Staying Healthy and Germs
Kindergarten · Science · Study Guide
Learn what germs are, how they spread, and the best ways to stay healthy every day!
Our bodies are amazing, but sometimes tiny things called germs can make us sick. Germs are microscopic — so small you cannot see them without a microscope. There are different types of germs, including bacteria and viruses. They can spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes, through touching contaminated surfaces, or by not washing hands before eating.
The good news is that we have many ways to protect our bodies! Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one of the best defenses against germs. Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze stops germs from flying through the air. Eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables gives your body the nutrients it needs to fight off sickness.
Your body has its own army called the immune system that fights germs every day! Sleep is also super important — when you sleep, your body repairs itself and builds up its defenses. Drinking plenty of water and getting exercise helps your whole body stay strong and ready to battle any germs that come your way.
| Healthy Habit | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Wash hands with soap | Removes germs from skin before they enter your body |
| Cover coughs and sneezes | Stops germs from spreading through the air |
| Eat fruits and vegetables | Gives your immune system nutrients to fight germs |
| Get enough sleep | Lets your body repair and strengthen its defenses |
| Drink plenty of water | Keeps your body working well and flushes out waste |
Key terms
- Germ
- A tiny living thing that can cause illness — too small to see without a microscope.
- Bacteria
- A type of germ — single-celled tiny organisms, some of which cause illness.
- Virus
- A type of germ that invades cells and can cause illnesses like colds and flu.
- Immune system
- Your body's natural defense system that fights germs and keeps you healthy.
- Hygiene
- Habits that keep your body clean and healthy, like washing hands and brushing teeth.
Flashcards
- Germ
- A microscopic thing that can make you sick — types include bacteria and viruses.
- Bacteria
- A type of germ made of just one tiny cell.
- Virus
- A type of germ that invades cells and causes illnesses like colds and flu.
- Immune system
- Your body's natural defense that fights germs and keeps you healthy.
- Hygiene
- Clean habits like hand washing and brushing teeth that protect your health.
- Microscope
- A tool that makes very tiny things — like germs — large enough to see.
Practice questions
What are germs?
- Visible insects
- Tiny living things that can make us sick
- A type of food
- Clouds in the sky
Show answer
Answer: Tiny living things that can make us sick
Germs are microscopic organisms — bacteria, viruses, and fungi — that can invade the body and cause illness.
Washing your hands with soap helps remove germs.
Show answer
Answer: True
Soap breaks apart germs and loosens them from skin so water can rinse them away — 20 seconds of washing is most effective.
What does your body's immune system do?
- Makes you tired
- Fights germs to keep you healthy
- Grows your hair
- Helps you see
Show answer
Answer: Fights germs to keep you healthy
The immune system is a complex network of cells and organs that identifies and destroys harmful germs that enter the body.
Germs can spread when someone sneezes without covering their mouth.
Show answer
Answer: True
When you sneeze or cough without covering, tiny droplets carrying germs fly into the air and land on surfaces or are breathed in by others.
Habits that keep your body clean and healthy are called ___.
Show answer
Answer: hygiene
Good hygiene habits like regular hand washing, dental care, and bathing remove germs and prevent the spread of illness.
Fun facts
- There are more bacteria living on and inside your body than there are cells in your entire body — and most of them are helpful!
- Soap works by surrounding germs and breaking them apart — the water then washes them away.
- Your immune system remembers every germ it has ever defeated — that is why you rarely get the same sickness twice!
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