### Lesson Plan: Good Health Habits for Toddlers
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**Grade Level:** Toddlers (Ages 2-3)
**Subject:** Health Education
**Duration:** 30 minutes
**Lesson Objective:**
- To introduce toddlers to good health habits.
- To help toddlers understand the importance of basic hygiene, healthy eating, and physical activity.
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#### Materials Needed:
- Storybook about good health habits (e.g., "Germs Are Not for Sharing" by Elizabeth Verdick)
- Pictures/flashcards showing examples of good health habits (e.g., handwashing, brushing teeth, eating fruits and vegetables)
- Toy fruits and vegetables for play
- Songs about health habits (e.g., washing hands, brushing teeth songs)
- Hand soap, paper towels, toothbrushes, and fake toothpaste for demonstration purposes
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#### Introduction (5 minutes):
1. **Greeting and Circle Time:**
- Gather the children in a circle and greet them warmly.
- Briefly discuss the day's topic: "Today, we are going to learn about good health habits that help us stay healthy and happy!"
2. **Story Time:**
- Read a short, age-appropriate book about health habits.
- Example: "Germs Are Not for Sharing" by Elizabeth Verdick.
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#### Activity 1: Handwashing Practice (10 minutes):
1. **Discussion:**
- Show pictures of children washing their hands.
- Explain when and why we wash our hands (e.g., before eating, after using the bathroom, after playing outside).
2. **Song:**
- Teach a simple handwashing song that includes steps like wetting, soaping, scrubbing, rinsing, and drying hands (to the tune of a familiar song like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star").
3. **Demonstration:**
- Demonstrate the correct way to wash hands using hand soap and water.
- Allow each child to take turns practicing handwashing at a nearby sink, supervised by an adult.
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#### Activity 2: Healthy Eating (10 minutes):
1. **Discussion:**
- Show flashcards or toy models of fruits and vegetables.
- Discuss the importance of eating a variety of healthy foods.
2. **Interactive Play:**
- Provide toy fruits and vegetables and let the toddlers play with them.
- Encourage them to 'pretend cook' and 'eat' the healthy foods.
3. **Song:**
- Sing a fun song about eating fruits and veggies (e.g., "Apples and Bananas").
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#### Activity 3: Dental Hygiene (5 minutes):
1. **Discussion:**
- Show pictures of children brushing their teeth.
- Explain why brushing teeth is important and should be done twice a day.
2. **Demonstration:**
- Use a toy toothbrush and a doll to demonstrate how to brush teeth correctly.
- Allow each child to mimic the action using their own toothbrush and a doll.
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#### Conclusion and Goodbye (5 minutes):
1. **Review:**
- Recap the key points from the lesson (handwashing, eating healthy foods, brushing teeth).
- Ask a few simple questions to check understanding (e.g., "What should we do before we eat?").
2. **Wrap-Up Activity:**
- Lead a short, fun physical activity (like jumping or dancing) to emphasize the importance of exercise.
3. **Goodbye Song:**
- End the session with a goodbye song and positive reinforcement, thanking the children for participating.
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#### Follow-Up:
- Send a handout or an email to parents summarizing what the children learned and suggesting ways they can reinforce these habits at home.
- Encourage parents to help their children practice these habits daily.
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This lesson plan aims to make learning about good health habits fun and interactive for toddlers, fostering habits that will contribute to their well-being.