Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 2
THE HUMAN BODY SYSTEM
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THE HUMAN BODY SYSTEM
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Subject: Science
Class: JHS 2
Term: 1st Term
Week: 15
Grade code: B8.3.1.1.2
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: B8.3.1.1
Indicator code: B8.3.1.1.2
Theme: SYSTEMS
Subtheme: THE HUMAN BODY SYSTEM
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The human body is made up of systems that work together to keep us alive. One important part of the digestive system is the mouth, where teeth help us to bite, tear and grind food so it can be swallowed and digested well. In Ghana, good understanding of teeth helps learners to: choose healthy foods (e.g., reduce too much sugary toffees and drinks), practise proper oral hygiene, prevent tooth decay and gum disease, appreciate why different teeth have different shapes and functions.
2.1 Meaning of “Human Body System” (Link to the topic) A body system is a group of organs that work together to perform a major function. Teeth are part of the digestive system because they perform mechanical digestion (breaking food into smaller pieces without changing its chemical nature). 2.2 Why human teeth are different Humans are omnivores (we eat both plant and animal foods). Because different foods need different ways of breaking them down, humans have different types of teeth with different shapes and functions. 2.3 Types of human teeth and their functions (Core of the Indicator) (A) Incisors Position: Front of the mouth (upper and lower jaws). Shape: Flat, thin, chisel-like edge. Function: Cutting and biting food into pieces. Example (Ghanaian context): Biting into sugarcane, apple, pear, roasted corn, bread. Key idea: The sharp edge acts like a knife. (B) Canines Position: One on each side after the incisors (pointed teeth). Shape: Long, pointed, cone-shaped. Function: Tearing and holding food. Example: Tearing meat, wele (cowhide), fried fish, kontomire with meat. Key idea: The pointed tip helps to pierce and tear tough food. (C) Premolars (Bicuspids) Position: Behind the canines, before the molars. Shape: Broad surface with two cusps (raised points). Function: Crushing and beginning grinding of food. Example: Crushing boiled plantain, yam, beans, groundnuts. Key idea: Cusps act like small hills that press and break food. (D) Molars Position: At the back of the mouth. Shape: Large, broad surface with several cusps. Function: Grinding and chewing thoroughly to make food easy to swallow. Example: Grinding fufu, banku, rice, tubani, kokonte, tough vegetables. Key idea: Large surface area and many cusps make grinding effective.
2.4 Summary Table (Quick reference)
| Type of tooth | Position | Shape | Main function | |---|---|---|---| | Incisors | Front | Flat, sharp edge | Cutting/biting | | Canines | After incisors | Pointed | Tearing/holding | | Premolars | Behind canines | 2 cusps | Crushing + grinding | | Molars | Back | Broad, many cusps | Grinding/chewing |
2.5 Drawing the different types of teeth (Exemplar requirement) When drawing, learners should show shape differences clearly: Incisor: rectangular crown with a straight cutting edge. Canine: pointed crown (like a triangle tip). Premolar: wider crown with two cusps. Molar: widest crown with 3–5 cusps (several bumps).