Handwashing in Kindergarten

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• Schuylerville Elementary School introduced a hand-washing initiative geared to K-5 students.  The GRS Project Team hosted a hand-washing instruction booth at the Annual Health Fair on October 19, 2012 and then scheduled visits to each Kindergarten classroom.  The purpose of this activity was to present hand-washing in fun and interactive ways while stressing its importance as a first line defense against germs and illness. With the guidance of the GRS committee, teachers and students were involved in this initiative along with the local hospital as a community partner. 
• CORE CURRICULUM CONNECTION:
  NYS Health, Physical Education and Family and Consumer Sciences Learning Standard 1: Students will understand human growth and development and recognize the relationship between behaviors and healthy development. They will
  understand ways to promote health and prevent disease and will demonstrate and practice positive health behaviors.
  
  
• PLANNING:

Determine dates and times to visit each kindergarten classroom. Plan for the lesson to take at least an hour. 

Provide access to sinks and have the black light machine, lotion and supplemental material available.

EXECUTION:

Under the instruction of 2 nurses who are part of GRS team, one of whom is employed by Saratoga Hospital, students applied a lotion that can only be seen under a black light and would illuminate the germs on their hands.  The students were shocked by how many germs were present.  The nurses and teachers showed them proper handwahing techniques and then had the students wash their hands.  The students were shown the results under the black light and were impressed with the results of proper hygene.  The nurses left posters illustrating the steps to wash hands properly and some coloring sheets for the children to take home.

RESULTS:

A booth at the Annual Health Fair led to a GRS initiative because of the interest and impact the activity had on the children.  Parents and children alike were talking about proper handwashing techniques for weeks after the Health Fair.  In fact, my 1st grader still will show me how to wash my hands properly if I am in a hurry.  Our dedicated nurse volunteer believed in the project so much that she approached administrators at Saratoga Hospital and they purchased a black light machine for our use.  Finally, as a result of this initiative and our input, facilities will continue replacing manual facets with automatic faucets to help prevent the spread of germs.  This was a very successful and low cost project and we intend to expand it and provide instruction to students in K-2.

(Please note: all of Schuylerville GRS Project Team activities are also posted on the Schuylerville Green Ribbon School Project Facebook Page.)