correct Tooth Brushing Method

To brush our teeth correctly, we should:

1. Put a small amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush.
2. Brush the outer surfaces of the teeth with gentle, circular motions.
3. Brush the inner surfaces of the teeth.
4. Brush the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
5. Brush the tongue gently to remove germs.
6. Rinse the mouth with clean water.

When to Brush Our Teeth

It is important to brush our teeth at least twice a day:

1. In the morning, when we wake up.
2. At night, before we go to bed.

Foods and Habits That Can Harm Teeth

Some foods and habits can make our teeth weak or cause pain:

1. Eating too many sweets, candies, and sugary drinks.
2. Not brushing teeth regularly.
3. Using teeth to open bottles or bite hard objects.

When to Visit a Dental Worker

If we have tooth pain or any problem with our teeth, we should tell a responsible adult (like our parents or teacher). They will help us visit a dental worker or dentist. A dentist is a doctor who helps keep our teeth healthy.

Benefits of Keeping the Teeth Clean

Keeping our teeth clean has many benefits:

1. It prevents tooth decay (holes in teeth).
2. It prevents bad breath.
3. It keeps our teeth strong and healthy.
4. It helps us chew food properly.
5. It makes our smile beautiful.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Explanation, Observation

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them what they do to keep their bodies clean. The teacher then specifically asks about how they care for their teeth.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions, mentioning activities like bathing and brushing teeth.

Learning Point: Importance of hygiene

Step 2: Materials Needed for Tooth Care

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a toothbrush, toothpaste, and clean water. The teacher names each item and explains its use for tooth care.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the materials, listen to the teacher, and repeat the names of the items.

Learning Point: Tooth care materials

Step 3: Correct Tooth Brushing Method

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: Using the model of teeth or picture sequence, the teacher demonstrates the correct way to brush teeth, explaining each step clearly and slowly (outer, inner, chewing surfaces, tongue, rinsing).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the demonstration carefully and try to mimic the brushing motions with their fingers or in the air.

Learning Point: Proper brushing technique

Step 4: When to Brush Our Teeth

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Instruction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains that teeth should be brushed twice a day: in the morning and at night before bed. The teacher asks pupils if they brush at these times.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and share if they brush their teeth in the morning and at night.

Learning Point: Brushing schedule

Step 5: Foods and Habits That Can Harm Teeth

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils about foods they eat that might be bad for their teeth, like sweets. The teacher also discusses habits like biting hard objects.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils mention sweet foods they like and listen to the teacher’s explanations about harmful habits.

Learning Point: Harmful dental habits

Step 6: Benefits of Keeping the Teeth Clean

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the benefits of clean teeth, such as preventing bad breath, avoiding tooth pain, having a nice smile, and being able to chew food well.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and repeat some of the benefits mentioned by the teacher.

Learning Point: Oral cleanliness benefits

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Show me how to brush your teeth.
2. Mention two things we use to brush our teeth.
3. State one benefit of keeping your teeth clean.
4. When should we brush our teeth?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding tooth care

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to copy the essential Board Summary notes on materials for tooth care, brushing method, and benefits into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reminds pupils to always brush their teeth well, morning and night, to keep them healthy and strong. The teacher praises them for their participation.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and acknowledge the importance of brushing their teeth.

Learning Point: Reinforcing good habits

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. Draw a toothbrush and toothpaste.
2. Write down two benefits of brushing your teeth every day.
3. Name one food that can harm your teeth.

Lesson Keywords

• Teeth – Hard, white parts in our mouth used for chewing food.
• Brush – To clean with a brush.
• Toothpaste – A paste used with a toothbrush to clean teeth.
• Hygiene – Keeping ourselves clean to stay healthy.
• Dental worker – A person who helps take care of our teeth.

Differentiation

For weaker learners, the teacher will provide more one-on-one guidance during the demonstration and practice, using simpler language and more visual cues. Faster learners can be encouraged to draw pictures of healthy and unhealthy teeth, or explain the benefits of clean teeth to a classmate.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further visual learning, search on YouTube for:
Primary 1 how to brush teeth for kids nigeria

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, gather a clean toothbrush, toothpaste, a model of teeth (or clear, large pictures showing brushing steps), and clean water. Begin by engaging pupils in a discussion about general cleanliness to link to the topic of oral hygiene. Follow the instructional procedures by first introducing the materials, then demonstrating the correct brushing technique. Allow ample time for pupils to practice the motions. Emphasise the importance of brushing morning and night and avoiding harmful foods. During the note-taking step, guide pupils to copy the key points from the board summary. Ensure to check for understanding throughout the lesson, especially during the evaluation, and provide support for any pupils struggling with the concepts or demonstration. Encourage all pupils to develop good oral hygiene habits.