WHACK The Flu!

Pre-K – 5 School Health Flu Prevention Program

WHACK the Flu Activity Booklet #1005 is available again. Order by using the form below.

Order Form for Free WHACK the Flu Materials

Order Form for Free Handwashing and Infection Prevention Materials

WHACK the Flu is a community education program being adapted for Missouri schools from programs originally developed by California’s City of Berkeley and Napa County Public Health Divisions.  The program teaches school children how to help protect themselves and others from illness by using effective hygiene habits, such as how to wash hands appropriately and to cover their coughs and sneezes. The ultimate goal of the program is the reduction of illnesses spread through improper hygiene which should decrease absences in school and workplaces. 

The WHACK the Flu program is available with downloadable educational materials such as a skit, song, and posters for pre-K – 5 classrooms. Older students, school staff, or community volunteers can be recruited and trained to perform the entertaining, yet educational, 5-minute classroom skit.

Although “WHACK” may just sound like a silly action word, it contains essential prevention messages.  The acronym is used for its appeal to children and stands for: 

W: Wash your hands often;
H:  Home is where you stay when you are sick;
A:  Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
C:  Cover your coughs and sneezes;
K:  Keep your distance from people who are coughing or sneezing.

• Classroom Skit
  English     Spanish
• Classroom Poster 
  English 11 x 17      Spanish 11 x 17
  English 8.5 x 11     Spanish 8.5 x 11
• Activity Booklet
• Bookmark
• School Recruitment Flyer (Flu Facts)
• Teacher Evaluation Form
• Order Form
• Activity Worksheet for Kids 
• The Handwashing Song 
• Sticker Logo 
• WHACK the Flu Program Flyer 
• Handwashing and Infection Prevention Materials
• Napa County Public Health Division’s WHACK the Flu website (includes Spanish materials) 

More Classroom Activities:
CDC's School Network for Absenteeism Prevention–Check out SNAP Toolkit for middle school curriculum on handwashing.

Sink Those Germs Wash Your Hands! Youth Handwashing Education Program

For additional information about the WHACK the Flu program, please contact Alyce Turner, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, 573-751-6113, or email: Alyce.Turner@dhss.mo.gov.