Lamas, Maria C.Lago, Carla2023-05-052023-05-052018-09Lamas, M. C., & Lago, C. (2018). Health literacy: The importance of experimental activities in the 1st cycle of basic education: report of an educational intervention on hand hygiene. Proceedings of the 4th IPLeiria’s International Health Congress, BMC Health Services Research 18(Suppl 2), 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3444-81472-6963http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/22762Primary school students usually have very little previous knowledge about a number of educational issues. So, it is important to create moments where the students can tell whatever they know about a subject, in order to make an additional scientific explanation. The program of the 1st cycle of basic education aims to develop an attitude of permanent research and experimentation, and the part “The health of your body”, to produce knowledge and the application of norms of body hygiene. However, the contents expressed in the textbooks for these levels of education do not justify the need for children to adopt these hygiene habits, which must be acquired as early as possible, to be a systematic routine throughout life. On the other hand, it allows to eradicate some of the alternative conceptions that some 1st cycle students present on some issues, as the notion about the morphological view of microorganisms away from reality, idealizing them similar to animals. There is evidence that children are able to learn about microorganisms at this age and it is desirable that it occurs as early as possible, avoiding late conceptual changes that are difficult to reconstruct in their entirety. For some authors, children should realize that the know ledge learned in the classroom can be applied in their daily lives.engHygieneHandwashing1st cycleMonitored supportMicrorganismsconference object10.1186/s12913-018-3444-8