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Germs
Situation
A. This unit is for a 3rd grade class.
B. There will be 3 class periods of instruction.
C. There will be 30 minutes for each class period.
D. There are 12 students in each class.
E. The students will have heard of diseases, bacteria, and viruses, but will not know
what they are exactly. They will also have heard that physical fitness and healthy
eating are good for you, but they probably will not know why.
Overview
A. Children should know what a diseases, bacteria, and viruses are because these are
present in the world around them. It is important for children to learn about what
is going on around them so they will be able to make good decisions in the future.
Learning about the ways to reduce the risk of contracting a disease or to prevent
viruses and bacteria from spreading is very important. This is especially
important in a school where all the children are so close together all the time.
B. My goal for this unit is for the children to understand what diseases are and to
understand the ways they can help lower the risk of contracting the disease. I
would also like for the children to understand what bacteria and viruses are so
they might be able to prevent them from spreading throughout.
Unit Standards/Objectives
A. Standard 1: Describe when it is important to seek health care.
Standard 3: Locate resources from home, school, and community that provide
valid health information.
Standard 4: Demonstrate how to ask for assistance to enhance personal health.
Standard 5: Choose a healthy option when making a decision.
Standard 7: Demonstrate a variety of behaviors to avoid or reduce health risks.
Standard 8: Express opinions and give accurate information about health issues.
B. Students will be able to define what germs are.
Students will be able to define what viruses and bacteria are.
Students will be able to express when they should ask for assistance when they
are sick.
Students will be able to demonstrate different behaviors they should do in order to
avoid or reduce contracting a disease or virus.
Students will be able to demonstrate how to wash their hands effectively.
Students will be able to describe how germs spread and how the students can try
to reduce the spreading.
Students will be able to describe the signs and symptoms that suggest they are
sick and will know what to do about them.
V.
Content Outline
 Germs- There are four types of germs which include bacteria, viruses, fungi,
and protozoa. A virus is a sub-microscopic particle (ranging in size from 20–
300 nm) that can infect the cells of a biological organism. Bacteria are HUGE
unicellular microorganisms. They are typically a few micrometers long and
have many shapes including curved rods, spheres, rods, and spirals.
Difference between viruses and bacteria are that bacteria can reproduce
independently, but not all of bacteria is bad for humans. Some bacteria are
actually helpful and beneficial to humans. Viruses need host cells to live.

Ways in which germs are spread and how we contract the disease or virus.
We will discuss some ways to help prevent the spread of germs. Some ways
include hand washing because direct contact with someone or something
spreads germs. You can also cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough,
sanitize your work area, get vaccinated, don’t share personal items such as
toothbrushes, combs, dining utensils, and glasses. We will discuss the signs
or symptoms of an illness. We can also review the school policy on when to
stay home when a student is sick. We will also mention that sleep helps the
body ward off germs as well.

We will look a little harder at the fact that students should wash their hands
and sanitize their work areas. Germs are present everywhere and washing
your hands is a great way to reduce the amount. Children get into so many
things throughout the day that germs spread in a classroom so quickly. After
students blow their noses or go to the bathroom, they need to wash their hands
to help prevent the spread of germs.
VI.
VII.
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Computer- website for children to take quiz
o http://www.iss.k12.nc.us/schools/scavenger/workshop/germs.htm
Glitter lotion
Germ Glow Kit
The playground or gym to play a game
Sink or container to wash hands
VIII.
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Instructional Methods & Strategies
• The students will use the internet to complete an interactive quiz about germs. I
will have to make sure they do not wonder from the sites in which they are supposed
to be at.
• Have the students perform the actions of washing their hands. I think putting
them in small groups to the bathrooms would be better than sending them all at once.
Also, using multiple containers would make it so the children would not have to be
spread out so much.
• Use the glitter lotion to see how germs spread. I would have to make sure they
children knew where the limits to where they could go would be. This would be like
the classroom.
• Use the germ glow kit.
• Play the game Ameba Tag to show children how germs spread. I would pick who
would be the germs first and so on so there would be no arguments.
Materials/Resources/Equipment
Lesson Plans
A. See attachment for Lesson 1
B. See attachment for Lesson 2
C. See attachment for Lesson 3
Student Assessment/Evaluation
A. Criteria- Ask the children questions such as what a germ is. Ask them how germs
spread and if they have germs in their body. Are all germs bad for you? What are
some ways to prevent the spread of germs? I would also ask them why it is
important to wash their hands and sanitize their area such as a desk.
B. Tools/Instruments- http://www.iss.k12.nc.us/schools/scavenger/workshop/germs.htm
(Attached are some of the possible answers to the quiz the children will be
taking.) For the sentences the children will be writing the second day, I will read
their sentences and base grading on whether or not they used the correct spelling
of words, correct punctuation, and if they seemed to have a clear understanding of
the topic.
Unit Evaluation
A. Current assessment of unit- I think that this unit is fairly well written. I think that
there are some areas that may need to be ironed out as the lessons go by. I think
XI.
that the lessons and activities are age appropriate and will keep the children
interested in learning.
B. Assessment during unit- I will evaluate the unit while I am going along by seeing
how the children are responding to the activities and the information they are
learning. The quiz that was taken the first day will help me be able to see what
they knew about germs from the very beginning so I might be able to adapt
accordingly. The couple of sentences that the children will have to write on the
second day will also help me see how well the children understand the
information. If they do not understand the information, then I will review and go
back through that information with them in class.
References
Services, T. D. (2011, January 5). Illness and Prevention Grade Level: Third Grade. Retrieved
10 6, 2012, from http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/kids/lessonplans/3rd-ip.shtm
Why Do I need to Wash My Hands? (1995-2012). Retrieved 10 6, 2012, from
http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/wash_hands.html
XII.
Integration/Infusion Plan
The students will learn about germs throughout their other subjects as well. In
science, we could study more in depth about germs and what other organisms have
germs and how they work through our bodies. In spelling, we could use the
vocabulary found in the lessons about germs as our words for the week. In English,
we could write sentences or a paragraph about what they have learned about germs
spreading. The students could also write a story that somehow has to incorporate
germs in it. We could also read a book about germs or about someone getting sick in
reading class.
Health Lesson Plan
Teacher’s Name: Rachel Werner
Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Performance Indicators with infused content: Standards 1.5.1, 3.5.2
Name of Lesson: Germs, Bacteria, and Viruses
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VII.
Goal: The students will know what germs and viruses are and will be able to
use the internet to broaden their understanding of the subject.
Objectives: The students will be able to describe what a virus is.
The students will be able to describe what germs are.
The students will be able to describe what bacteria are.
The students will be able to follow directions and stay on the website they
were assigned to.
The students will be able to use the internet and broaden their understanding
of the subject.
The students will be able to name the four major types of germs.
Adaptations for Divers Learners: If a student has a broken arm, the student
will be able to use a computer to write.
Materials: Computers for each student.
Procedure:
A. Set/Hook- Does anyone know what germs are? How about viruses?
B. Transition- Everyone please find a computer and go to the site that is
written on the board.
C. Main Lesson- The students will work together in pairs to answer the quiz
questions. They will also read through the sites to answer the questions.
D. Transition- Have everyone print their answers. Go through the answers to
the questions with the class.
E. Conclusion- Now, what is a germ? How are they related to viruses?
Assessment: Quiz on the computer;
http://www.iss.k12.nc.us/schools/scavenger/workshop/germs.htm
Assignment: Complete the quiz if they are not done at the end of the period.
Health Lesson Plan
Teacher’s Name: Rachel Werner
Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Performance Indicator(s) with infused content: Standards 1.5.3, 1.5.4, 1.5.5,
5.5.3, 7.5.2
Name of Lesson: The spreading and prevention of germs
I.
Goal: The students will learn how germs are spread. They will also
learn how to help prevent the spreading of the germs.
II.
Objectives: The students will be able to describe how germs spread.
The students will be able to demonstrate how to prevent germs from
spreading.
The students will be able to describe what activities will help
contribute to them not getting sick.
The students will be able to describe when to seek health care and
when to stay home from school.
III.
Adaptations for Diverse Learners: If a student has a broken arm, they
will be able to use their other hand to shake and spread the baby
powder. They will also have the opportunity to use the computer to
write their sentences.
IV.
Materials: Glitter lotion
V.
Procedure:
A. Set/Hook- So let’s have a review, what are germs? Do you know
how germs that are so small can spread?
B. Transition: Have the students rub in glitter lotion on their hands.
C. Main lesson: Then they all shake each other hands and see how the
glitter spreads all around the room. We will talk about how this is
how germs spread throughout the room as well.
D. Transition- Please go wash your hands in the bathroom and line up
to go outside.
E. Conclusion- The children will play Ameba Tag for as much time
as there is left in the period. Make sure the children understand the
connection of the game and how germs spread.
VI.
Assessment: Ask students what the germs are and how to prevent them
from spreading through the whole lesson.
VII. Assignment: Have the students write 2-3 sentences about what they
can do to stop germs from spreading.
Health Lesson Plan
Teacher’s Name: Rachel Werner
Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Performance Indicator(s) with infused content: Standards 1.5.4, 1.5.5, 4.5.1, 5.5.5, 7.5.2
Name of Lesson: Hand washing and sanitizing
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VII.
Goal: The students will understand that washing their hands is especially necessary to
help prevent germs from spreading. It is also necessarily to sanitize and clean their
desks and the area around them.
Objectives: The students will be able to describe how to wash their hands.
The students will be able to perform the task of washing their hands.
The students will be able to describe the reasons washing their hands is so important.
The students will be able to describe the reasons they should sanitize and clean their
area around their desks.
Adaptations for Diverse Learners: If a student has a broken arm, they can still use
their other arm for the glow kit and washing their hands.
Materials: Germ Glow Kit, kitchen/bathroom sink (if needed you could use a
container with water in it if you can’t get near a sink)
Procedure:
A. Set/Hook- How do germs spread? Are there ways to prevent the germs from
spreading?
B. Transition: Have students rub in lotion and use the light from the kit to see all the
germs that are on their hands and all around them. Talk about how the germs got
there and what they can do to prevent it.
C. Main lesson: Tell everyone to follow you to the bathroom or kitchen sink. Teach
them how to wash their hands. Have them practice washing their hands
themselves. Tell them to sing one of the songs that are on the attached sheet.
D. Transition- Bring everyone back to the classroom and if you have time show
them, again, the light now after they have washed their hands.
E. Conclusion- Review what was discussed through the whole unit. Ask them what
germs are, how they spread, and why they should wash their hands and sanitize
their area.
Assessment: Informal Assessment with questions asked throughout the lesson.
Assignment: There is no assignment.
“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Twinkle, twinkle little star
Look how clean my two hands are
With soap and water, wash and scrub
Got those germs off, rub-a-dub-dub
Twinkle, twinkle little star
Look how clean my two hands are
“Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands”
Wash, wash, wash your hands
While you sing this song
Rub and scrub, rub and scrub
The germs swirl down the drain
Scrub, scrub, scrub your hands
While you sing this song
Rub and scrub, rub and scrub
The germs swirl down the drain
“If You’re Dirty and You Know It”
If you’re dirty and you know it
Wash your hands
If you’re dirty and you know it
Wash your hands
If you’re dirty and you know it
Then your hands will surely show it
If you dirty and you know it
Wash your hands.