Infectious Respiratory Disease

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 25.05.09

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Demographics and Rationale
  3. Research Content
  4. Teaching strategies
  5. Classroom Activities
  6. Bibliography
  7. Materials for Classroom Use
  8. Appendix on Implementing District Standards
  9. Notes

Caring for Each Other: Germs, Health, and Community Responsibility

Alexandra E. Amirato

Published September 2025

Tools for this Unit:

Guide Entry to 25.05.09

The goal of this unit is to introduce students to the concept of community and how personal hygiene and public health applies to it. Students will engage in science experiments, conversation, and role play in order to achieve mastery knowledge of the topic. The unit introduces the basics of germs, environmental causes of illness, and strategies for maintaining personal and community health. Students will focus on how germs move through shared spaces such as homes, schools, classrooms, and bathrooms, and explore the collective actions we can take to create the healthiest classroom possible. Through hands-on experiments, students will investigate the cause and effect of practices like handwashing, using humidifiers and/or air purifiers, and covering sneezes and coughs. A public health video, styled like a PSA, will be created and shared to build a stronger sense of community and promote awareness around wellness and safety in our school.

Key words: Community, Citizenship, Kindergarten, Hygiene, Science, Germs, Handwashing, Transmission, Cause-and-Effect, Health, Public Health

(Developed for Social Studies, grade K; recommended for grade K)

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