**Lesson Plan: Care of Hands II - Health Habits for Nursery 1**
**Objective:**
Students will understand the importance of washing hands properly and demonstrate the steps involved in effective hand washing.
**Age Group:**
4-5 years old (Nursery 1)
**Duration:**
30 minutes
**Materials Needed:**
- Soap and water
- Sink or basin with water
- Paper towels or hand dryer
- Small hand mirrors
- Hand wash song (pre-recorded or easily accessible online)
- Picture cards showing steps of hand washing
- Glitter (optional)
**Introduction (10 minutes):**
1. **Greeting and Warm-Up:**
- Welcome the students to class with a friendly greeting.
- Start with a simple song or rhyme to gather attention, such as "If You’re Happy and You Know It".
2. **Discussion:**
- Briefly recap on the importance of keeping our hands clean. Ask the students why they think washing hands is important. Encourage them to share their thoughts.
- Explain that today we will learn more about how to take good care of our hands.
**Activity 1: Glitter Germs (Demonstration) - 5 minutes:**
- Sprinkle a little glitter on your hands. Explain that the glitter represents germs.
- Show how the "germs" (glitter) spread by touching various objects and shaking hands.
- This visual demonstration helps illustrate how easily germs can spread and why washing hands is crucial.
**Activity 2: Hand Washing Steps (Guided Practice) - 5 minutes:**
- Show the picture cards depicting the steps of proper hand washing. Each step should be clearly illustrated.
1. Wet hands with water.
2. Apply soap.
3. Rub hands together, covering all surfaces, for at least 20 seconds.
4. Rinse hands thoroughly with water.
5. Dry hands with a clean towel or hand dryer.
- Demonstrate each step while explaining in simple terms.
**Activity 3: Hand Washing Song (Interactive) - 5 minutes:**
- Play a fun, child-friendly hand washing song. Choose a song that includes the steps of washing hands.
- Guide students to follow along with the song, using the steps they just learned.
- Encourage them to sing and perform the hand washing actions together.
**Activity 4: Practice with Hand Mirrors (Individual Practice) - 5 minutes:**
- Give each student a small hand mirror.
- Let them practice washing their hands while looking in the mirror to see if they cover all parts of their hands.
- Circulate and provide encouragement and additional instructions as needed.
**Closure (5 minutes):**
- Gather students in a circle and review the hand washing steps.
- Ask a few students to share why they think washing hands is important again.
- Praise their efforts and remind them to practice washing their hands at home and school regularly, especially before eating and after using the bathroom.
**Assessment:**
- Observe and note students’ participation during the activities.
- Check if students can remember and verbalize the steps involved in hand washing.
**Follow-Up:**
- Send a note home with students that outlines the hand washing steps and encourage parents to practice with their children at home.
- Plan a follow-up activity where students can decorate a poster with the steps of hand washing to display in the classroom or school bathroom.
By the end of this lesson, students should have a stronger understanding of the importance of hand hygiene and feel confident in their ability to wash their hands properly.