Dental Hygiene Lesson Plan

Introduction to Dental Hygiene (10 Min)

Begin with an engaging hook: Ask students, 'What do you think happens if we don't brush our teeth?' Use a short story about a character who learns the importance of dental hygiene. Introduce key terms: plaque, cavity, and dentist. Explain that these are things we can avoid by taking care of our teeth.

Importance of Brushing and Flossing (15 Min)

Discuss why brushing and flossing are important. Use a video to show how food particles and bacteria can harm teeth. Follow up with a summary excerpt highlighting the benefits of brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. Use a worksheet with pictures of healthy and unhealthy teeth for students to color and discuss.

Demonstration of Proper Techniques (15 Min)

Demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques using a large toothbrush and a model of teeth. Have students practice the motions in the air with their own toothbrushes. Use task cards with step-by-step instructions for brushing and flossing. Pair students and have them take turns explaining the steps to each other.

Interactive Activity (10 Min)

Conduct a 'Dental Hygiene Relay Race.' Set up stations with different activities: brushing a model, flossing between blocks, and sorting healthy vs. unhealthy foods. Use a rule table to explain the rules of the relay race. Each student must complete one activity before passing the baton to the next teammate.

Review and Q&A (5 Min)

Review the main points of the lesson using a Jeopardy game with questions about dental hygiene. Allow students to ask any remaining questions. End with a quick write where students draw a picture of themselves brushing their teeth and write one sentence about why it is important.