Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before this lesson, ensure you have a clean basin, water, soap, and a towel readily available. The central idea is for pupils to understand that washing hands after play and touching animals removes germs and keeps them healthy. Observe pupils actively participating in the handwashing demonstration and correctly identifying when to wash their hands.

Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Health Habits
Curriculum Theme: Health Habits
Previous Lesson: Simple hygiene practices like washing hands before eating.
Topic: Hand Washing After Play and Touching Animals
Subject Matter: Washing Hands After Play, After Touching Animals.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

Identify situations when hands should be washed, specifically after play and touching animals.
Name simple reasons why handwashing is important (to remove germs).

Affective Domain

Show willingness to wash their hands after playing and touching animals.
Listen attentively to instructions on handwashing.

Psychomotor Domain

Demonstrate the basic steps of handwashing with soap and water.
Perform handwashing actions during a song or rhyme.

Participate in group activities related to handwashing.

Reference Materials

NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2
Early Childhood Care and Education resources

Instructional Materials

Basin or running water tap
Liquid or bar soap
Clean towel
Picture charts showing children playing and touching animals
Picture charts showing children washing hands
Flash cards of germs (simple drawings)
Story book about hygiene
Video on handwashing

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for 3-year-olds because it teaches them essential hygiene practices that prevent the spread of germs and illness. By learning to wash their hands after playing and touching animals, pupils develop healthy habits that protect their well-being and that of their classmates. It connects directly to their daily experiences at home and school.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can follow simple instructions and may have some basic awareness of washing hands before eating.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Hand Washing After Play and Touching Animals

Washing our hands is a very important health habit!

When do we wash our hands?

After playing outside or with toys.
After touching animals (like a dog, cat, or even a bird).

Why do we wash our hands?

To remove dirt.
To remove tiny germs that we cannot see.
To stay healthy and not get sick.

How to wash our hands properly:

Wet your hands with clean water.
Put some soap on your hands.
Rub your hands together to make bubbles (front, back, between fingers).
Rinse your hands with clean water until all the soap is gone.
Dry your hands with a clean towel.

Key Words

Germs – Tiny things that can make us sick.
Soap – What we use to clean our hands.
Clean – Not dirty.
Healthy – Not sick.

Clean Hands Song

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Lyrics:

Dirty hands from play and fun,
Germs are hiding, everyone!
After playing, touch an animal,
Wash our hands, it’s so habitual.
Soap and water, rub and scrub,
Clean hands now, no more a grub!

Actions: Rub hands together, point to hands, pretend to touch an animal, mime washing hands, rub, scrub, shake hands.

Watch and Practise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei_J_RjM86I

💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary

How to teach the content: Use picture charts to show children playing and touching animals, then show hands getting dirty and then clean. Explain simply that germs are tiny things that make us sick, and soap helps to wash them away. Emphasize the two specific times for handwashing: after play and after touching animals.

What to show or demonstrate: Use a real basin, water, and soap to demonstrate each step of handwashing clearly and slowly. Have pupils watch closely. You can also use flashcards of “germs” and “clean hands” to reinforce the concept.

How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce the “Clean Hands Song” by singing it first, then invite pupils to sing along. Demonstrate the actions and encourage them to imitate. Repeat the song several times to help them remember the lyrics and actions.

How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to learn about handwashing. Play the video, encouraging pupils to watch the actions. After watching, discuss what they saw and have them practise the handwashing steps along with the song from the video.

What to watch for: Observe if pupils can correctly identify when to wash hands and if they attempt to follow the handwashing steps during the demonstration or song. Correct any misconceptions about germs or the washing process gently.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Demonstration
Guided Practice
Songs and Rhymes
Picture Talk
Question and Answer
Role-play
Imitation
Practical Activity

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling

Teacher’s Activity: Greet pupils. Ask them what they like to do after school or during break time (e.g., play, run around). Ask if they sometimes touch animals like dogs or cats. Show pictures of children playing and touching animals. Ask, “What do we do after playing or touching animals?”

Pupils’ Activity: Greet the teacher. Share their favourite play activities. Look at the pictures and try to answer the question.

Learning Point: Pupils recall play activities and begin to think about what comes next.

Step 2: Presentation of Topic

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Introducing

Teacher’s Activity: Introduce the topic: “Today, we will learn about washing our hands after playing and after touching animals!” Explain that when we play or touch animals, our hands can get dirty with tiny germs that can make us sick. Show a picture of germs (simple drawing).

Pupils’ Activity: Listen to the teacher. Look at the pictures of germs and understand that they are tiny and can make them sick.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the topic and the basic reason for handwashing.

Step 3: Demonstration of Handwashing Steps

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstrating/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: Take pupils to the handwashing station (or use a basin). Demonstrate each step of handwashing slowly and clearly: wet hands, apply soap, rub palms, back of hands, between fingers, rinse, and dry. Narrate each step as you do it.

Pupils’ Activity: Watch the teacher’s demonstration carefully. Listen to the instructions for each step.

Learning Point: Pupils observe the correct procedure for washing hands.

Step 4: Guided Practice (Song and Actions)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guiding/Reinforcing

Teacher’s Activity: Lead pupils in singing the “Clean Hands Song” while demonstrating the actions. Encourage them to copy the actions as they sing along. Repeat the song several times.

Pupils’ Activity: Sing the song with the teacher and perform the handwashing actions as demonstrated.

Learning Point: Pupils practise the handwashing steps through song and movement.

Step 5: Video Reinforcement

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Engagement

Teacher’s Activity: Introduce the handwashing video. Play the video and encourage pupils to watch the characters washing their hands. After the video, ask simple questions like, “What did they use to wash hands?” or “What did they do with the soap?”

Pupils’ Activity: Watch the video. Answer simple questions about what they saw.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of handwashing through a visual aid.

Step 6: Pupil Application/Role-play

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Facilitating/Applying

Teacher’s Activity: Ask a few pupils to come forward and “pretend” to wash their hands, showing the steps they learned. Provide gentle prompts and praise. Guide them to remember when to wash hands (after play, after touching animals).

Pupils’ Activity: A few pupils demonstrate the handwashing steps. All pupils identify when to wash hands.

Learning Point: Pupils apply their learning by demonstrating the skill.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.

“When should we wash our hands after playing?”
“When should we wash our hands after touching a cat or dog?”
“Show me how you rub your hands with soap.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Summarizing/Encouraging

Teacher’s Activity: Congratulate pupils on learning how to keep their hands clean. Remind them to always wash their hands after playing and touching animals to stay healthy. End with a final song or chant.

Pupils’ Activity: Listen to the teacher and participate in the final song/chant.

Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to practise the learned habit.

Lesson Keywords

Hands – The parts of our body we use to touch things.
Wash – To clean with water and soap.
Play – To engage in activities for enjoyment.
Animals – Living creatures like dogs, cats, birds.
Soap – What we use to clean our hands.
Germs – Tiny things that can make us sick.

Differentiation

Support: For pupils who struggle, provide one-on-one guided hand-over-hand practice during the demonstration. Use larger, clearer pictures of handwashing steps. Focus on just one reason for handwashing (e.g., “no germs”).
Extension: Encourage pupils who grasp the concept quickly to name other times when hands should be washed (e.g., after sneezing, before eating). Ask them to explain in their own simple words why handwashing is important.