Noting that primary prevention of contagious diseases includes teaching young children and their caregivers about personal hygiene behavior, this paper presents a lesson for teaching handwashing to young children in preschool and early elementary grades using a variety of fun and low-cost techniques. The learning objectives for the lesson are that students will: identify the five most important times to wash their hands, demonstrate proper handwashing technique, and practice washing their hands correctly at appropriate times during the school day. Materials for the lesson are presented. Methods for the lesson include singing songs, playing games, completing activity sheets, and using guided practice. Assessment criteria are also described. (KB)