Getting Ready for the Tooth Fairy
Level 3 promotes critical thinking and personal responsibility. 'Getting Ready for the Tooth Fairy' strengthens reasoning about health and safety decisions.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Health, Safety and Hygiene
- Learning area: Communication and Language
- Level: EYFS Reception
Objectives
- Analyse health decisions
- Justify reasoning
- Extend with writing or data tracking
Instructions
Materials
- A picture book about losing a baby tooth.
- Large chart paper and markers.
- Printed sequence cards showing the steps of losing a tooth and the Tooth Fairy visit.
- Small envelopes and glitter glue for craft extensions.
- A mirror for each child.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the sequence of events in a narrative text.
- Use descriptive language to explain the process of losing a tooth.
- Demonstrate understanding of cause and effect regarding dental hygiene.
- Retell a story using beginning, middle, and end structure.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Gather students in a circle and ask them to look at their own teeth using the mirrors to identify any loose ones or gaps.
2. Read the selected story aloud, pausing to ask students to predict what the character will do with their lost tooth.
3. Facilitate a group discussion about the importance of brushing teeth to keep them healthy before they fall out.
4. Distribute the sequence cards to small groups and ask them to arrange the images in the correct chronological order.
5. Invite students to share their sequences with the class, encouraging them to use transition words like first, next, and finally.
6. Record the students' ideas on the chart paper to create a collective list of tips for taking care of a lost tooth.
7. Provide the envelopes and glitter glue for students to decorate their own Tooth Fairy pouches.
8. Conclude by having students practise retelling the story to a partner using their completed sequence cards as a visual guide.
Educator Tip
If a student has not yet lost a tooth, acknowledge their experience by focusing on the anticipation of the event. This helps maintain inclusivity and prevents children from feeling left out of the developmental milestone. You can extend this activity by asking students to write a short letter to the Tooth Fairy.
Assessment
- Observe if the child correctly sequences the narrative events.
- Listen for the use of temporal markers during the retelling process.
- Confirm the child can articulate at least two hygiene practices for dental health.
Educator tip
Use simple rubric; insist on justification; allow multiple correct solutions; support with exemplars/word banks.
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. Rubric: reasoning, clarity, independence.