Putting Handwashing Steps in the Correct Order
About this lesson
Children talk about when to wash their hands, put scrambled handwashing steps in order, then mime the steps with a partner and draw a small reminder. They practise the full routine, including scrubbing for 20 seconds. You need six sticky notes and scrap paper, and it takes about 15 minutes.
- Grade
- 2
- Subject
- Health
- Time
- 15 min
- Prep
- 3 min
Objective
Students will put the steps of handwashing in the correct order and explain when hands should be washed.
Prep
3 min: write the six handwashing steps on separate sticky notes and stick them on the board in a jumbled order
Materials
- 6 sticky notes
- whiteboard
- scrap paper
- pencils or crayons
Steps
- Ask, "When should we wash our hands?" and collect four or five answers, such as before eating, after using the toilet, after sneezing and after playing outside.
- Point to the jumbled sticky notes (Wet hands, Add soap, Scrub fronts, backs, between fingers and under nails, Rinse, Dry with a clean towel, Turn off the tap with the towel). Invite children one at a time to move a note into the correct order while the class shows thumbs up or down.
- Have partners stand and mime the steps together as you read each note aloud. Count slowly to 20 during the scrubbing step so they feel how long it really takes.
- Give each child scrap paper folded into four boxes and have them draw and label four key steps in order to take home or post near the sink.
Quick Check
Call out a step, such as "Rinse", and ask children to hold up fingers to show which number step it is. Then ask one child to name the step that comes right after it.
Differentiation
Make it easier: Use only four sticky notes (wet, soap, scrub, rinse and dry) and add a simple picture to each one.
Make it harder: Have children add a sentence to their drawing explaining why scrubbing for 20 seconds helps remove germs.
Good For
- Before lunch
- Transition time
- Supply teacher
- Review
