Dealing with Germs in the Classroom

Communicable diseases spread quickly among students in the classroom. We've gathered printables and advice for germ prevention in school. Check out these resources to find tips on how to keep your classroom clean and educate students on disease prevention. Get the facts about H1N1 (swine influenza) and other illnesses that could affect you and your students.

Educational Videos Handwashing Awareness – Videos & Activities December 2-8 is Handwashing Awareness Week. Each educational video on hand washing and germ prevention is paired with three extension activities to use in your classroom. Cleanliness in the Classroom Clean Up Explore an activity that concentrates on ways to be responsible at home. Clean Up The Germs Crossword Puzzle Challenge your children with a crossword puzzle that reviews ways to prevent spreading germs. Dealing with Cleanliness in the Classroom Initiating a system of desk and row monitors can help keep your classroom clean. Save time and energy by incorporating the monitoring system described in this printable in your classroom routine. This technique works best for upper elementary and middle school. Creating an Effective Physical Classroom Environment Some useful suggestions on the physical aspects and considerations of a classroom. Elementary Classroom Management Survival Tips Successfully manage your elementary classroom and students with these helpful tips. Successfully manage your elementary classroom and students with these helpful tips. Elementary Germ Printables Explore Activity: Handwashing Students complete, and then sequence, pictures that show proper hand washing procedure. Clean Up The Germs Crossword Puzzle Challenge your children with a crossword puzzle that reviews ways to prevent spreading germs. I'm a "Germ Fighter" Badge Children color and cut out this "Germ Fighter" badge. Then, they can wear it with pride. Science and Technology: What Do You Know About Germs? Students take a "did you know" quiz about viruses. Staying Healthy Students match actions with ways to prevent the spread of germs and to stay healthy. Healthy Sharing Students learn about preventing the spread of germs by circling the items that should not be shared and coloring the items that can be shared. Big Sneeze Students learn how germs are spread and ways to prevent this. Why Do We Wash Our Hands Before Handling Food? Use this printable to teach children about the importance of washing their hands before handling food. Children will better understand how germs are spread. Tools for Taking Care of Ourselves Students match pictures of personal hygiene items (like a toothbrush or a comb) with the body part it is used on. Areas covered include hair care, tooth care, and hand care. Reading Warm-Up: Germs The printable daily warm-up helps your students master important reading skills with a reading passage and comprehension questions on germs. Being Sick Increase reading abilities with an activity that build skills in understanding the main idea of a story. After reading the story, discuss with students why it is important to stay home from school when you are sick (to prevent the spread of germs). Explore Activity: Explore Dirty Hands Students draw a piece of bread that has not been touched by dirty hands, and one that has grown mold from having dirty hands touch it. Explore Activity: Hidden Tools Students find five hidden health-care tools in the picture. Science and Language Arts: Keep It Clean Crossword Students write the word for each picture clue about hygiene in the puzzle. Germ Printables, Grades 6-12 How Has Disease Affected Us over Time? Integrate history and science with this printable about illness and disease. Students will use reference materials to research the history of scientific discoveries, including the creation of Jenner's smallpox vaccination and the development of Louis Pasteur's Germ Theory. What Are Some Bacterial Diseases? Use reference materials to research germ theory, bacterial diseases, antibiotics, Robert Koch, Alexander Fleming, and more. In this printable, students will answer questions about these scientists and their discoveries. As a skill challenge, they will analyze and hypothesize the outcome of an experiment. Activity: Comparing Infectious Diseases Compare the death rate from two infectious diseases in the United States. Students will interpret the graph in this science printable to answer questions about influenza, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. What Are Some Viral Diseases? Review viral diseases with this science printable. Students will correct false statements about viral diseases, including chicken pox, mumps, influenza, and AIDS. They will also use reference materials to identify whether each disease listed on the chart is caused by a bacteria or a virus. Fever 1793 Teacher's Guide Explore late eighteenth-century life in America with the discussion topics and cross-curricular activities in this teacher's guide for Fever 1793. Students will learn about the yellow fever epidemic, the Free African Society, and life after the American Revolution.

Influenza Resources Myths & Facts about Influenza How much do you know about the flu? Get the facts and bust the myths about influenza with this handout. Influenza Vaccination Recommendations Should you get a flu shot? This fact sheet explains who should or should not be immunized against influenza. Back to School Time: Pencils, Books, and the Flu Learn how getting vaccinated can prevent the spread of the flu in your school this year. What You Can Do to Help Prevent the Flu Follow these tips to help prevent the spread of influenza in your classroom and encourage students to do the same. Meet the "Faces" of Influenza Learn about the dangers of influenza from educators' personal accounts. H1N1 (Swine Flu) FAQs Get the facts about H1N1 and answers to frequently asked questions about the disease from Infoplease.com. H1N1 (Swine Flu) in Humans Find information from Infoplease.com about H1N1 in humans and how the disease spreads. Swine Flu in Pigs Learn how swine flu spreads among animals and how this disease can be transferred to humans. This is information is provided by Infoplease.com. The Flu Virus Before you get that flu vaccine (or while your sore arm is healing from the shot), consider how the flu virus invades your body and spreads. The Great Flu Epidemic of 1918 Learn more about the flu epidemic that killed more Americans than all wars of the twentieth century combined. Avian Flu FAQs Learn more about Avian Flu and its affects on humans with these answers provided by Infoplease.com. Common Infectious Diseases Worldwide This reference page from Infoplease.com provides a list of the most common infectious diseases throughout the world today. Disease Prevention Printables Science, Technology, and Society: Controlling Disease Distribute a reading selection and an assignment about the Center for Disease Control and its role in disease prevention. Living a Healthy Life: Family Activity Suggest a family activity to parents that provides home projects focused on communicable diseases and disease prevention, and on vocabulary words related to these topics. What Is Immunity? Review how the human body fights disease. In this printable, students will identify types of immunity and answer questions about natural and acquired immunity. How Does the Body Fight Disease? Ask students to complete each statement about illness, disease, and the human body in this printable. Then, have them describe how skin and the immune, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and lymphatic systems all defend the body against disease. Science Key Term Review: Fighting Disease Use this printable to review key science terms, including antibody, pathogen, immunity, and AIDS. Students will choose the term that best completes each statement about illness and disease in the human body. The Human Body: Disease & Wellness Printable Book (Grades K-5) Teach students about the fascinating human body! Use the lessons and activities in this printable book to explore the positive effects of good health practices (such as diet and exercise) on the body's functions, and the negative effects of diseases (from AIDS to asthma). Life Science Test: Fighting Disease This science exam uses multiple-choice and written-response questions to test students' knowledge and understanding of the immune system, vaccinations, and illness and disease. In this printable, students are also asked to label a diagram of the human lymphatic system. Letter to Parents/Guardians: When to Keep a Sick Child Home Send this letter home with your students to provide parents and guardians with helpful advice about when to keep a sick child home from school. This printable is customizable. Tailor the PDF to your needs by typing in the highlighted fields before printing. Related Resources for Teachers Popular Resources on Illness & Disease Find health & nutrition resources on illness & disease to teach your students about the flu, germs, AIDS, nutritional deficiencies, and other health issues. Educate your students on ways to stay well. Human Body Resources for Teachers Browse our human body printables and lessons to find great K-12 resources for biology and anatomy. Use hands-on science activities to teach students about the immune system and genetics. School Safety Resources for Teachers Promote a healthy learning environment year round with lessons and printables on school safety. School Safety Month in October is a great time to talk to your students about conflict and communication.