Education 351
Lesson Topic: Health/Brushing Teeth
Grade Level: 3rd
Thoughts in Planning:
- This activity was chosen to provide a fun way for students to learn the importance of
maintaining good dental hygiene and healthy eating habits.
- Prior knowledge includes knowing what a toothbrush is, how to use it, and the ability to
follow directions.
- A challenge that may arise could be the difficulty level of lyrics the children are expected
to follow and sing along. Giving each student a toothbrush and handouts may cause
distraction from the activity.
Goals/ Objectives for the learner:
- Students will be able to correctly and efficiently brush their teeth.
- Students will be able to distinguish between healthy food and non-healthy food for their
teeth.
- Students will know the consequences of not brushing their teeth.
Assessment: The teacher will visually check to make sure the students are brushing with the
correct methods when the students practice with their manipulatives. Teachers will ask
questions at the end to make sure students understand the material.
Materials/ Media:
 Computer/internet
 Handouts
 “You Brush Your Teeth Song”
 Pictures of good and bad teeth
 Pictures of healthy and unhealthy foods
Introduction: Greet the students. Show them pictures of different healthy and unhealthy
foods. Ask them what foods are healthy and good for your teeth and what foods are not good
to eat in excess. Show them sets of teeth, good and bad. Ask them to identify which set of
teeth have been cared for properly. Ask students what can be done to keep teeth healthy.
Procedure: Explain to the students that there are two methods to brushing their teeth. The
first is circular method. To do this, you brush in a circular motion across the teeth. Then, the
second method is the gentle scrub. To do this, you scrub back and forth over a couple of teeth
at a time. Remind the students to brush over their tongues because that is where bad breath
germs are. It is important to brush your teeth for at least one or two minutes, two times a day.
Play the song and let the children listen to it and follow along with the words. Next, the
children will sing the song and demonstrate how to do the circular method when the “ch,ch,ch”
part of the song plays. Then, they will sing again and demonstrate the gentle scrub method
when the “ch, ch, ch". Ask the students some review questions about how to maintain healthy
teeth and make good decisions about what they eat.
Resources:
“Standards- Indiana Standards and Resources.” STN Application Center Moved. Web.
22 January 2009. http://dc.doe.in.gov/Standards/AcademicStandards/StandardSearch.aspx.
“Youtube- Brush your teeth. “YouTube-Broadcast Yourself. Web. 22 January 2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hip7BNqhyeU.
IN State Standards:
Health and Wellness
Standard #1: Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and
disease prevention to enhance health
3.1.1. Identify the link between healthy choices and being healthy
Standard #7: Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health enhancing
behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks
3.7.2. Identify a healthy practice to maintain personal health and wellness
3.7.3. Recognize actions to avoid health risks