Introduction

As educators, it is essential to teach high school students the importance of good hygiene. Maintaining proper hygiene not only keeps students healthy but also helps them feel more comfortable around others. By emphasizing the significance of daily hygiene practices, we can help students develop lifelong habits that contribute to their overall well-being. This blog post will discuss an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity that educators can use to engage students in a conversation about good hygiene. Additionally, we will provide some discussion questions and related skills to further enhance the learning experience.

No-Prep Activity: Hygiene Charades

This no-prep activity is a fun and engaging way to introduce the topic of hygiene to high school students. The activity requires no materials or preparation from the educator, making it a convenient option for busy teachers.

1. Begin by dividing the class into two teams.
2. Explain that each team will take turns acting out different hygiene-related tasks, such as brushing teeth, washing hands, or applying deodorant.
3. One student from the first team will come up and act out a hygiene-related task without speaking. The rest of their team will have a set time (e.g., 30 seconds) to guess the task being performed.
4. If the team guesses correctly within the time limit, they earn a point. If not, the other team has a chance to steal the point by guessing the task.
5. Continue alternating between teams until everyone has had a chance to participate or until a predetermined number of points have been reached.

This activity provides a fun way to get students thinking about various aspects of hygiene while encouraging teamwork and communication skills.

Discussion Questions

After completing the no-prep activity, use the following discussion questions to stimulate further conversation about the importance of good hygiene:

1. Why is it important to maintain good hygiene every day, even if you don’t feel like you need to?
2. How can practicing good hygiene contribute to your overall well-being and relationships with others?
3. What are some challenges you may face when trying to maintain good hygiene, and how can you overcome them?
4. What are some strategies you can use to remind yourself to practice good hygiene each day?
5. How can you encourage others to practice good hygiene, and why is this important?

Related Skills

In addition to teaching good hygiene practices, educators should also consider addressing the following related skills:

• Time management: Encourage students to establish routines for daily hygiene tasks to ensure they are completed consistently.
• Self-awareness: Help students become more aware of their personal hygiene and how it affects their health and relationships with others.
• Empathy: Teach students to consider how their hygiene practices may impact those around them.
• Self-care: Discuss the importance of taking care of one’s physical and mental health, including aspects beyond hygiene.

Next Steps

Now that you have some ideas for teaching high school students about the importance of good hygiene, consider exploring additional resources to help you promote social-emotional learning in your classroom. Sign up for free samples of Everyday Speech’s skill materials and discover more engaging activities and lessons to support your students’ growth and development.