**Lesson Plan: Bad Health Habits**
**Age Group:** Toddlers (Ages 2-3)
**Objective:** Introduce toddlers to the concept of health and identify bad health habits in simple, understandable terms. Encourage positive health behaviors.
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### **Materials Needed:**
- Picture cards showing different health habits (good and bad).
- Plush toys or dolls.
- Simple coloring sheets.
- Crayons and markers.
- Hand sanitizer or soap.
### **Duration:**
- Total: 30-40 minutes
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### **Lesson Outline:**
**1. Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes):**
- Greet the children warmly.
- Sing a welcome song to grab attention.
- Briefly introduce the topic: "Today, we are going to talk about things that are not good for our health."
**2. Story Time (5-7 minutes):**
- Tell a very simple story about a character (e.g., a teddy bear) who makes poor health decisions, such as not washing hands, eating too much candy, or not sleeping well.
- Engage children by asking them questions about the story like, "What should the teddy bear do instead?"
**3. Picture Card Activity (7-10 minutes):**
- Show picture cards illustrating different behaviors (brushing teeth, eating candy, washing hands, playing in dirt).
- Ask children to identify if it’s a good or bad habit.
- Use plush toys or dolls to demonstrate both behaviors and get kids to imitate.
**4. Hands-on Activity (5-7 minutes):**
- Hand out simple coloring sheets featuring scenarios from the story or picture cards.
- Allow children to color and talk about what they see in the pictures.
- Guide them to reinforce understanding. For example, if they are coloring a picture of washing hands, discuss why it’s important.
**5. Practical Demo (5 minutes):**
- Show children how to properly wash their hands using soap or hand sanitizer.
- Encourage them to pretend with plush toys or actually wash their hands.
- Teach a fun handwashing song to make it engaging.
**6. Conclusion and Recap (5 minutes):**
- Gather children and recap the key points of the lesson.
- Ask open-ended questions to reinforce what they’ve learned, e.g., "What did we learn about eating too much candy?"
- Praise and encourage them by highlighting the good decisions they made during activities.
- Remind them of the welcome song and replace some lyrics to include topics discussed.
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### **Key Points to Emphasize:**
- Washing hands keeps us clean and healthy.
- Eating too much candy can hurt our tummies and teeth.
- Not sleeping enough can make us feel tired and grumpy.
- Playing safely is important to avoid getting hurt.
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**Follow-Up Activities:**
- Send home a simple handout for parents outlining what was discussed.
- Suggest a simple home activity, like parents showing their kids good handwashing techniques.
**Assessment:**
- Observe children during activities to see if they can identify and correct bad health habits.
- Listen for their understanding during the recap and interactions.
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**Notes for Teachers:**
- Be patient and use simple language.
- Use lots of positive reinforcement.
- Make it fun and engaging to keep their short attention spans interested.
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Feel free to adapt the structure and activities based on the specific needs and interests of your class.