Personal hygiene: washing your hands and cleaning your teeth
Aprende
Your hands touch the ground, toys, animals and food. They get covered in germs. Germs are so small that you cannot see them. Some of them can make us ill.
To wash your hands you need water and soap. Wet them and put soap on. Rub the palms, the backs, between the fingers and the nails. Rub for about 20 seconds: that is counting slowly to 20. Then rinse and dry them well.
How to wash your hands Water on its own is not enough. With water and soap, the germs go down the drain. Hands can look clean and still have germs. Wash your hands before eating, after going to the toilet, when you come in from outside and after blowing your nose.
When to wash your hands Teeth need cleaning too. Brush them twice a day, in the morning and at night. Brush for about two minutes: the outside, the inside and the top. Use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste and spit it out. The toothbrush is only yours: do not share it.
Teeth, twice a day Sugar harms teeth and can cause tooth decay. Tooth decay is a hole in a tooth. Sweet things are for now and then. Between meals, water is better. And go to the dentist: that way they can check how your teeth are.
Between meals, water is better
Worked examples
Ejemplo 1
Gus comes back from the canal with his hands covered in mud. Now he is going to have his snack. What does he do first?
- Before eating you have to wash your hands.
- He wets them, puts soap on and rubs them for about 20 seconds.
- He rinses them and dries them well.
Gus washes his hands with soap and water and then has his snack.
¡Ojo! Many children just wet their hands for a moment, without soap.
Ejemplo 2
Crumb sees Gus brushing his teeth and wants to use his toothbrush. Can she?
- Each person has their own toothbrush.
- The germs from one person’s mouth would pass into the other’s mouth.
- Crumb needs a toothbrush of her own.
No: each person uses their own toothbrush.
¡Ojo! Many children think that, if the toothbrush is clean, it can be shared.
Ejemplo 3
Ellie blows her nose. Then she is going to knead dough for bread. What does she do in between?
- When she blows her nose, her hands get covered in germs.
- Ellie washes her hands with soap and water.
- Then she kneads the bread with clean hands.
Ellie washes her hands before touching the bread.
¡Ojo! Many children think it is enough to dry them on the apron.
Un reto para pensar
This week, notice when you wash your hands: before eating, when you get home… Practise counting slowly to 20. Draw a sun and a moon and tick them each time you brush your teeth in the morning and at night. Tell someone at home about it.
Practica
Rondas de 10 preguntas. Elige el nivel:
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