Lesson Plan for Primary 6 - Home Economics - Simple Food Preservation And Storage.

### Lesson Plan: Simple Food Preservation and Storage **Grade Level:** Primary 6 **Subject:** Home Economics **Duration:** 60 minutes **Topic:** Simple Food Preservation and Storage #### Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1. Define food preservation and its importance. 2. Identify and explain different simple methods of food preservation. 3. Demonstrate basic techniques of food preservation and storage. #### Materials Needed: - Whiteboard and markers - Chart paper and markers - Samples of preserved foods (e.g., dried fruits, pickles) - Sealable plastic bags, jars, and containers - Salt, sugar, vinegar - Fruits and vegetables for demonstration - Printed handouts on food preservation methods - Video clip on food preservation (optional) - Worksheet for assessment #### Lesson Outline: 1. **Introduction (10 minutes)** - Begin with a brief discussion on what food preservation is. - Ask students why they think it is important to preserve food. - Write their responses on the whiteboard and supplement with additional points: - Prevents food spoilage - Extends shelf life - Maintains nutritional value - Reduces food waste 2. **Explanation of Different Methods (20 minutes)** - Display a chart with various methods of food preservation: - **Refrigeration and Freezing:** Slows down the growth of bacteria. - **Drying:** Removes moisture from food, which bacteria need to grow. - **Salting:** Uses salt to remove moisture and create an inhospitable environment for bacteria. - **Sugaring (Canning):** Uses sugar and heat to preserve fruits. - **Pickling:** Uses vinegar or brine to preserve food by creating an acidic environment. - Discuss each method with examples. Show samples where applicable. - Optional: Play a short video clip on food preservation methods. 3. **Demonstration (15 minutes)** - Choose two simple methods to demonstrate in class (e.g., drying and pickling) - Drying: Show how to dry fruits using a simple method such as air drying or using a dehydrator. - Pickling: Demonstrate how to pickle vegetables using vinegar and salt. - Encourage students to participate and ask questions during the demonstration. 4. **Activity (10 minutes)** - Divide students into groups. - Each group will be given materials to perform a simple preservation technique. - Group 1: Prepare a simple salting method for vegetables. - Group 2: Make a small jar of sugar-preserved fruit. - Other groups as needed: Depending on class size and time, more methods can be demonstrated. 5. **Discussion and Recap (5 minutes)** - Bring the class back together and ask each group to briefly present what they did and learned. - Highlight key points on the whiteboard. - Answer any final questions students may have. 6. **Assessment (5 minutes)** - Hand out a worksheet with questions about the different methods of food preservation. - Questions might include multiple-choice, short answer, and matching methods to their descriptions. #### Homework: Ask students to go home and observe or participate in a food preservation activity with their family. They should write a short paragraph on what method they used, how it was done, and what they learned from it. #### Extension: - Plan a field trip to a local farm or food processing unit where students can see larger-scale preservation techniques in action. - Invite a local chef or food preservation expert to give a talk or demonstration. #### Notes: Make sure to assess the students' understanding throughout the lesson and provide additional support where needed. Encourage active participation and hands-on learning to make the topic engaging and practical.