Teacher's Curriculum Guide

Guide
Help children understand that cleanliness is important to good health. Children are able, at this age, to be in charge of their own bodies. We want them to develop a greater awareness of their hands and what role our hands play in the spread of disease. They will mimic your and our behavior so that repetition of the 4 Principles of Hand Awareness will teach children the correct behavior to mimic. (Hand awareness is more than just hand washing. It is about not spreading germs into our eyes, nose, or mouth by rubbing with a bare finger or by coughing/sneezing ghands that will transmit disease.)

WHY do we wash our hands?
Germs (bacteria or virus) cause illness. (See Definitions for Germs, Viruses, and Bacteria.) Germs are tiny microorganisms that spread disease. The common cold is a virus.
We don’t see bacteria or virus like we see dirt, but they are there. (Show page with different types of germs identified.)
* Streptococcus bacteria (round clumps of bacteria) cause nasty sore throats; we have to go to the doctor and will need to take an antibiotic to kill the bacteria in our throat.
* Staphylococcus bacteria are on our skin which causes pimples or cysts to form.

Germs are EVERYWHERE (point out where they may be; walls, floors, desktops, doorknobs, pencils, etc.).
A sneeze is a blast of air that goes approximately 200 mph - it carries tiny bacteria or virus in a mist (droplets) and spreads everywhere.
When you feel a tiny tickle in your throat, it is a clue that you are going to sneeze and you can prepare for that sneeze. Use a handkerchief or tissue or sneeze into the crook of your elbow so germs don’t float into the air or in your hand.

Discuss WHEN it is important to wash your hands.

1. Before eating.
2. After using the toilet.
3. After blowing or wiping your nose.
4. After you cough or sneeze into a tissue.
5. Upon arriving home from school to prevent bringing germs from school into your home.
6. Upon arriving at school to prevent bringing germs from home to school.
7. After petting animals.

Please demonstrate the Action and then have the students explain the Results.
Using a spray bottle filled with water, demonstrate a sneeze.

You may repeat this activity using the Germ Potion Experiment.


Demonstrate HOW TO PROPERLY WASH YOUR HANDS using Henry the Hand's Handwashing Instructions

1. Use SOAP AND WARM RUNNING WATER.
2. Rub your hands vigorously for AT LEAST 15 SECONDS.
3. Wash all surfaces including back of hands, wrists, between fingers, under fingernails.
4. Rinse well (leaving soap on your hands will lead to drying & cracking).
5. Dry hands well with paper towel.
6. TURN OFF THE FAUCET WITH THE PAPER TOWEL you used to dry your hands (this prevents picking up the germs that were on your hands when you turned the faucet on).

Discuss Henry the Hand's 4 Principles of Hand Awareness:

1. WASH your hands when they are dirty and BEFORE eating.
2. DO NOT cough into your hands.
3. DO NOT sneeze into your hands.
4. Above all, DO NOT put your fingers into your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Children learn by example. It is important for the teacher to wash his/her hands before lunch and after using the restroom. You and your students should sign the pledge to become Champion Hand Washers and post the "Henry the Hand Classroom Weekly Hand Washing Chart" on the wall in your classroom.
You may reward the students daily or weekly with a Champion Hand Washer Medallion.

In the Henry the Hand Activity Book you will find that each page is its own lesson plan, to be used daily or weekly. Every student should take Henry the Hand’s Home Weekly Hand Washing Chart and you should be using the Henry the Hand Classroom Weekly Hand Washing Chart simultaneously or sequentially.

The Curriculum/ Activity Book Includes  

Teachers, the hand washing/awareness message needs to be reinforced. Repitition is the most effective method for absorption. 
For more information, email henrythehand@henrythehand.com.

Experiments
In addition to the Germ Potion Experiment, a bacterial growth experiment may be conducted to further demonstrate the presence of bacteria and the importance of proper hand washing.