Lesson Plan: The Dirty History of Soap/Lending a Clean Hand

Guide students to read the articles. Once they understand them well, discuss the following close-reading and critical-thinking questions.

Close-Reading Questions (20 minutes)

• In the introduction to the first article, you learn that King Louis XIV smelled bad and rarely bathed. Why do you think the author includes this information in the beginning of the text? (author’s craft) The author probably includes this information in the beginning of the article to grab the reader’s attention. The difference between personal hygiene habits in the past and those of today is shocking.
• Reread the section “Smelly = Safe.” In the past, why did many people in Europe avoid bathing? (cause and effect) There were two reasons people avoided bathing. First, it was too expensive for most people. Only the wealthy could afford soap. Second, they believed bathing was unhealthy. They thought dirt on the skin blocked diseases from getting into the body.
• Reread the section “Invisible Enemies.” What did scientists discover in the late 1800s that changed how people thought about disease and cleanliness? (cause and effect) Scientists discovered that tiny, invisible germs cause illness, but washing can get rid of germs and keep people healthy. When people understood this, washing up became a part of daily life.
• The article “Lending a Clean Hand” explains how Jayden Perez saw a problem and helped solve it. What was the problem, and how did he help solve it? (problem and solution) Jayden realized that many people couldn’t find hand sanitizer to protect themselves from Covid-19. He managed to get 1,500 spray bottles of it and donated them.
• What is the difference between hand sanitizer and soap? What is useful about each product? (compare and contrast) Both products kill germs so they can’t make you sick, but soap also removes them from your hands when you rinse them. Soap is more effective, but hand sanitizer is useful when you’re not able to get to a sink to wash with soap and water.

Critical-Thinking Questions (10 minutes)

• Since soap was first invented about 5,000 years ago, how has the way people keep clean changed? Use information from both articles in your answer. (synthesizing) Even though soap was invented about 5,000 years ago, people didn’t often use it on their bodies because it was harsh and smelly. Instead, they cleaned themselves with products like rice water, crushed-up plants, or oil and sand. But many didn’t wash at all because they believed it was unhealthy. By the late 1800s, people realized that washing with soap and water could help keep them healthy. Today, we wash with soap and water to stay clean and healthy or use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available.
• How did Jayden Perez’s donation of hand sanitizer support people in his community, aside from helping them keep clean? What can we learn from his actions? (making connections) Jayden showed people in his community that he cared about them and that they weren’t facing a big problem alone. We can learn that by being thoughtful and generous, like Jayden, one person can help a community. Also, he set an example by pulling together with his community to help people feel better in a crisis.

• Have students work in pairs or small groups to complete the Synthesizing Skill Builder.  (Click here to view all of your Skill Builders.)
• Writing Prompt: Imagine that you could travel back in time to the 1600s, bringing modern soap and hand sanitizer with you. What would you tell dirty King Louis XIV about washing up? Write a short speech (one or two paragraphs) explaining how people’s ideas about keeping ourselves clean have changed over time. Use details from the two articles, but also use  your imagination to add details about your time-traveling visit to France. Have fun!