Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will understand basic food safety principles, including how to properly wash hands, store food, and identify safe food practices. They will also learn why food safety is important to keep themselves and others healthy.

Materials and Prep

• Access to a sink with soap and water
• Fruits and vegetables (like apples and carrots)
• Containers for washing and storing food
• A timer or stopwatch (optional)
• Paper and crayons for drawing

Before the lesson, ensure the student understands the importance of cleanliness in the kitchen and is aware of basic food items that can be washed and stored. Prepare a safe space for activities involving food.

Activities

• Hand Washing Challenge: Have the student wash their hands properly using soap and water. Time them to see how long it takes, and encourage them to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice while washing to ensure they do it long enough. Discuss why washing hands is important before handling food.

• Fruit and Veggie Wash: Let the student wash the fruits and vegetables. Explain how washing removes dirt and germs. After washing, they can draw a picture of their favorite washed fruit or vegetable.

• Food Safety Poster: Using paper and crayons, have the student create a poster that shows the steps of food safety, including washing hands, washing food, and storing food properly. They can use drawings and simple words to explain each step.

• Food Storage Game: Discuss different types of food and where they should be stored (fridge, pantry, etc.). Create a matching game where the student matches food items to their correct storage places.

Talking Points

• "Washing our hands helps get rid of germs that can make us sick!"
• "We should always wash fruits and veggies before we eat them to keep them clean!"
• "Storing food in the right place keeps it fresh and safe to eat!"
• "If food looks or smells funny, we should not eat it!"
• "Cooking food to the right temperature helps kill bad germs!"
• "It's important to keep our kitchen clean to avoid spreading germs!"
• "Did you know that some foods need to be in the fridge to stay safe?"
• "Food safety is like a superhero cape that protects us from getting sick!"