### Lesson Plan: Health Habits for Toddlers
**Topic: Diseases: Causes and Prevention**
#### Objective:
To educate toddlers about basic health habits that can prevent diseases, understand the simple causes of diseases, and encourage them to practice good hygiene.
#### Materials Needed:
- Picture books about health and hygiene
- Handwashing station or simulation materials (soap, water, paper towels)
- Visual aids (poster of germs, clean vs. dirty hands, etc.)
- Healthy snacks for demonstration (fruits, vegetables)
- Simple disease prevention songs or rhymes
- Art supplies (crayons, paper, stickers)
#### Duration:
45 minutes
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#### Lesson Outline:
**1. Introduction (10 minutes):**
- Greet the kids warmly and gather them in a circle.
- Begin with an engaging storybook reading about germs and how staying clean can keep us healthy.
- Suggested Book: “Germs Are Not for Sharing” by Elizabeth Verdick.
- Briefly explain what germs are in simple terms: "Germs are tiny, tiny bugs that can make us sick."
**2. Discussion & Explanation (10 minutes):**
- Show visual aids depicting germs and key hygiene practices.
- Talk about places where germs can be found (hands, toys, doorknobs, etc.).
- Emphasize the importance of handwashing:
- "Washing our hands helps us get rid of germs!"
- Discuss other key habits:
- Using tissues when sneezing or coughing.
- Eating healthy foods that help our bodies stay strong.
**3. Handwashing Activity (10 minutes):**
- Demonstrate proper handwashing technique at the handwashing station.
- Have each child practice washing their hands while singing a short song (e.g., “This is the Way We Wash Our Hands”).
- Make it fun by adding actions and encouraging children to wash between fingers and under nails.
**4. Healthy Eating Discussion (5 minutes):**
- Show healthy snacks and talk about how eating fruits and vegetables can help prevent us from getting sick.
- Encourage children to name their favorite healthy foods.
**5. Interactive Game & Song (5 minutes):**
- Introduce a simple game where kids must identify clean vs. dirty hands in pictures.
- Sing a disease prevention song together, incorporating movements (clapping, spinning, pretending to wash hands).
**6. Art Activity (5 minutes):**
- Provide drawing materials so kids can illustrate their understanding.
- Have them draw themselves practicing good health habits (e.g., washing hands, eating vegetables).
- Optionally, use stickers to highlight key points.
**7. Closing (5 minutes):**
- Recap the key points learned in the lesson.
- Encourage toddlers to share one thing they learned with their family.
- Hand out a simple takeaway, like a coloring sheet with hygiene tips or a sticker sheet promoting health habits.
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**Assessment:**
- Observe participation and engagement during handwashing activity.
- Evaluate understanding through their drawings and ability to point out clean vs. dirty hands.
**Extension:**
- Send a note home to parents explaining the day's lesson and encouraging reinforcement at home.
- Plan a follow-up lesson reinforcing this one, with a focus on another aspect of health habits such as dental hygiene or physical activity.
**Note to Educators:**
For toddlers, repetition and routine are key. Reinforce these habits regularly in your interactions and make hygiene practice a part of your daily routine.