Dental Hygiene Awareness
Level 2 strengthens application and explanation. 'Dental Hygiene Awareness' deepens understanding of health responsibility.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Health, Safety and Hygiene
- Learning area: Understanding the World
- Level: EYFS Reception
Objectives
- Explain safety/hygiene reasoning
- Apply concept independently
- Collaborate during activity
Instructions
Materials
- Large plastic model of human teeth with a set of oversized toothbrushes.
- White play dough or clay to represent teeth.
- Small plastic mirrors for each child.
- White sugar paper and black markers.
- A small amount of red paint or washable marker to represent plaque.
- A timer or song about brushing teeth.
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate the correct circular motion for brushing teeth using a model.
- Identify the purpose of brushing teeth to remove food particles and germs.
- Sequence the steps of a healthy oral hygiene routine.
- Explain why healthy teeth are important for eating and speaking.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Gather the children in a circle and ask them to use their mirrors to look at their own teeth.
2. Discuss what they see and ask why we need to keep our teeth clean every day.
3. Use the large plastic teeth model to demonstrate how food gets stuck in between teeth.
4. Apply a small amount of red paint to the model to represent sugar or plaque.
5. Demonstrate the correct brushing technique by using gentle, circular motions to remove the red paint.
6. Invite children to practise the circular motion on the model using the oversized toothbrushes.
7. Provide each child with a small ball of play dough and ask them to shape it into teeth.
8. Have children use a small brush to clean their play dough teeth, emphasizing the need to reach all sides.
9. Lead a group discussion on how long we should brush, then play a two-minute song to practise the timing.
10. Conclude by having children draw a picture of a healthy tooth and a smiling face to reinforce the goal of the activity.
Educator Tip
To differentiate for children who struggle with fine motor skills, use larger brushes or provide pre-shaped clay teeth. If children lose interest, turn the brushing practise into a game where they must find and remove hidden spots of paint on the model.
Assessment
- Observe if the child can correctly demonstrate a circular brushing motion on the model.
- Listen for the child to verbalize at least one reason for maintaining dental hygiene.
- Verify the child can sequence the steps of brushing during the hands-on practice.
Educator tip
Require complete thoughts (sentence frames); rotate roles in pairs; photograph work for portfolios.
Assessment
Assess against Early Learning Goals (ELGs). Document evidence of 'expected' or 'exceeding' descriptors. Note: independent application of skills, ability to explain reasoning, and capacity to build on prior learning. Observe reasoning, independence, collaboration.