How to Teach Students Handwashing Techniques

Nearly all articles and newscasts covering the best way to stay healthy mention hand washing. When students wash their hands frequently and correctly, they destroy the bacteria that cause colds, flus and other diseases. But for most kids, hand washing means sticking their hands under a cold faucet for a few seconds. That's not going to kill any H1N1 viruses. So students must learn the steps for proper hand washing and the reasons to follow them.

Things You'll Need

• Stools
• Soap
• Paper towels
• Poster paper
• Markers
• Pencils

Instructions

1. Discuss the importance of proper hand washing. Students will be more motivated to learn if they understand why they are learning. So talk to them about illness by having them tell you about the last time they were sick, and then explain to them that you'll be teaching them a way to cut down on how often they get sick.

2. Demonstrate the technique. Bring the students to the bathroom in small groups or gather the students around your classroom sink. Show them how to wet their hands, apply the soap, scrub while singing the alphabet song and then rinse. Remind them to turn off the faucet with the paper towel they've used to dry their hands.

3. Review the technique. Ask colleagues to come in and wash their hands while students watch. Make sure some volunteers do it correctly and that some don't so that students can give suggestions.

4. Practice the technique. Divide the class into small groups of four or five students. Allow each group to come to the sink to practice. Have the groups review the steps together and give each other reminders while you supervise. Have stools available wherever kids need help reaching the sink.

5. Illustrate the technique. For many students, writing and drawing help them retain information. So have students create posters that illustrate all the steps of the technique. Depending on the age of the students, you can also have them write the directions on the posters. Completed posters can be hung by the sink in the classroom and by the sinks in the bathrooms as visual reminders.

Tips & Warnings

• Emphasize that proper hand washing should always be done after using the bathroom and before eating.

• Don't forget to show students how to use hand sanitizer for when they can't get to a sink.

References

• Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services: Handwashing

Resources

• Earth's Kids: Basic Handwashing Information