Johnny’s Hands

Pre-K through Grade 2

Grade 3 through Grade 6

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Grade Levels K through Grade 2

Estimated Teaching Time 20 to 25 minutes

Interdisciplinary Connections

• Identifying a circle story (Literature)
• Reading or listening to a story (Reading)
• Piecing together a basic storyline (Sequence, Context Clues)
• Coloring pictures (Art)

Objectives

Children will:

• Learn to identify a circle story (i.e., A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle).
• Understand the components and sequence of proper hand hygiene.

What Children Do

Children will color, cut out and assemble a circular sequence based on a story read to them about hand hygiene. Older children can be encouraged to read their stories to each other.

Materials Required

• “Johnny’s Hands” circle story (blackline master 3.3 PDF)
• Crayons or markers
• Scissors
• Glue, paste or tape
• Optional A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle (to use as an example)

Advanced Preparation

• Duplicate each side of blackline master 3.3 (PDF), one each per child.
• Teachers of the youngest children may wish to pre-cut the pieces from the blacklines.

Suggested Sequence

1. Explain the concept of a circle story; a story that has a beginning, a middle, and then ends in much the same way as it began. Share with them the story A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle, if available and if time permits.
2. Explain to the children that they will now put together their own circle story, called “Johnny’s Hands.” It is about a young boy who gets his hands dirty while playing outside. Ask them what they think he does about his dirty hands? [He washes them.]
3. Explain that Johnny goes outside to play again. Ask them what they think will happen to his hands this time?
4. Pass out copies of blackline master 3.3 (with illustrations) and ask children to color the pictures.
5. Read the caption beneath each picture with the class.
6. Ask children to cut out the pictures.
7. Pass out copies of blackline master 3.3 (with blank circle template) and have children glue their pictures onto it in the proper sequence. Point out context and sequence clues, if necessary.
8. Have children share their completed project with a classmate or parent.

Proper Sequence When assembled correctly, the circle story should read as follows:

• (a) Johnny has clean hands!
• (b) He goes outside to play. While playing in the yard, Johnny sneezes into his hands.
• (c) There’s no sink nearby, so Johnny sanitizes his hands to get rid of sneeze germs.
• (d) Now it’s okay to play with his friends in his sandbox. But look at those dirty hands!
• (e) After playing, Johnny washes with liquid soap and warm water. Then he uses hand sanitizer.

Check for Understanding

Ask the following questions:

• What did Johnny do after his hands got dirty? [Washed with soap and water.]
• Why was it important to use hand sanitizer as well? [Hand sanitizer can be an effective supplement to routine handwashing, helping to kill more germs than just plain soap and water alone. It can also be used when soap and water are not available.]
• Why does “Johnny’s Hands” make a good circle story? [Hand hygiene is an often-repeated process throughout the day.]

Extensions

• You might ask children to come up with additional situations to add to their circle stories about hand hygiene.
• Ask children to come up with different circle stories pertaining to general healthy living and hygiene, such as brushing one’s teeth and eating balanced meals.

Words to Share

• Hand hygiene
• Hand sanitizer
• Hygiene
• Sanitize