What others say
Description
Looking for a meaningful back to school classroom community activity? This toothpaste lesson is the perfect way to help students understand the lasting impact of hurtful words.
In this activity, students compare the difficulty of putting toothpaste back into the tube with the challenge of taking back unkind words once they’ve been spoken. This powerful visual metaphor makes the lesson memorable and helps encourage kindness, empathy, and respect in your classroom.
Ideal for elementary and middle school students, this activity works beautifully during the first week of school to set expectations for classroom culture and reinforce positive relationships.
✅ What’s Included:
- Detailed Teacher Lesson Plan (2 pages) – includes learning goals, materials list, and step-by-step directions
- Three Toothpaste Examples – to guide your demonstration
- Student Reflection Purpose – helps learners make meaningful connections and apply the lesson
Why Teachers Love This Lesson:
- Perfect back to school icebreaker or community builder
- Low-prep and simple to set up – all you need is toothpaste and a toothpick
- Encourages students to think before they speak
- Creates a strong foundation for positive classroom management
Quick Prep:
Just print the lesson plan, grab a tube of toothpaste and a toothpick, and you’re ready to go!
This activity is a powerful reminder that words matter—and an essential part of building a respectful, caring classroom.
TEACHERS LIKE YOU SAID...
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Taylor S: This was a great learning activity! I have done a similar lesson to this in a different form and I found this activity to be extremely engaging to the students. They fully understood the concept that I was getting across to them.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Austin Y: This lesson is a life skill. OH MY GOSH my students were all about it, so engaged and totally understood the life lesson behind it at the end of the activity. I LOVED this, it also brought out some amazing discussions. Get this for back to school or if you need to regroup and re-focus the classroom environment!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Kimberly F: My students loved this activity. We did it in the very beginning of the year, and I think it made an impact on them. They still talk about this.
Check out our other great Back to School resources by clicking on each name below!
Morning Routines and Activities
Back to School Procedures Bundled Unit
Get to Know Your Students Activity Cards
Be the first to know about discounts, freebies and new resources!
- Click the green star to get email notifications about new resources and sales.
- Join our newsletter.
- Find our blog – Creativity in the Modern Classroom or follow us on Facebook.
Copyright © Wise Guys
All rights reserved by author.
Permission to copy for single classroom use only.
Not for public display.
Please purchase additional licenses if you intend to share this product.
Highlights
What others say
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Description
Looking for a meaningful back to school classroom community activity? This toothpaste lesson is the perfect way to help students understand the lasting impact of hurtful words.
In this activity, students compare the difficulty of putting toothpaste back into the tube with the challenge of taking back unkind words once they’ve been spoken. This powerful visual metaphor makes the lesson memorable and helps encourage kindness, empathy, and respect in your classroom.
Ideal for elementary and middle school students, this activity works beautifully during the first week of school to set expectations for classroom culture and reinforce positive relationships.
✅ What’s Included:
- Detailed Teacher Lesson Plan (2 pages) – includes learning goals, materials list, and step-by-step directions
- Three Toothpaste Examples – to guide your demonstration
- Student Reflection Purpose – helps learners make meaningful connections and apply the lesson
Why Teachers Love This Lesson:
- Perfect back to school icebreaker or community builder
- Low-prep and simple to set up – all you need is toothpaste and a toothpick
- Encourages students to think before they speak
- Creates a strong foundation for positive classroom management
Quick Prep:
Just print the lesson plan, grab a tube of toothpaste and a toothpick, and you’re ready to go!
This activity is a powerful reminder that words matter—and an essential part of building a respectful, caring classroom.
TEACHERS LIKE YOU SAID...
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Taylor S: This was a great learning activity! I have done a similar lesson to this in a different form and I found this activity to be extremely engaging to the students. They fully understood the concept that I was getting across to them.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Austin Y: This lesson is a life skill. OH MY GOSH my students were all about it, so engaged and totally understood the life lesson behind it at the end of the activity. I LOVED this, it also brought out some amazing discussions. Get this for back to school or if you need to regroup and re-focus the classroom environment!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Kimberly F: My students loved this activity. We did it in the very beginning of the year, and I think it made an impact on them. They still talk about this.
Check out our other great Back to School resources by clicking on each name below!
Morning Routines and Activities
Back to School Procedures Bundled Unit
Get to Know Your Students Activity Cards
Be the first to know about discounts, freebies and new resources!
- Click the green star to get email notifications about new resources and sales.
- Join our newsletter.
- Find our blog – Creativity in the Modern Classroom or follow us on Facebook.
Copyright © Wise Guys
All rights reserved by author.
Permission to copy for single classroom use only.
Not for public display.
Please purchase additional licenses if you intend to share this product.
Reviews
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Thank you for your feedback! Make sure to follow our store for more great resources to use in your classroom!
