Timmy's Adventure in the Tooth Kingdom - Dental Health Lesson Plan

Dental Health Lesson Plan for Ages 3-6 | Duration: 30 minutes | Health & Wellness Focus

Learning Objectives

Understand the importance of daily teeth brushing and good dental hygiene
Identify foods that are healthy and unhealthy for teeth
Learn basic dental vocabulary (cavity, plaque, enamel, etc.)
Develop proper tooth brushing technique

Materials Needed

Copy of "Timmy's Adventure in the Tooth Kingdom" story
Large tooth model or diagram
Toothbrushes (one per student, or clean craft toothbrushes)
Hard-boiled eggs soaked in dark soda overnight (optional demonstration)
Chart paper and markers
Printable "Healthy Smile Calendar" for each student
Dental health pictures/flashcards

Lesson Structure

Introduction (5 minutes)

Gather students in a circle and ask: "Who visited the dentist recently?" and "Who knows what job a dentist does?"
Show students a large tooth model or diagram and briefly identify the parts of a tooth.
Tell students they will be hearing a story about a boy named Timmy who goes on an adventure to the Tooth Kingdom.

Story Reading (10 minutes)

Read "Timmy's Adventure in the Tooth Kingdom" aloud, showing illustrations.
As you read, emphasize the parts where Timmy and Topsy fight the Sugar Bugs.
Pause occasionally to ask simple comprehension questions:
- "Who is Topsy?" (Timmy's talking toothbrush)
- "What were the Sugar Bugs doing?" (Making holes in teeth)
- "How did Timmy help save the Tooth Kingdom?" (By brushing away the Sugar Bugs)

Tooth Brushing Practice (10 minutes)

Show students the proper way to brush teeth using the large tooth model.
Demonstrate circular motions, gentle pressure, and reaching all surfaces.
Give each student a toothbrush (or craft toothbrush) to practice on the model or on their own.
Sing a short "brushing song" to time the practice (about 2 minutes long).
Optional: If using the egg demonstration, show students how brushing can clean the stained eggshell (representing a tooth with plaque).

Food Sorting Activity (5 minutes)

Show pictures of different foods and have students sort them into "Tooth Friendly" and "Sugar Bug Foods" categories.
Discuss why certain foods are better for teeth (vegetables, cheese, milk) versus those that can harm teeth (candy, soda, sticky sweets).
Create a class chart of foods from both categories.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

Review key points from the story and activities:
- Brush teeth twice a day (morning and night)
- Limit sugary foods and drinks
- Visit the dentist regularly
Distribute "Healthy Smile Calendar" for students to track their tooth brushing at home.
Remind students to be "Tooth Heroes" like Timmy by fighting the Sugar Bugs every day.

Extension Activities

Create a classroom "Tooth Fairy Mail" station where students can write letters about dental health
Have students draw pictures of their favorite parts of the Tooth Kingdom from the story
Set up a dental health dramatic play center with toothbrushes, mirrors, and white coats
Conduct the classic "egg in soda" experiment over several days to demonstrate tooth decay

Healthy Smile Calendar

Below is a sample week from the Healthy Smile Calendar students will take home:

Day	Morning Brush	Evening Brush
Monday	☐	☐
Tuesday	☐	☐
Wednesday	☐	☐
Thursday	☐	☐
Friday	☐	☐
Saturday	☐	☐
Sunday	☐	☐

Assessment

Observation of student participation during the tooth brushing practice
Ability to correctly sort foods into "Tooth Friendly" and "Sugar Bug Foods" categories
Completion of the take-home "Healthy Smile Calendar" (to be returned after one week)
Verbal responses to comprehension questions about the story

Curriculum Standards Alignment

Health Education:

Understand the importance of personal health and hygiene practices
Identify ways to prevent common childhood health problems
Recognize the connection between healthy habits and well-being

Literacy:

Retell key details from a text
Make connections between a story and personal experience
Learn and use domain-specific vocabulary

Notes for Teachers

This lesson is designed to be engaging and age-appropriate for younger children. The story of Timmy and his adventure helps make dental hygiene fun rather than a chore. Consider sending a note home to parents prior to this lesson to inform them of the dental health focus and encourage reinforcement at home.

If any students share anxieties about visiting the dentist, use this as an opportunity to discuss how dentists help keep our teeth healthy, just like the tooth kingdom characters in the story.

For printable versions of the Healthy Smile Calendar and food sorting cards, visit the Clumsy & Friends teacher resource portal at www.clumsyandfriends.com/teachers.