Teachers' zone
About Sneezesafe* stories
Story 1: Suki’s got a cold
This story answers a number of key questions:
- What is a cold?
- How do we feel when we catch a cold?
- What causes cold and flu?
- What are germs?
The Sneezesafe* story starts with Suki Sneeze having a cold and saying how she feels. The cold germ is then introduced and shown to be too small to see. It is explained and demonstrated that cold germs spread through the air and on objects through hand-to-face contacts and can make us ill if they get into our bodies.
Story 2: Stop the germs!
The story covers the following themes:
- How incorrect nose blowing (e.g. wiping a runny nose on a sleeve) sneezing or coughing can spread cold and flu germs
- How cold and flu germs can move through the air
- How these germs can be passed on from objects or contact with other people when an infected person coughs or sneezes and through hand-to-face contacts
- How these germs can be passed on from objects or when an infected person coughs or sneezes and through hand to face contact
Nathan Noseblow is the villain here because he sneezes into the air and we see nasty cold germs spreading. Nathan then sniffs and wipes his runny nose on his sleeve, spreading more cold germs onto a desk. Finally he coughs without covering his mouth with a tissue, resulting in spreading more germs on a pencil which Suki picks up. Suki catches Nathan’s cold because he did not use tissues when he has a runny nose, coughs and sneezes and he doesn’t wash his hands afterwards.
Story 3: Tissues to the rescue!
The story covers the following themes:
- What happens when we use a tissue with a cold?
- How using a tissue can help stop germs from spreading
- How to blow your nose properly
Story 3 shows Nathan and Suki carrying out all the correct behaviours with respect to respiratory hygiene. Nathan and Suki both have a cold now but this time Nathan blows his nose with a tissue when he has a runny nose. Suki covers her mouth with a tissue when coughing. They are then shown throwing the used tissues in the bin and washing their hands carefully. The screens show pupils how to blow their nose properly and reinforce appropriate behaviours, contrasting them with inappropriate ones. It finishes with tips about where to keep tissues handy.
