Lesson Plans for Third Grade: What are Germs

The lesson plans for third grade should me made interesting and activity based. The teacher should make sure that the third grade lesson plans not only cover the topic she wants to teach, but also introduce some thought provoking exercises in the class. A good lesson plan is a guide for an effective teaching. Here is how one can take up the topic "what are germs?"

The teacher should clearly mention the objective of the lesson in her third grade lesson plan. At the end of the chapter, the students will be able to understand the following:

• What are germs?
• How are they spread?
• How to get rid of germs?

The following materials can be used while taking up the topic "What are germs " in the class:

• Pictures and flash cards of germs,
  
• Paper napkins,
• towels,
• hand lotion,
• soap,
• cold water,
• lukewarm water and
• glitters.

While planning the lesson plan for third grade, it is very important for a teacher to have an idea what the students already know before introducing any topic. Before introducing the Topic "What are germs?", the teacher she should be ready with a list of questions beforehand and mention them in her lesson plan. Assessing the previous knowledge of the students gives a strong base for an effective teaching.

Questions like, 'What are insects?', 'Have you heard the word germs?', 'Have you seen insects/germs?', help in approaching the topic that you have to introduce in the class.

The teacher should skillfully introduce the topic in the class after having an idea about the knowledge of the students and try to link the answers given by the students to the present topic.

For example, when you ask, "Have you seen an insect?", students will come up with many answers. At the same time when you ask if they have seen germs, they may not be able to say "yes"!. So you can reinforce the fact that the germs are so small that we cannot see them.

The teacher should give comprehensive detail in her lesson plan on how she is planning to teach the topic "What are germs " in the class, what methodology she is going to use, whether she will be using audio visual aids or not and what procedure she is going to follow for teaching this lesson.

A good lesson plan should have all these components. Flash cards of some insects and some germs, some visuals of where the germs are found and some laboratory activities where some germs can be shown them can develop interest and understanding among the kids.

No teaching is effective if it is not amalgamated with some activity. Studies have proved that students retain well when they perform something. Mere verbal delivery of statements is easily forgotten and always monotonous for the students.

The lesson plan for third grade should be prepared to make the concept interesting with an active participation of the students. One such activity can be:

• Ask the students to rub a small amount of hand lotion on their hands.
• The teacher then spreads some glitters on each child’s hand.
• Divide the students in 3 groups.
• Ask the first group to wipe their hands with a paper napkin or towel, the second group to clean their hands with cold water and the third group to wash their hands with soap and lukewarm water.
• Then ask each group to compare their hands with each other and find which group has the most clean hands without any glitters. The teacher can here relate the glitter with the germs!

Some interesting games are available at the following link which can be incorporated in the lesson plan on "what are germs?"

http://www.dobugsneeddrugs.org/kidsarea/

Though it is the last step, but it is the most vital part of the all lesson plans. The teacher should ask a round of questions on "what are germs", to ensure that each child is clear about the concept taught. At the end of the class students should be able to answer the questions discussed in the objectives. A successful lesson plan should be able to bind the interest of all the students of the class to the topic that is being discussed.