Discovery and Science

Healthy Plants

Cavity Free Kids > Activities > Discovery and Science > Healthy Plants
13

Supplies and Preparation

  • Two flowers or plants.
  • Two vases.
  • Water.

Print PDFs:

Parent Handout - Water is Best for Your Teeth PDF

Instructions

Put one flower in a vase of water and another in an empty vase or place two healthy plants side by side and water only one. Watch them for several days.

Compare the plants and talk about what happens when flowers and plants (and children!) don’t have water to drink.

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Activity Index

Water for Thirst

Goal

Water for Thirst

Big Bites: Things You Should Know
  • Water is the best drink to keep your teeth and body healthy.
  • Water may contain fluoride, a natural mineral that helps prevent cavities.
  •  Tooth healthy foods and drinks are low in sugar and high in fiber and nutrients, such as fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meat and beans, and whole grain breads and pastas.
  • Tooth unhealthy foods and drinks are starchy and high in sugar,  such as crackers, dried fruit, chips, cookies, as well as juice and soda pop.
  • Eating tooth unhealthy foods creates an acid that attacks teeth.
  •  Continual snacking on tooth unhealthy foods or drinking juice or soda causes repeated acid attacks. Repeated acid attacks cause cavities.
  •  It is important to have meals and snacks at regularly scheduled times. This reduces the number of acid attacks on teeth. .

CFK Throughout the Day

Throughout the Classroom
  • Decorate a bulletin board with pictures of dental tools children may see at a dentist office. Label them.
  • Hang a chart in the classroom called “I had a dental check-up.” Create a thermometer visual that you color in as children get their dental check-up.
  • Set up a pretend dental office for dramatic play.   
At Meals and Snacks
  • Ask:  Who’s been to the dentist?  What do you remember about the visit?
While Brushing Teeth
  • Be a role model.  Brush your teeth with the children to show you take care of your teeth too.
  • Talk about making tiny, tickly circles with a toothbrush to clean the food and germs away.
  • Give each child an “I brushed my teeth today” sticker to wear home Tell children the dentist will be so proud of them when he sees how well they have been brushing.
  • Have children pretend their brushes are like the special spinning toothbrush the dentist uses and make a humming noise while they brush.
During Transitions
  • When children are getting ready to go home, put a sticker on each child that says, “Today I learned about visiting the dentist!”

 

Activities for Early Learning