CurriculumGrades K-2Health & Physical Education

Personal hygiene: handwashing and germs

Aligned to NHES 7 — SHAPE America National Standards.

What this lesson teaches

Germs are tiny things, too small to see, that can make you sick. Washing your hands with soap and water washes the germs away so they cannot get into your body. Wash before you eat, after the bathroom, and after you cough or sneeze.

Worked example

Wash your hands with soap and scrub for as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice, about 20 seconds, getting between your fingers and under your nails.

Practice questions

  1. Show how long 20 seconds of scrubbing feels.
  2. When are three good times to wash hands?
  3. How do you cover a cough?

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

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En español

Higiene personal: lavado de manos y gérmenes

Los gérmenes son cosas tiny, demasiado pequeñas para verse, que pueden enfermarte. Lavarte las manos con agua y jabón elimina los gérmenes para que no puedan entrar a tu cuerpo. Lávate antes de comer, después de ir al baño y después de toser o estornudar.

Ejemplo: Lávate las manos con jabón y tállalas durante el tiempo que tarda en cantarse dos veces la canción de Las Mañanitas, aproximadamente 20 segundos, asegurándote de limpiar entre los dedos y debajo de las uñas.

More Health lessons

Healthy foods and the food groupsNHES 1Naming and managing feelingsNHES 7Basic safety and trusted adultsNHES 7My body, growth, and personal boundariesNHES 1Sleep and rest for a healthy bodyNHES 1Recognizing safe and unsafe situationsNHES 4

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