Download lesson plan for junior cycle pupils covering cough/ sneezing

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LESSON PLAN FOR MIDDLE CYCLE PUPILS COVERING COUGH/
SNEEZING ETIQUETTE, HAND WASHING PRACTICES AND
INFECTION CONTROL
Strand: Myself.
Strand Unit: Taking Care of My Body
Aim:
To promote the health of the child and provide a foundation for healthy living in all its
aspects.
Objectives:
 To enable the child to continue to develop an understanding of and appreciation
for healthy living, an ability to implement healthy behaviour and a willingness to
participate in activities that promote and sustain health.
 To enable the child to understand the relationship between health & hygiene and
to establish hygiene practices and techniques as outlined by HSE and the Dept. of
Health & Children Guidelines.
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Resources:
1. Thermometer 2.Tissues/ Kitchen Roll. 3. Medicated Gel/Spray. 4. HSE Posters - Help
Stop the Flu from Spreading. (Catch it, Bin it, Kill it) & Hand Washing Techniques.
(Available to download from www.hse.ie) 5. Flip chart /markers. 6. Bí Folláin poster on
Respiratory System or simple outline of Respiratory System drawn by teacher on flip
chart.
Research: Read information re H1N1 available for schools/management/parents on
www.cpsma.ie
Development:
 Ask pupils to discuss, in groups of four/five, the different ways they have used
their hands since they arrived at school this morning
 List/draw the results on flip chart and discuss briefly the variety of responses particularly those which the pupils may have been unaware of
 Discuss the number of surfaces/people they have come in contact with since
school began
 Introduce the importance of regular hand washing, and when hands could and
should be washed
 Discuss the possible consequences of poor hand hygiene
 Discuss the ways in which germs/bacteria may be transmitted due to poor hand
washing techniques
 Ask if any pupil has ever seen a germ? Why? Explain
 Again, following discussion in small groups, allow pupils to list the dangers of poor
hand hygiene e.g. in food preparation, eating, holding hands at play, feeding a
baby etc. (Pupils may raise the issue of Swine Flu at any stage during this lesson.
It is appropriate to acknowledge this, as we can allay fears, discuss safety
measures and listen to what the pupils may have heard. It is also important to
establish that the techniques they are learning are to protect against many types
of infection)
 Talk about times the children have seen people use protective gloves e.g. the
meat counter in the supermarket, at the dentist/doctor, teacher on yard cleaning
a cut etc. Why do people wear those gloves?
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Demonstrate the correct hand wash technique to pupils (as shown on the Hand
Washing Technique Poster www.hse.ie ). Put a poster in a prominent position
in the classroom
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Tell children that they must keep washing soapy hands for as long as it takes to
sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. Get children to imitate what teacher has
demonstrated. Remind children that they can sing/hum the song quietly as they
‘wash’. Tell children that they can practice the technique for real at toilet time
Show children the Sanitizer hand wash and explain how/why it can be used to kill
germs/bacteria. Read the instructions on the label to the class
Discuss how germs/infection can enter the body through hand contact. Talk
about the route germs may take to enter the body – nose, mouth, cuts. Show
poster of the Respiratory System and trace the passage of a possible germ from
hand to mouth/nose to lungs. (This can be a very simple diagram as the
important message is how germs can make their way into the body).
Focus with pupils on how quickly germs/bacteria can spread by not washing hands
properly
List some of the more common illnesses the pupils may have contracted e.g.
chicken pox, mumps etc. Talk about how easily infection spreads
Talk about why it is important to keep our nails short. Allow children to look at
their own hands again and decide if they need nails clipped/hands washed
Discuss design for a poster which would encourage everyone to wash hands in the
correct manner and at key times
Consider where these posters could be displayed to maximum effect.
Coughing/Sneezing
 Recount with pupils the previous class discussion regarding transmission of
germs/bacteria
 Discuss with pupils times they may cough or sneeze e.g. if they get dust in their
nose, smell newly cut grass, have a cold, shake out a mat, have asthma, if
someone is ill etc
 Talk about what happens when we cough/sneeze. Explain how droplet
transmission is how many of us pick up infections
 Ask pupils to discuss in groups why sneezes/coughs pass germs/bacteria so
easily. Reiterate how quickly infections can spread through families/classes
 Discuss what might happen if children cough/sneeze into their hands. Talk about
how quickly the germs can be passed on and how. What happens when someone
coughs/sneezes without covering their mouth/nose? Remind them again about
earlier discussion regarding hand hygiene.
 Discuss with pupils how a persistent cough/sneeze may indicate illness.
Demonstrate with tissues, how to Catch it, Bin it, Kill it!!! Display poster in a
prominent place
 Give tissue/kitchen roll to each pupil. Allow them to imitate the technique.
Demonstrate the ‘emergency’ technique of catching a cough/sneeze in the inside
of the elbow if there are no tissues available
 Recommend that each pupil has their own packet of tissues and hand wipes with
them in their school bag. Remember, only use a tissue once for a sneeze or
cough.
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Am I
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sick?
Discuss with pupils symptoms that may indicate they are ill
Show the class a thermometer, and explain how it is used
Tell pupils that we can be very hot for different reasons, other than illness
Get pupils to discuss in groups when they may feel very hot. List the answers on
flip chart
 Explain to pupils that our body temperature is normally approx. 98.6 F. If we are
sick our temperature rises and if it reaches 100.4(F) or 38 (C) we should see a
doctor. We will probably have a headache and sore throat at this stage too
 Explain the difference between symptoms of flu and those of a common cold. Most
pupils will never have had ‘real’ flu symptoms in the past.
Conclusion:
 Discuss with pupils how we can do our best to stop the transmission of
germs/bacteria which cause infection
 Ask pupils to recount the techniques for hand washing and sneezing/coughing
using a tissue
 Display
posters
produced
by
pupils
in
appointed
areas
around
classroom/school/toilet areas. Encourage pupils to place one in their homes
 During drama lesson, trace the journey of germs in a sneeze as they make their
way to different hosts. Get them to do a commentary on what they can see as a
germ
 Establish a ‘Hygiene Corner’ in classroom where pupils can access tissues, kitchen
roll, hand sanitizer etc as needed. Display pupil’s drawings/colouring in this area
also
 Encourage pupils to use Sanitizers which may be available at entrances to school,
in an appropriate manner. (If school has such a measure in place)
 Reinforce hand washing technique each time children visit toilet, finish eating or
as appropriate. Remind pupils that they must encourage family members to follow
their example. Information for non English speaking parents is available
on www.hse.ie
 Draw attention to posters as often as is practical, again to reinforce good practice
 It may be possible to invite the school nurse/parent who is a nurse to come and
demonstrate the safe practices above. This can reinforce the importance of the
exercises and promote a greater awareness among the pupils
 Ensure that SEN pupils are supported by SNA, resource teacher, language
support teacher or ‘buddy’ as appropriate, who follow the lesson content
as outlined by class teacher.
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