**Lesson Plan: Health Habits for Toddlers - Pests: Definition**
**Objective:**
- Toddlers will understand what pests are.
- Toddlers will learn the basic concept of pests and their potential impact on health.
**Materials Needed:**
- Picture cards or images of common pests (e.g., ants, flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats)
- A simple storybook about pests (optional, related to cleanliness and health)
- Soft toy or puppets resembling pests
- Craft materials (construction paper, glue, scissors, crayons)
- Safe hand sanitizer or wipes
**Introduction (10 minutes):**
1. **Greeting and Warm-Up:**
- Start with a friendly greeting and a simple, fun song or rhyme to gather the children and get them excited about learning.
- Introduce the topic by briefly explaining that today, they will learn about something called "pests."
**Activity 1: What Are Pests? (15 minutes):**
1. **Discussion:**
- Show the picture cards or images of common pests and ask the children if they recognize any of them. For example: "Have you ever seen an ant? What about a fly?"
- Describe each pest in simple terms. For example: "Ants are tiny insects that can come into our homes looking for food."
2. **Hands-On Activity:**
- Use soft toys or puppets to represent the pests and let children touch and hold them while discussing.
- Explain briefly why we need to be careful around some pests because they can make us sick.
**Activity 2: Story Time (10 minutes):**
1. **Reading:**
- If available, read a simple storybook about pests and how to keep them out of our homes. Include illustrations showing clean habits.
- Pause occasionally to ask questions like, "What should we do to keep our homes clean?"
**Activity 3: Craft - Making Pests and Clean Homes (20 minutes):**
1. **Craft:**
- Provide toddlers with construction paper, glue, and crayons.
- Help them make simple cutouts of pests like ants or flies. Assist them in drawing or coloring the pests.
- On another sheet of paper, help them create a clean home environment, showing where the pests should not go.
**Activity 4: Health Habit Practice (10 minutes):**
1. **Practice:**
- Explain how washing hands and keeping our surroundings clean helps keep pests away.
- Demonstrate proper handwashing techniques or using hand sanitizer.
- Let each child practice by using safe hand sanitizer or a wet wipe.
**Conclusion (5 minutes):**
1. **Review:**
- Recap the lesson by asking a few simple questions: "What is a pest?" "Why do we need to keep pests away?" "How can we keep pests away?"
- Praise children for their participation and efforts.
2. **Song and Goodbye:**
- End the lesson with a fun song related to cleanliness or pests.
- Thank the toddlers for their attention and participation, and say goodbye.
**Follow-Up Activities:**
- Encourage parents to reinforce the importance of cleanliness and pest prevention at home.
- Provide a simple handout or email with tips for keeping pests away and maintaining good health habits.
**Assessment:**
- Observe participation and engagement during discussions and activities.
- Note if children can identify pests and understand basic methods to keep them away.
- Provide positive feedback and gentle guidance as needed.