Chickenpox Activities for Kids
In this set of activities adaptable for grades K-3, parents and educators will find ideas for teaching about chickenpox. These activities are designed to complement the BrainPOP Jr. Chickenpox topic page, which includes a movie, quizzes, online games, printable activities, and more.
Classroom Activities for Teaching About Chickenpox
Teacher Activities
Get Well Cards
Have your class create get well cards for a sick classmate, teacher, or even patients at a local hospital. You can have students work in pairs to create a card and write a message. You may want to brainstorm different encouraging statements and talk about what kind of messages help people feel better when they’re feeling down. Then send the get well cards! You can use the Sending a Letter movie to review how to properly address an envelope.
Health Tips
Brainstorm ways people can prevent the spread germs. You may want to create a list on the board and have students add to it. Discuss when people should wash their hands—before and after they eat or use the bathroom, after playing with pets, after playing outside, and so on. Also discuss why people should use their arms to cover their noses and mouth when they sneeze and not their hands. Create a list of tips and post it in the classroom or in the school hallways to remind the students throughout the school that when they stay healthy, the whole community can stay healthy.
When I Was Sick
Have students write and perform a skit about a time when they were sick. What happened when they were sick? How did they feel and what were their symptoms? Did they go to a doctor? What did they do to feel better? Small groups can write an outline, compose the skit, rehearse, and then perform it in front of the whole class.
Family and Home Activities for Teaching About Chickenpox
Vaccinations
Discuss what vaccinations your child has received. Explain what illnesses the vaccinations are for and the general symptoms. Your child may have been too young to remember some of his or her vaccinations. Explain that while vaccinations are unpleasant, they are over quickly and can prevent serious illnesses in the future. Animals get vaccinations too! If you have a dog or a cat, you may want to discuss which vaccinations were administered to your pet. What are the advantages and disadvantages of vaccinations? Discuss with your child and make a pro-and-con chart.
Chickenpox Tale
Remind your child that no one is sure how chickenpox got its name. Have your child make up a story about how this illness got its name. Encourage your child to be funny and creative! He or she can write a short story, draw illustrations, or act out the story.
