Germs- A Guide to Staying Well
Germs, germs, germs… every teacher’s worst nightmare! We all know that kids—adorable as they are—can be a little gross. Whether it’s sneezing without covering up or forgetting to wash their hands, the start of the school year often brings a spike in sniffles and sick days.
That’s exactly why I created a Back-to-School Germ Unit—a fun, interactive, and age-appropriate way to teach students how to stay clean and healthy. This 5-day unit is perfect for the beginning of the year, when you’re setting routines and expectations that will stick with students all year long.
Each day focuses on a key concept about health and hygiene, with hands-on activities, experiments, crafts, and reflection sheets to keep learning fun and meaningful.
What’s Included? A 5-Day Plan to Help Kids Stay Healthy:
Lesson 1: What Are Germs?
We kick things off by helping students understand what germs are and why they matter.
Activities include:
- Germ Match-Up Activity
- Interactive Germ Flipbook
- End-of-Lesson Review
This lesson lays the foundation for understanding the “why” behind all the handwashing and tissues.
Lesson 2: Germs vs. Soap
Time to get sudsy! Students learn why washing their hands is so important—and how soap actually works to remove germs.
Activities include:
- “How to Wash Your Hands” Poster
- Glitter Experiment + Observation Sheet (always a class favorite!)
- Wash Your Hands Sequencing Bracelet
This lesson makes hygiene visual and hands-on in the best way.
Lesson 3: Stop the Spread
Germs love to spread—but we can stop them! This day focuses on how germs travel and how to prevent them from spreading to others.
Activities include:
- Virus vs. Bacteria Posters
- Stop the Spread Sorting Activity
- Bread vs. Germ Experiment + Observation Sheet
- Lesson 3 Review
This one is eye-opening (and maybe a little gross) in all the right ways.
Lesson 4: Cover Your Cough and Sneeze
Let’s talk about those coughs and sneezes! Students learn the importance of covering up and how far a sneeze can really travel. (Spoiler: it’s farther than they think.)
Activities include:
- “How Far Can Your Sneeze Go?” Experiment + Observation Sheet
- Cover Your Sneeze Craft
- Lesson 4 Review
Perfect for establishing classroom norms early in the year.
Lesson 5: Feel Better
For our final day, we focus on what to do when you’re not feeling your best—and how to care for yourself and others.
Activities include:
- “When I Am Sick” Tree Map
- “When I Am Sick” Flipbook
- Lesson 5 Review
It’s a great way to wrap up the unit and help kids take responsibility for their own health in a supportive way.
Why This Unit Works
This isn’t just about avoiding germs—though that’s a big bonus! It’s about teaching life-long habits in a way that’s developmentally appropriate, engaging, and fun. With simple experiments, hands-on crafts, and real-life application, students walk away with knowledge they’ll actually use.
Whether you’re a teacher prepping for a clean and healthy classroom or a parent looking to reinforce these skills at home, this Germ Unit is a must-have for back to school!
Ready to help your class stay happy and healthy this year?
Grab the full unit and make the start of your school year clean, confident, and full of learning!
AND… just for reading this post, I’ve got a FREEBIE for you!
Grab a Hand Washing Sequencing Bracelet—a fun, kid-approved activity that students love!
