**Lesson Plan: Healthy Habits for Toddlers - Reptiles: Examples**
**Objective:**
To introduce toddlers to healthy habits using the theme of reptiles. Toddlers will learn basic healthy habits (like washing hands, eating vegetables, and being active) through fun and engaging activities featuring reptile examples.
**Duration:**
30-45 minutes
**Materials Needed:**
- Pictures or toys of different reptiles (snakes, turtles, lizards, crocodiles)
- Hand washing station or a bowl of water with soap
- A few vegetables (cucumber slices, carrot sticks, etc.)
- Storybook or video about a reptile
- Craft materials (paper plates, markers, glue, colored paper)
- Music and space for movement activities
**Introduction/Engage (10 minutes):**
1. **Greeting and Circle Time:**
- Welcome the toddlers. Begin with a short welcome song.
- Introduce the topic of the day: "Today, we are going to learn about reptiles and how they can teach us to be healthy!"
2. **Show and Tell:**
- Show pictures or toys of different reptiles. Name and describe each one.
- Engage the toddlers by asking if they’ve seen any reptiles or if they have a favorite.
**Instruction (15 minutes):**
1. **Healthy Habit #1: Hand Washing**
- **Activity:** Talk about how reptiles, like turtles, stay clean by swimming in water.
- **Demonstration:** Show the toddlers how to wash their hands properly using the hand washing station.
- **Practice:** Let the toddlers practice washing their hands.
2. **Healthy Habit #2: Eating Vegetables**
- **Activity:** Show pictures of reptiles eating vegetables (e.g., iguana eating leafy greens).
- **Discussion:** Explain that just like reptiles eat plants to stay healthy, we should eat our vegetables.
- **Tasting:** Allow the toddlers to taste different vegetable snacks.
3. **Healthy Habit #3: Being Active**
- **Activity:** Show videos or images of reptiles moving (e.g., lizards running, snakes slithering).
- **Movement Exercise:** Encourage the kids to mimic the movements (crawl like a snake, jump like a frog).
- **Music and Dance:** Play reptile-themed songs and let the toddlers move and dance.
**Exploration (10 minutes):**
1. **Story Time:**
- Read a short, age-appropriate storybook about a reptile practicing healthy habits or show a short educational video.
2. **Craft Activity:**
- Create a simple reptile craft, such as a paper plate turtle. Toddlers can color and decorate their turtles with markers and colored paper.
- While crafting, reinforce the healthy habits discussed.
**Closure (5 minutes):**
1. **Review:**
- Summarize the key lessons: washing hands, eating vegetables, and staying active.
- Ask simple questions to recall what they learned (e.g., "What do turtles do to stay clean?").
2. **Goodbye Song:**
- Sing a goodbye song and thank the toddlers for participating.
**Assessment:**
- Observe the toddlers during the activities to see if they are engaging with the material.
- Ask simple questions to evaluate if they have understood basic healthy habits.
- Encourage the toddlers to share what they've learned with their parents or guardians at home.
**Follow-Up Activities:**
- Send a note home with a summary of the healthy habits and a suggested activity for parents to do with their toddlers, such as making a healthy snack together or setting up a hand washing station at home.
This lesson plan combines learning about reptiles with teaching important health habits in a fun and age-appropriate way, ensuring toddlers understand and practice these essential routines.