Lesson 152: How germs spread

Objective

I can explain in simple words what germs are, tell how they can spread, and choose healthy habits like handwashing and using a tissue to help stop germs.

Materials

• Simple pictures of children washing hands and coughing into an elbow
• Soap (real or pretend) and a sink or bowl of water for practice
• Tissues or small paper squares
• Crayons, markers, or coloured pencils
• Notebook or science journal for germ safety notes

Mini-lesson — How germs spread

Guided Practice — Follow the germs and stop them

You will learn to notice how germs spread and practise stopping them with clean habits.

1. Talk about germs: With an adult, say what you think germs are. Then listen as they explain that germs are tiny living things that can sometimes make us sick.
2. Follow the germ story: Draw four pictures that show a short story, such as: child coughs into hands → touches a door → another child touches the door → touches their nose. Talk about where the germs moved.
3. Change the ending: Now draw a new ending where the child washes hands or coughs into their elbow instead. Show how this helps stop germs.
4. Practise handwashing steps: At a real or pretend sink, slowly act out wet, soap, scrub, rinse, dry. Say each step out loud.
5. Practise tissues and elbows: Pretend to sneeze into a tissue, then throw it in the bin and wash hands. Then pretend to sneeze into your elbow if no tissue is near.
6. Use the tracing pad: Choose words like germs, hands, soap, clean, sneeze, or healthy and trace them carefully.
7. Say a safety sentence: After tracing, say a sentence such as "Washing my hands helps stop germs." or "I cover my cough to keep others safe."

Tracing Pad

Lines Primary lines Baseline only Grid Blank Trace (none) germs clean hands soap water scrub wash sneeze cough tissue elbow cover healthy spread touch safe mask bin

Pen Clear

Tip: As you trace each word, imagine washing your hands or covering a sneeze. Think, "I can help stop germs."

Practice 1 — Sort clean and risky habits

Decide which habits help stop germs and which habits can spread germs.

1. On a page, draw two boxes and label them "Helps stop germs" and "Can spread germs".
2. With an adult, think of different habits, such as: washing hands before eating, sharing a water bottle, coughing into your elbow, sneezing into the air, using a tissue, never washing hands after the toilet.
3. Write or draw each habit on a small card. Place the card in the box that fits best.
4. Circle or colour the habits that you want to practise every day to help stop germs.
5. Talk about one habit you can change, such as not sharing cups or remembering to wash hands after blowing your nose.

Practice 2 — Make a handwashing steps poster

Create a small poster that shows the steps for washing hands clearly.

1. At the top of your page, write a title such as "How I Wash My Hands".
2. Think of the steps you use, for example: wet hands, add soap, scrub, rinse, dry.
3. For each step, draw a small picture and write a short label, such as "Add soap" or "Scrub between fingers".
4. Put numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in order to show the sequence.
5. Colour your poster and hang it near the sink as a reminder to wash hands well.

Practice 3 — Cough, sneeze, and share safely

Practise safe choices when you cough, sneeze, or share objects with others.

1. Draw two simple scenes side by side. Label one "Not safe" and one "Safe".
2. In the not safe scene, you might show a child sneezing into the air or sharing a drink bottle. Talk about what germs might do in this picture.
3. In the safe scene, show a child sneezing into a tissue or elbow, throwing the tissue in the bin, and washing hands. You can also show each child with their own cup.
4. With an adult, practise saying sentences such as "I will use my own bottle." and "I will cover my cough to keep germs away from others."
5. At the bottom of the page, write one promise to yourself, such as "I will wash my hands before eating."

Quick Check — How germs spread

Answer each question about germs, handwashing, and healthy habits.

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)