**Lesson Plan: Care of the Mouth**
**Grade Level**: Nursery 1 (Ages 3-4)
**Duration**: 30 minutes
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**Objective**:
- To introduce children to the basic idea of oral hygiene.
- To educate children on the importance of taking care of their teeth and mouth.
- To teach children correct brushing techniques.
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**Materials**:
- Picture book or visual aids about teeth and healthy mouths
- Toothbrushes (one per child)
- Toothpaste (kid-friendly and non-fluoride)
- Plush toy or model with a large mouth and teeth
- Flashcards with different foods (healthy and unhealthy for teeth)
- Songs or rhymes about brushing teeth
- Hand sanitizer or facility to wash hands
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**Introduction** (5 minutes):
1. **Greeting & Circle Time**: Gather the children in a circle and greet them cheerfully.
2. **Discuss**: Explain that today they will learn about how to keep their mouths healthy.
3. **Introduction to the Topic**: Show a picture book or visual aids about happy, healthy teeth and sad, unhealthy teeth. Ask the children which teeth they think look prettier and why.
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**Activity 1: Story Time & Discussion** (5 minutes):
1. **Story Time**: Read a short story about a character who learns to take care of their teeth.
2. **Discussion**: Ask questions like:
- Why do we need to brush our teeth?
- How many times a day should we brush at our age?
- What happens if we don’t brush?
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**Activity 2: Demonstration & Practice** (10 minutes):
1. **Demonstration**: Use a plush toy or a large mouth model to demonstrate proper brushing technique.
- Use small, circular motions.
- Brush for at least two minutes.
- Brush the front, back, and tops of the teeth.
2. **Hands-On Activity**:
- Provide each child with a toothbrush.
- Squeeze a small amount of toothpaste on each brush.
- Have the children practice brushing on a model or just practice motions in the air.
3. **Guided Practice**: Sing a tooth-brushing song as they practice to make it fun.
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**Activity 3: Healthy vs. Unhealthy Foods** (5 minutes):
1. **Flashcards**: Show flashcards with different foods.
2. **Discussion**: Encourage children to identify which foods are healthy or unhealthy for their teeth.
- Healthy foods: apples, carrots, cheese, etc.
- Unhealthy foods: candy, sugary drinks, etc.
3. **Sorting Activity**: Allow children to come up and place the flashcards in "healthy" or "unhealthy" bins.
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**Wrap-Up** (5 minutes):
1. **Review**: Recap the key points about why and how we should take care of our teeth.
2. **Q&A**: Allow children to ask any questions they might have.
3. **Goodbye Song**: Sing a goodbye song that incorporates a reminder about brushing teeth.
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**Follow-Up Activity**:
Send home a parent handout with tips on maintaining oral hygiene and a fun “Brushing Teeth” chart for children to mark each time they brush.
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**Assessment**:
Observe the children's engagement during the activities. Ask them to demonstrate their brushing techniques to ensure understanding. Use simple questions to gauge their retention ("Why is it important to brush our teeth?").
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**Notes**:
Ensure that each child gets a chance to participate in hands-on activities. Keep the lesson light-hearted, fun, and interactive to maintain their interest and engagement.