Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, prepare clear pictures or real examples of dirty environments (e.g., litter, dirty water) and examples of good/bad eating habits (e.g., covered vs. uncovered food, hands clean vs. dirty). The central idea for pupils is that dirt and certain eating habits can make them sick. Emphasize the importance of handwashing as a key way to stay healthy. Observe if pupils can point to things that cause illness and demonstrate simple hygiene actions like washing hands.
Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: Third Term
Week: 6
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Health Habits
Curriculum Theme: Health Habits
Previous Lesson: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Topic: Illness: Common Causes of Illness and Disease
Subject Matter: Illness Causes of Illness, Diseases and How to Avoid Them. Weekly focus: Illness: Common Causes of Illness and Disease.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify dirty things or places that can cause illness.
- Name one bad eating habit that can lead to sickness.
- State one simple way to avoid getting sick.
Affective Domain
- Show willingness to keep their environment clean.
- Listen attentively to explanations about staying healthy.
- Express concern about playing in dirty places.
Psychomotor Domain
- Point to pictures showing causes of illness.
- Demonstrate a simple handwashing action.
- Participate in a song about keeping clean.
Social Domain
- Participate in guided classroom discussions about health.
- Share ideas about what makes them feel unwell.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Instructional Materials
- Picture cards showing dirty environments (e.g., litter, stagnant water)
- Picture cards showing good eating habits (e.g., washing hands, covered food) and bad eating habits (e.g., eating from the floor, uncovered food)
- Chart posters illustrating germs or sickness
- Flash cards with simple images related to hygiene
- A small basin of water and soap for demonstration
- Storybook or picture book about hygiene
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 3-year-olds because it introduces them to the basic concept that certain things around them and certain actions can make them sick. Understanding these simple causes helps them begin to develop good hygiene habits and make healthier choices, which are foundational for their overall well-being and development.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify basic body parts and understand simple instructions like “wash your hands” or “sit down.” They may have some awareness of feeling unwell or seeing others who are sick.Lesson Content/Board Summary
Illness: Common Causes of Illness and Disease
Illness means when our body does not feel well, and we get sick. It can make us feel tired, have a cough, or a tummy ache.
Common Causes of Illness
- Dirty Environment:
- Playing in dirty water or mud.
- Rubbish and dirt around our homes and school.
- Flies on uncovered food.
These dirty places have tiny, tiny things called ‘germs’ that we cannot see. Germs make us sick!
- Bad Eating Habits:
- Eating food that has fallen on the floor.
- Eating food that is not covered and flies have touched.
- Eating without washing our hands first.
- Eating too many sweets and not enough healthy food.
When we eat dirty food or eat with dirty hands, germs go into our tummy and make us sick.
How to Avoid Getting Sick
- Wash your hands with soap and water often, especially before eating and after using the toilet.
- Keep our environment clean (don’t throw rubbish).
- Eat clean, covered food.
- Tell an adult if you feel unwell.
Key Words
- Illness – when your body feels sick or unwell.
- Dirty – not clean, full of dust or germs.
- Germs – tiny, tiny things that make us sick.
- Healthy – strong and well, not sick.
Clean Hands Song
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Lyrics:
Wash, wash, wash your hands,
Scrub them clean, understand.
Rub the soap and rub them well,
Chase the germs, make them yell.
Wash, wash, wash your hands,
Healthy children, in our lands!
Actions: Mimic washing hands, rubbing palms, scrubbing fingers, shaking hands to “chase germs away.”
Watch and Learn About Germs
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Introduce the topic by asking pupils if they have ever felt sick and how it felt. Explain “illness” simply. Use the picture cards to show examples of dirty environments and bad eating habits. Point to the pictures as you explain how each can cause sickness. Emphasize the word “germs” as tiny things that make us sick, and that we cannot see them. Keep explanations very short and concrete.
What to show or demonstrate: Show picture cards of dirty places (e.g., a dusty corner, litter) and compare them to clean places. Show pictures of uncovered food with flies and compare to covered food. Demonstrate how to wash hands properly using a small basin, soap, and water, explaining each step simply.
How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce the “Clean Hands Song” after discussing germs and handwashing. Sing it slowly first, demonstrating the actions. Repeat the song 2-3 times, encouraging pupils to join in with the actions and singing. This reinforces the importance of handwashing.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to learn more about germs. Play the video “Germs, Germs, Go Away!” for the pupils. After watching, ask simple questions like “What did the video say about germs?” or “What should we do to make germs go away?” Encourage pupils to repeat the actions from the video if they remember them.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can identify the dirty pictures and understand that these lead to sickness. Watch for their participation in the handwashing demonstration and the song. Correct any misconceptions gently, reinforcing that cleanliness helps keep germs away.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Role-play
- Repetition
- Practical Activity
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engaging/Motivation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and sings a short, familiar song about being happy and healthy. The teacher then asks, “Who has ever felt sick? How did it feel?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils greet the teacher, sing along, and share simple responses about feeling sick (e.g., “My head hurt,” “I coughed”).
Learning Point: Pupils recall experiences of feeling unwell and are motivated to learn about staying healthy.
Step 2: Presentation of Topic
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining/Visual Aids
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the topic: “Today, we will learn about what makes us sick, and how to stay strong and healthy!” The teacher shows a picture of a sick child and asks, “What do you think made this child sick?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the picture and offer simple ideas (e.g., “He played in the rain,” “He ate bad food”).
Learning Point: Pupils understand the lesson’s focus on causes of illness.
Step 3: Cause 1 – Dirty Environment
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows picture cards of dirty places (e.g., litter, stagnant water, dusty corners). The teacher explains, “When our environment is dirty, there are tiny, tiny germs that can make us sick if they get into our bodies.” The teacher asks, “Is it good to play here?” (pointing to a dirty picture).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures, point to the dirty areas, and respond “No!” to playing in dirty places.
Learning Point: Pupils identify dirty environments as a cause of illness.
Step 4: Cause 2 – Bad Eating Habits
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining/Comparison
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows pictures of food on the floor or uncovered food with flies. The teacher explains, “Eating food from dirty places or food that flies have touched can make us sick because of germs. We must always wash our hands before we eat.” The teacher demonstrates a quick handwashing action.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the pictures, listen to the explanation, and imitate the handwashing action.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that bad eating habits and dirty hands cause illness.
Step 5: Reinforcement with Song and Video
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Singing/Visual Learning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the “Clean Hands Song” with actions, repeating it twice. Then, the teacher introduces and plays the video “Germs, Germs, Go Away!” to reinforce the concept of germs and hygiene.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song with actions and watch the video attentively.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of germs and hygiene through song and visual media.
Step 6: Practical Application
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to stand up and demonstrate how they would wash their hands properly. The teacher also asks them to point to a “clean” picture and a “dirty” picture, explaining why one is good and the other is bad.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils stand and mimic handwashing actions. They point to the correct pictures and give simple reasons (e.g., “Clean is good, dirty has germs”).
Learning Point: Pupils practice hygiene actions and differentiate between clean and dirty environments.
Step 7: Evaluation/Review
Time: 4–5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.
- “What makes us sick if we play in it?” (Shows picture of dirty water).
- “What should we always do before we eat?”
- “Point to the picture that shows a clean place.”
- “Show me how you wash your hands.”
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
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them, “Always keep yourselves and your environment clean to stay healthy and strong!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and repeat, “Stay clean, stay healthy!”
Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to practice good hygiene habits.
Lesson Keywords
- Illness – when you are sick and your body feels unwell.
- Dirty – not clean.
- Germs – tiny things that can make you sick.
- Healthy – feeling strong and well.
- Wash – to clean with water and soap.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who need extra help, use larger, very clear picture cards. Provide hand-over-hand guidance for handwashing actions. Repeat key phrases like “dirty makes sick” and “wash hands” multiple times. Allow them to simply point to answers rather than speaking.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, ask them to name one more thing that can make someone sick (e.g., coughing without covering mouth) or one more way to stay clean. Encourage them to explain *why* it’s important to wash hands.
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