Kindergarten Curriculum Resources
Standard of Learning
K.2 The student will explain the concept of being healthy. Key concepts/skills include:
- positive and negative emotions that affect physical health (e.g., anger, sadness, fear, frustration, happiness, pride);
- personal hygiene practices (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing, hand washing, grooming);
- germs (e.g., bacteria, viruses) that lead to common diseases (e.g., cold, flu).
Understanding the Standard
The student will understand that keeping their body and clothing clean helps to prevent illness.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
The student will:
- describe grooming-personal hygiene practices. (taking care of your body and appearance)
- list examples of grooming products. (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.)
- describe ways to take care of clothes and body. (washing, bathing, hair care, brushing teeth, etc.)
- explain the importance of washing your hands often. (to help stop the spread of germs)
- describe the importance of and how to care for teeth. (proper brushing and flossing to remove food and germs stuck between the teeth)
Sample Lessons
Oral Health Education: Saving Smiles Series- “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body”
Grade: K
Lesson Plan (1) Explain why brushing teeth is an important daily task.
(SOL K.2b and c)
Lesson Plan (2) Discuss which people in the community can answer
questions about teeth. (SOL K.4b)
Sponsor: Virginia Department of Health, Division of Dental Health
Contact: http://www.vahealth.org/teeth/OralHealthEducation.asp (curriculum resources)
Free
An Ounce of Prevention
Provides information on some simple things individuals can do to prevent getting sick. Background information on infectious diseases, personal hygiene, taking care of pets, antibiotic use, food borne illness and immunizations are also provided.
Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Contact: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/op/index.htm
Free
Be a Germstopper
Encourages healthy habits to prevent the spread of illness in schools and at home. Provides links and resources for teachers on food safety, hand washing, the flu and nutrition.
Sponsor: CDC
Contact: http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/index.htm
Free
Fun with Handwashing Education
Grades: K-4
Primary prevention of contagious diseases includes teaching young children about personal hygiene behaviors. There are five key times to wash hands with soap and water: BEFORE eating, AFTER sneezing or coughing, AFTER playing outdoors, AFTER playing with pets, and AFTER using the toilet. This lesson presents a variety of fun and low-cost techniques for handwashing education.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – process skills)
Free
Germs, Germs Everywhere!
Grades: K-2
Students learn how to properly wash their hands. Students learn how germs affect their bodies.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – process skills)
Free
Glo Germ
Hand washing lesson plan that teaches about disease transmission, germs and how frequent hand washing helps to prevent illness.
Sponsor: Glo Germ
Contact: http://www.glogerm.com
Free
Hand Washing and Germs
Interdisciplinary lesson plan to explain the concept of being healthy.
Sponsor: Virginia Department of Health
Kindergarten_Hand_Washing.pdf
Free
Texas Department of Health
This lesson will help children recognize that personal health decisions and behaviors affect health throughout life. Following this lesson students will be able to identify and practice personal health habits that help individuals stay healthy. Sponsor: Texas Department of Health
Contact: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/kids/lessonplans/default.shtm
Free
Additional Instructional Resources
- Community - Local Dentist or Dental Hygienist
- "Covering Sneezes and Coughs" and "Caring for Our Skin" -http://www.healthteacher.com
- Crest Dental - "Getting Ready to Eat" - http://www.healthteacher.com
- Do Bugs Need Drugs? - http://www.dobugsneeddrugs.org/teachers/index.html
- Elementary Health Lessons – http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwche/elessons.htm
- Get Smart Virginia - http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epi/getsmart/index.asp
- Henry the Hand - http://henrythehand.com
- Illness & Disease – http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/- (health & fitness – k-2)
- National Health Service, UK - http://www.buginvestigators.co.uk/
- Rush to Brush - http://www.pecentral.org/lessonideas
- Save the Antibiotic - http://www.savetheantibiotic.com/public_html/index2/index2.html
- Virginia Department of Health – Hand Washing Handout -Kindergarten_Hand_Washing.pdf
- When To Start Cleaning-Brushing - http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/abyss/dep1407.htm
Assessment Ideas
The student will:
- complete a checklist of the daily activities performed to keep bodies and clothes clean.
- describe how to care for their teeth.
- explain the importance of washing your hands often.

