This article identifies resources available to help teach antimicrobial stewardship for kids. Included in these resources there are links to activity sets, lesson guides, video games, videos, and more.
Authored by: Timothy P. Gauthier, Pharm.D., BCPS-AQ ID
[Last updated: 24 November 2019]
Antimicrobial stewardship is becoming a more familiar term within healthcare settings and infection control has long been key to controlling outbreaks, but the importance of these topics goes beyond the wall of medical institutions.
When it comes to antimicrobial stewardship for kids, as a father of two small children I have wondered how they will learn about microbes, hand hygiene, antibiotics, and other science-related topics. After a little consideration on this topic it became clear that I do not need to wait for someone else to teach them, I can get them started early myself!
As a lesson in life I have learned that the easiest way to get something done is to see what others have done before you and adapt it to your needs. That is the inspiration for this article. Here, resources for teaching kids about hand hygiene, microbes, and science in general are identified. I may be using them to teach my children, perhaps you may find some useful for teaching yours.
Note that inclusion within this list does not necessarily reflect an an endorsement of the product(s).
1. e-Bug
Link is here.
e-Bug is a free set of educational resources operated by Public Health England. They can be used in the classroom or the home to learn more about microorganisms as well as the spread, prevention and treatment of infection.
There is a ton of content provided, which includes areas for teachers and learners. There is a section specifically geared towards junior schools (available here). The content is comprehensive, including videos, handouts, lesson plans, powerpoint presentations, photographs, and more.
2. Do Bugs Need Drugs?
Link is here.
This is a program run by the Alberta Health Services and the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. Similar to e-Bug, it offers a wide range of resources for a variety of learners.
There is a kindergarten through Grade 3 section that provides grade-specific lesson plans and activities here. It includes flash cards about how to wash your hands, flash cards about when to wash your hands, images to color, songs about hygiene, and much more.
The site also hosts a section of games for kids, available here.
3. Kentucky Antibiotic Awareness Kids Activities
Link is here, select the “materials and resources” tab.
Brought to you by the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Louisville, this website offers an activity book, printable stickers, and provides a link to the below CDC activity book. Their activity book is just 5 pages, but it is very well done. The stickers are pretty cool, but I am not sure kids would be too excited about them as it is just one design.
4. CDC Flu Activity Book
Link is here.
This resource provides 16 pages of content and has been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The activity book centers around Ready Wrigley who is a dog that teaches people about staying protected from the flu. There are numerous pictures to color, a crossword puzzle, a connect the dots photo, a song, a maze, and more.
5. Pacificare’s Antibiotic Resistance Activity Kit
Link is here.
This simple and printable 12-page packet includes images for coloring, a crossword puzzle, a song to learn about washing your hands, quick hygiene facts, a fill in the blank game, a word scramble, and a maze.
This is a nice resource, because individual pages can be printed that correspond with the learning level for the child.
6. The American Society for Microbiology’s Modeling the Rise of Resistance
Link is here.
This resource is for grades 9-12, so it is more geared towards young adults. It provides information on natural selection and how it relates to antibiotic resistance.
7. Various kids books
- The Invisible ABCs: Exploring the World of Microbes
- This book goes from A through Z providing simple information from the world of microbiology
- Do Not Lick This Book
- This book follows Min the Microbe to teach kids more about what we can’t see with the naked eye
- Organic Chemistry for Babies
- This book provides a simple introduction to carbon containing compounds and materials
8. Other neat things
- Glow Germ
- Glow germ is a visual tool for teaching hand hygiene that glows when it has not been completely washed from your hands
- Giant Microbes
- Giant microbes are large stuffed animals meant to mirror the shapes and patterns of microorganisms
Have another resource that may fit on this list? You can let us know here.
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