Shop Subscribe

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Schoolyard Blog | Teacher Resources | School Specialty

Tips and trending topics for the teacher who's always learning

schoolyard-logo
  • Education Essentials
  • Inspiration & Planning
  • Learning Spaces
  • Podcasts
  • Topics
  • Search
  • < Previous post
    Next post >
    Children are brushing their teeth in the bathroom at home. The mother is checking the little boy's mouth to make sure he has brushed properly.

    Celebrations & Themes

    Celebrate National Smile Month All Year

    National Smile Month, which occurs from mid-May through mid-June, is an oral health campaign focused on the importance of proper dental hygiene. Even though the celebration occurs at the end of the school year, when most teachers have many other things going on, it’s easy to slip some oral health lessons into the day. Plus, by getting kids excited about healthy smiles, you can revisit this topic at any time of the year.

    The Benefits of Smiling

    Most teachers are well aware of both the basic principles and the importance of dental hygiene. But there are fresh new angles you can use to spark students’ interest in this topic. For example, did you know that the sheer act of smiling offers health benefits? Smiles, even fake ones–prompt the body to release “feel good” hormones including endorphins and serotonin. This can reduce stress and promote positive thinking. Smiles also improve social skills, making people more approachable.

    Lessons and Activities

    There are many ways to make dental hygiene engaging and exciting for kids. Most children are naturally curious about their bodies, and learning more about the mouth, teeth, and tongue can be fun for them. Following are some ideas for incorporating oral health lessons all through the school year.

    • Invite a dentist or dental hygienist to speak to the class, preferably with visual aids such as a slideshow or props.
    • Create a classroom smile matching game: take close-up shots of students smiling, crop out everything but the mouth, then have kids match smiles to full pictures of faces.
    • Plan some short puppet theater plays involving dental hygiene, such as teeth brushing, visits to the dentist, and healthy food choices.
    • Make a tooth-themed craft, using thumbprint art, modeling clay, or even mini marshmallows for teeth.
    • Print out some dental-themed crossword puzzles, word searches, mazes, and other activity sheets and make them available to kids during downtime, such as when they finish their work early.
    • Have students write healthy dental hygiene tips they’ve learned.

    To learn how to get involved in National Smile Month or find an event near you, visit the official National Smile Month website.

    What are your favorite dental hygiene and oral health activities for the classroom?

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Recommended

    Famous Left-Handed People

    Celebrations & Themes

    Famous Left-Handed People

    Flag Day History and a Craft

    Celebrations & Themes

    Flag Day History and a Craft

    Celebrate Our Nation’s Youngest Learners During Week of the Young Child®

    Early Childhood

    Celebrate Our Nation’s Youngest Learners During Week of the Young Child®

    New Products for Every Learning Space in 2025

    Teacher Life

    New Products for Every Learning Space in 2025

    Explore The Schoolyard

    Education Essentials

    Inspiration & Planning

    Learning Spaces

     

    TopicsShop Subscribe

    Copyright © 2025 School Specialty, LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement · Social Media Statement · Do Not Sell My Personal Information - CA Resident Only

  • CATEGORIES

    • Education Essentials
    • Inspiration & Planning
    • Learning Spaces
  • TOPICS

    • Arts & Crafts
    • Early Childhood
    • Special Needs
    • Physical Education
    • Educational Technology
    • Student Resources
    • Organization & Storage
    • Classroom Management
    • STEAM & STEM
    • 21st Century Learning
    • Reading & Literacy
    • Healthy Students
    • Teacher Life
    • Back to School
    • Celebrations & Seasons
    • Out of School
    • News
    • Math
    • Science
    • Podcasts
    • Topics
    • Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube