Tooth Brushing in Art Class
Level 3 promotes critical thinking and personal responsibility. 'Tooth Brushing in Art Class' strengthens reasoning about health and safety decisions.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Health, Safety and Hygiene
- Learning area: Expressive Arts and Design
- Level: EYFS Reception
Objectives
- Analyse health decisions
- Justify reasoning
- Extend with writing or data tracking
Instructions
Materials
- Large white paper cutouts in the shape of teeth
- White tempera paint mixed with a small amount of dish soap
- Clean, unused toothbrushes for each child
- Sugar paper in various colours for backgrounds
- Smocks or aprons
- Water cups and paper towels for cleanup
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate proper circular brushing motions using a tool.
- Explain the importance of removing food particles to maintain oral health.
- Refine fine motor skills through repetitive, controlled wrist movements.
- Express understanding of hygiene routines through creative representation.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Gather the children in a circle and hold up a toothbrush. Ask them to demonstrate how they brush their own teeth at home.
2. Discuss why we brush, emphasizing the removal of sugar and germs to keep teeth strong.
3. Place a large paper tooth cutout on each child's workspace and provide a small amount of white paint.
4. Instruct the children to use the toothbrush as a paintbrush, dipping the bristles into the paint.
5. Demonstrate how to move the brush in small, circular motions across the paper to cover the surface.
6. Encourage the children to talk about the "germs" they are scrubbing away while they paint.
7. Allow the children to experiment with different brushing pressures to see how the texture of the paint changes on the paper.
8. Once the painting is complete, have the children glue their tooth onto a coloured background.
9. Guide the children through the cleanup process, ensuring they wash their brushes thoroughly in the sink.
10. Display the finished work in the classroom to serve as a visual reminder of daily hygiene habits.
Educator Tip
If a child struggles with the circular motion, guide their hand gently to help them feel the rhythm of the stroke. You can extend this activity by asking children to paint "food spots" on the tooth first, then using the white paint to scrub them away, which reinforces the concept of cleaning.
Assessment
- Observe if the child uses circular motions rather than simple back-and-forth strokes.
- Listen for the child to correctly identify why brushing is important during the discussion.
- Note the child's ability to follow multi-step directions during the painting and cleanup process.
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.