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Year 4

Preventing the spread of disease

I can explain how diseases are passed on and how to prevent their spread.

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New
New
Year 4

Preventing the spread of disease

I can explain how diseases are passed on and how to prevent their spread.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Germs are tiny living things that live on or in our bodies and can cause disease.
  2. Some diseases are spread by coughs and sneezes.
  3. Some diseases enter our body through our mouths and eyes.
  4. Wearing a face mask can reduce the spread of airborne disease.
  5. Vaccines can prevent some diseases and serious illnesses.

Keywords

  • Germs - tiny living things that can make us ill

  • Disease - when germs get inside your body and make you feel sick

  • Airborne - when something travels through the air

  • Vaccine - a medicine that can prevent some diseases and serious illnesses

Common misconception

If we cannot see germs, we are clean.

Germs are so small that we cannot see them. Only soap or hand sanitiser can kill germs.


To help you plan your year 4 rshe (pshe) lesson on: Preventing the spread of disease, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Remind pupils of the correct handwashing technique, for example, washings hands for at least 20 seconds and making sure to wash in between fingers.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to their correct definition.
Correct Answer:germs,tiny living things that can make us ill

tiny living things that can make us ill

Correct Answer:dangerous,something that can cause us harm

something that can cause us harm

Correct Answer:weight,how heavy something is

how heavy something is

Q2.
We can clean our body and kill germs by using...
Correct Answer: soap, soapy water, warm water and soap, warm soapy water, hand sanitiser
Q3.
Which of these statements are true?
Correct answer: Losing weight quickly can be a sign of illness.
Diseases cannot be spread by germs on our hands.
Correct answer: We should tell a trusted adult if our body changes suddenly.
Everyone who is thin is healthy.
Q4.
How often should we brush our teeth?
once a day
Correct answer: twice a day
three times a day
every time we eat
Q5.
Why is it important to brush our teeth regularly?
so we can eat as many sweets as we like
Correct answer: to help remove plaque
Correct answer: to help prevent cavities
so we can have bad smelling breath
Q6.
Before putting a plaster on a cut or graze, it should be so that germs are removed from the area.
Correct Answer: cleaned, wiped

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:disease,when germs get inside your body and make you feel sick

when germs get inside your body and make you feel sick

Correct Answer:airborne,when something travels through the air

when something travels through the air

Correct Answer:vaccine,a medicine that can prevent some diseases and serious illnesses

a medicine that can prevent some diseases and serious illnesses

Q2.
are tiny living things that live on or in our bodies and can cause disease.
Correct Answer: germs
Q3.
Why should we cover our mouth and nose if we sneeze or cough?
Correct answer: Some diseases are spread by coughs and sneezes.
It will cause someone else to sneeze after us.
It could cause someone to get upset.
Correct answer: Some diseases enter our body through our mouths and eyes.
Q4.
Which statements are true?
If we cannot see germs, we are clean.
Correct answer: Germs are so small that we cannot see them unless we use a microscope.
Water can kill germs.
Correct answer: Only soap or hand sanitiser can kill germs.
Q5.
Wearing a can reduce the spread of airborne disease.
Correct Answer: face mask, facemask, mask
Q6.
Why are vaccines important?
Correct answer: They can prevent us from getting ill.
They makes us less healthy.
Correct answer: They can prevent others from getting ill.
They can make us gain weight.