We are going through this awesome Personal Hygiene Unit in Toddler School right now where we’re learning about all the ways to keep our bodies clean. Last week we learned all about Teeth Brushing and Flossing, and this week we’re talking even more about Germs. When it comes to Teaching Toddlers about Germs, I went to my fail proof teaching tool again… donuts!

Teaching Toddlers about Germs

I love to teach with donuts. I always get my kids’ attention this way and by now, whenever they see a donut they get all excited and squeal, “ooooh! What are we learning today!” So that’s totally #momwinning, right? It’s better than some reactions I can think of… Anyway, donuts seem to be my teaching tool of choice for this Hygiene Unit {note it’s not a healthy eating Unit, we should probably do that next!}

How to Prepare

We’ve already been talking about Germs a lot in our house and have learned many things about them through Magic School Bus, Usborne Books, and even our Human Body Text Book. So if this is your first lesson perhaps do some reading before you dive in.

Usborne Book List:

What are Germs?

Human Body- Shine-A-Light

Complete Book of the Human Body

At this point, my boys already know that germs are microscopic, make you sick and need to be washed away, which is really the extent of their Toddler knowledge needs. I don’t need to confuse them with all the “good” germs too. The point of this lesson is to promote hand washing after all and avoid spreading germs around the house and onto people.

How to Teach

I began this lesson at our Teaching Table, which has evolved from our Mess Mat. I had bought some Teacher Cutouts from the Dollar Tree that had the large hands in them. {perfect!} The boys got to pull a donut out of the bag and as they did I said

“Congratulations! You just caught a Germ! “

And they were pretty confused… I then explained that today, these Powdered Donuts were going to be the pretend germs and we’re going to see how fast they spread. They were okay with that once I confirmed that they would still get to eat them.

We took some time to look at our fingers and poke around at each other, spreading the powdered sugar “germs” on everything. I touched Wyatt’s face and said, “See, I just got germs on Wyatt’s face.” And he about looked like he was going to faint! Poor guy! I quickly explained again that it was just pretend.

We talked all about the little “germs” on their hands and how they can easily stick to everything we touch. When they got to eat them, I asked them to pay attention to all the “germs” that fell on the floor and everywhere else while they ate. We discovered that germs can fly through the air too and land on things! That also made Wyatt a little scared… I then blew on a donut like a sneeze and they watched germs fly all over, even dodging the germs and squealing a bit to avoid them.

Applied Learning

We ate some more donuts before I suggested, “Now without washing our hands, go bring back a toy and we’ll look at together.” They both left and brought back a toy. To their amazement, sure enough, it was covered in “germ” powder. Cash soon realized he too had become quite covered in germs, especially from wiping his mouth with his sleeve. I was able to address the long, burning argument of, “Just because you wipe them on your sleeve, doesn’t mean they’re gone, or that you’re clean!” Drive that point home for good! #momwinning, again.

Independent Practice

Now before Wyatt gets too terrified of germs I figured I had better draw them as a cute little gremlin style, not a scary monster. They too then got to draw germs on their hands. While they drew their germs I had them help me write a list of all the places we think germs might live. We decided that germs mostly live here:

1. The Potty
2. The Floor
3. Outside
4. Feet {because we walk on the floor}
5. Our Hands {because we touch things}

Comprehension

Cash got a little silly towards the end and started waving his germ covered hand all over the place. He started touching things and mocking me, “Oops! Now we have to wash the window! Now we have to wash the chair! I got germs on it!” At least he got the point. After all the donut eating we got the vacuum out {which we now call the Germ Collector Captain} and sanitized the table.  Even though Wyatt wants to wash his hands every three seconds now, I think we’re better off than we were before 😉

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Welcome to Mom School! This post is one of many Homeschool Preschool Lessons with #MySweetandSticky {Cash & Wyatt} As a former educator, I wanted to give them their best start before heading into public schools. (Which we LOVE!) On occasion, and throughout the summer, we continue our At-Home Learning. Cash is my Science Guy and Wyatt can’t get enough Sensory Play. Join us for every Sweet & Sticky moment.

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