Nurse Helpers Teacher Guide Kindergarten Health & Safety
Nurse Helpers Teacher Guide
30 Minutes Total
Kindergarten (Ages 5–6)
Learning Objectives
• Identify Nurse Visits: Distinguish between urgent body needs (fever, deep cuts, vomiting, head bumps) requiring the nurse and minor comforts.
• Recognize Classroom Fixes: Identify issues solvable in class (tiny paper cut, loose tooth that doesn't hurt, thirst, shoe untied).
• The Golden Safety Rule: Always tell the teacher or classroom adult before leaving the room for any reason.
Materials Needed
• Lesson Slide Deck (6 visual slides)
• Student Sorting Activity Sheet
• Scissors & glue sticks (or crayons)
• 1 Classroom Band-Aid (demo prop)
Zero-prep ready-to-teach
30-Minute Master Pacing Schedule
0:00 - 0:05 (5m)
Hook & Warm-Up
Mystery backpack & body clues intro
0:05 - 0:15 (10m)
Interactive Slides
Nurse Office vs. Classroom Fix scenarios
0:15 - 0:25 (10m)
Sorting Activity
Hands-on cut & paste or circle cards
0:25 - 0:30 (5m)
Wrap-Up & Pledge
Chant the Golden Rule & exit check
1 Warm-Up Hook: "Who is Our School Nurse?" (5 Minutes)
Whole Group Carpet
Gather students on the carpet. Hold up a bandage or ice pack. Ask: "Have you ever had a scrape or felt your forehead burning hot? Who in our school is the superhero helper who takes care of sick and hurt bodies?"
Teacher Script: "The school nurse has a very special job: keeping our bodies safe, healthy, and ready to learn. But the nurse is super busy taking care of real medical emergencies. Today, we become Nurse Office Helpers so we know when to get the nurse and when we can fix things right here together!"
2 Slide Presentation: "The Body Clue Check" (10 Minutes)
Slide Deck Display
Project the slide deck. Walk through the clear visual split between Green Flag (Classroom Fix) and Red Cross (Nurse Office) .
• Slide 2 & 3: Contrast a small paper scrape (Classroom Band-Aid) vs. a big bump or heavy bleeding (Nurse!).
• Slide 4: Contrast feeling thirsty or tired vs. actual tummy throwing up or fever (Nurse!).
• Slide 5: Highlight "The Golden Rule" — Always tell your teacher first. Never wander out alone.
Nurse Office Helpers — Kindergarten Health Curriculum Page 1 of 2
Facilitation & Management
Activity Guide & Differentiation
Part 2 of 2
3 Sorting Activity: Hands-on Practice (10 Minutes)
Table Work / Pairs
Distribute the Nurse Helpers Sorting Activity . Explain the two sides of the sorting mat:
Classroom Care
Drink water, quick bandaid from teacher box, rest head for 2 minutes, tissue for a sneeze.
School Nurse Visit
Fever forehead, vomiting / throwing up, head bump, bad fall with swelling, breathing trouble.
Time-saver option: Students can color or circle pictures using Green crayon (Classroom) and Red crayon (Nurse) instead of cutting!
4 Wrap-Up & The "Tell First" Pledge (5 Minutes)
Closing Circle
Call students back to the circle. Practice the Call-and-Response Chant :
Teacher: "If your body hurts or aches..."Students: "Tell a grown-up, that's what it takes!" Teacher: "Do we ever walk away alone?"Students: "No! We check with teacher first!"
Common Kindergarten Misconceptions & How to Respond
Misconception: "I want to visit the nurse for a sticker or prize."
Response: The nurse's office is a clinic for sick bodies, not a toy shop. If we go when we aren't sick, the nurse can't help truly sick friends.
Misconception: "My tummy hurts (nervous / anxious / tired)."
Response: Normalize "butterfly tummy." Try deep belly breathing, a sip of cold water, and a cozy book corner before assuming a virus.
Misconception: "My tooth is wiggly!"
Response: Wiggle teeth are natural! Unless it is bleeding heavily from an accident, teeth fall out naturally at home or in class.
Misconception: "I can just walk to the nurse alone."
Response: Emphasize that teachers are responsible for their safety. Always get a nurse pass and buddy if needed!
Differentiation Strategies
• Emergent / ELL: Use thumbs-up / thumbs-down gestural prompts; rely on picture symbols on the sorting mat.
• Fine-Motor Support: Pre-cut picture cards or use dot-markers / stickers to match categories.
• Advanced: Ask students to role-play how they would politely ask their teacher for a nurse pass.
Formative Check Checklist
Student knows 2 signs of needing the nurse (fever, vomit, deep cut).
Student knows small scratches get a classroom bandage.
Student verbally states: "I will tell my teacher first."
Nurse Office Helpers — Kindergarten Health Curriculum Page 2 of 2
Nurse Helpers Slides Kindergarten Health & Safety
30-Minute Body Care Guide
Nurse Office Helpers!
When do we visit the school nurse, and when can we fix it right in class?
1 Check Your Body
➔
2 Tell Your Teacher
➔
3 Get the Right Care
Meet Our School Nurse!
A special helper who keeps all students healthy
Slide 2 of 6
Checks Fevers
Uses a special thermometer when your head feels super warm or chills shake you.
Helps Big Owies
Provides ice packs, cleans big scrapes, and wraps bandages for tough bumps.
Calls Home
Calls your parents or grown-ups if your body needs to rest at home in bed.
✨ Remember: The nurse is very busy taking care of students who are truly sick or injured!
Classroom Fix! (Stay & Learn)
We have tools right here in our classroom!
Green Light
Tiny Paper Cut
Wash with clean soap & water, grab a classroom band-aid!
Thirsty or Tired
Take 5 slow deep breaths and drink a cool cup of water.
Wiggly Tooth
If it doesn't hurt or bleed, teeth wiggle until ready!
One Sneezed Tissue
Blow nose gently in tissue, toss in bin, wash hands!
🌟 You solved it! You get to stay and have fun learning with friends!
Nurse Office Visit! (Needs Nurse Care)
When your body needs special medical care
Nurse Pass
Hot Forehead / Fever
Forehead feels burning hot, shivering, or feeling sick all over.
Vomiting / Throwing Up
Severe upset stomach where you feel like you might throw up.
Head Bump or Big Fall
Bumping your head hard or swollen owies needing cold ice.
Cut That Won't Stop
Bleeding that doesn't stop with a single tissue or small wrap.
🚨 Tell your teacher immediately so they can send you to the nurse safely!
The Golden Safety Rule!
What do you do BEFORE going anywhere?
#1 Rule
1
STOP
Freeze your feet! Never wander into the hallway by yourself.
2
TELL
Tell your classroom teacher or recess adult how your body feels.
3
PASS & BUDDY
Take your nurse hall pass and walk safely with a friend helper!
Nurse Helpers Sorting Activity Nurse Helpers Sorting Mat
Where does each body need go?
Name:
Date:
Directions: Cut out the 6 cards on Page 2. Paste each picture into the right home: Classroom Care (we fix it together in class) or Nurse Office (needs our school nurse)!
Classroom Care
3 Cards
Paper cuts, drinks of water, rest, wiggly teeth.
1
Glue Classroom Card Here
2
Glue Classroom Card Here
3
Glue Classroom Card Here
Nurse Office
3 Cards
Fevers, throwing up, hard head bumps, heavy owies.
1
Glue Nurse Card Here
2
Glue Nurse Card Here
3
Glue Nurse Card Here
Golden Safety Pledge:
What is the very first thing you do if your body hurts?
Tell My Teacher Walk Away Alone
Scenario Cutout Cards
Cut out each card carefully along the dashed gray lines
Page 2 of 2
Ask yourself: "Can a teacher help me fix this in class, or do I need Nurse helper tools?"
6 Picture Cards
Card A
Tiny Paper Cut
A tiny scratch on your finger while doing crafts. It doesn't hurt and only needs a small band-aid.
Cut along line
Card B
Hot Forehead & Fever
Your forehead is burning hot, your cheeks are bright red, and your whole body has the shivers.
Cut along line
Card C
Super Thirsty
You ran fast playing tag at recess. Your throat feels dry and you need cool water from your bottle.
Cut along line
Card D
Hard Head Bump
You bumped your head hard on the playground equipment. It hurts badly and is swelling up.
Cut along line
Card E
Loose Wiggly Tooth
Your front tooth wiggles back and forth when you touch it. It does not hurt or bleed at all.
Cut along line
Card F
Throwing Up Sick
Your belly feels very upset and crampy, your mouth waters, and you feel like you are about to vomit.
Cut along line
Nurse Office Helpers — Kindergarten Activity Sheet Cut & Match with Page 1
Nurse Helpers Answer Key Teacher Reference Kindergarten Health
Nurse Helpers Answer Key
Full Solution & Rubric
Key Objective Check: Students must demonstrate understanding that minor discomforts are handled in class with classroom resources, while systemic sickness or serious injuries require the school nurse.
Classroom Care (3)
Stay in Room
Card A Classroom Band-Aid
Tiny Paper Cut
Why: Soap and water wash + small classroom band-aid stops minor air stinging. No nurse pass needed.
Card C Rest & Hydrate
Super Thirsty
Why: Thirst and post-recess fatigue are remedied with classroom water bottles and a 2-minute seated rest.
Card E Normal Milestone
Loose Wiggly Tooth
Why: Natural tooth shedding requires no medical intervention unless bleeding profusely or struck by trauma.
Nurse Office (3)
Clinic Pass
Card B Thermometer / Sick
Hot Forehead & Fever
Why: Fever indicates contagion and physical distress; requires clinic temp log and parent notification.
Card D Head Injury Check
Hard Head Bump
Why: Any direct head impact requires ice pack, nurse concussion protocol observation, and parent incident call.
Card F Biohazard / Illness
Throwing Up Sick
Why: Acute gastrointestinal sickness requires nurse isolation cot, sanitation, and immediate pickup.
★
Golden Safety Pledge Solution: "What is the first thing you do if your body hurts?"
Tell My Teacher (CORRECT)
Walk Away Alone
Quick Scoring Rubric
• Mastery (6/6 cards + pledge): Ready to Helper
• Developing (4-5/6 cards): Review paper cut / tooth
• Re-teach (< 4 cards or pledge missed): 1-on-1 slide review
Quick Conference Prompts
If a child places "Wiggly Tooth" in Nurse Office: "Does your tooth bleed or hurt right now? No? Then your tooth is just saying hello to the tooth fairy! You can stay and sing songs with us!"
Nurse Office Helpers — Teacher Answer Key & Scoring Guide Page 1 of 1
