Teaching Elementary School Students
By: Raya Ringuette
Teaming up with a classmate to teach young elementary students about the benefits of hand washing was a good learning experience. We created age appropriate ten-minute interactive lesson plans. First, we taught the 2nd grade then we went to the kindergarten class. The same lesson plan was repeated with kindergarten, which proved to be more of a challenge. The age difference made us rethink our communication skills and interactions as we prepared for the other classes.
In the attached picture, we were teaching attentive 2nd graders. The introduction started with the child’s prior knowledge by asking questions and discussing what they thought was the best way to wash their hands. Following the discussion we used sprinkles to demonstrate the spread of germs by shaking the student’s hand after a “fake” sneeze. They were engaged, fascinated and enthused. Glo-germ powder and black light was used in the hands-on demonstration. Each child practiced ans was able to demonstrate the correct hand washing procedure. Through the use of a black light box as shown in the picture, students were able to see if they had used proper hand washing techniques. To our amazement the evidence revealed that all glo-germ had been completely washed off.
In the following picture is the students’ response to follow-up questions related to the activity. The photos were taken and submitted by their teacher Mrs. Dubis.
