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KS2: Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is one of the single most effective things children can do support preventing the spread of infection.

By taking part in a classroom experiment students learn how microbes can spread from one person to another through touch and why it is important to wash hands properly.

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Learning objectives

All students will:

  • Understand that infection can be spread through unclean hands
  • Understand that handwashing can prevent the spread of infection
  • Understand when and how to wash hands

Most students will:

  • Understand why we should use soap to wash our hands
  • Understand that washing hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of microbes

Background Information

Our hands are naturally covered by useful bacteria. However, we can pick up harmful microbes from the things we touch. Hand hygiene is possibly the single most effective way of reducing and preventing the spread of these microbes and any associated infection.

Schools and community groups are a relatively crowded and closed environment where microbes can spread easily and rapidly from child to child via direct contact or via surfaces. Effective hand washing has been shown to reduce absenteeism rates in schools.

This lesson plan supports students to see how microbes can spread from hand to hand, why thorough hand washing with soap is so important for infection prevention, and how to wash hands effectively.

Activities

Main activity:
  • Healthy Hands
  • What Have We Missed?
Main Activity video
Extension activities:
  • Fill in the Blanks
  • Hand Hygiene Quiz
  • Hand Washing Sequencing

Curriculum links

PHSE/RHSE:

  • Health and prevention

Science:

  • Working scientifically
  • Living things and their habitats
  • Animals, including humans

English:

  • Reading and comprehension
  • Writing

Design & Technology:

  • Cooking and nutrition

Art & Design:

  • Painting
  • Recording observations

Supporting Materials

Teacher sheets
KS2 Hand Hygiene Teacher Guidance
Student worksheets
SW1 Student Recording Sheet
SW2 Handprint Student Worksheet
SW3 Hand Hygiene Fill in the Blanks Worksheet
SW4 Hand Hygiene Quiz
Student handouts
SH1 How Clean are Your Hands
SH2 Hand Washing Poster
SH3 Washing Your Hands Sequencing Activity