Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
THE HUMAN BODY AND HEALTH
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THE HUMAN BODY AND HEALTH
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Subject: General Science
Class: SHS 1
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 20
Grade code: 3.4.1.LI.2
Strand code: 4
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: 3.4.1.CS.1
Indicator code: 3.4.1.LI.2
Theme: RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT
Subtheme: THE HUMAN BODY AND HEALTH
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This lesson introduces the concept of hereditary diseases, which are health conditions passed down from parents to their children through genes. In Ghana, conditions like sickle cell disease affect many families and communities. Understanding how these diseases are inherited is the first step towards managing them, reducing stigma, and making informed life choices, such as knowing one's genotype before marriage. This lesson will demystify these conditions, moving away from superstition towards scientific understanding and empathy.
Starter Activity: Think-Pair-Share (10 minutes) Think: The teacher asks: "Look at your friend sitting next to you. What physical features do you share with your parents (e.g., your mother's eyes, your father's nose)? What makes you unique?" (Give learners 1 minute to think silently). Pair: "Now, turn to your partner and share your thoughts. Why do you think you look like your parents but are not exactly like them?" (Allow 3 minutes for discussion). Share: The teacher invites a few pairs to share their ideas with the whole class. This discussion will lead to the introduction of the word Heredity. A. What is Heredity?
Heredity is the passing of physical or mental characteristics (called traits) from parents to their children through their genes. Genes: These are like tiny instruction manuals inside our cells that determine our traits. We inherit half of our genes from our mother and the other half from our father. Hereditary Traits: These are the specific characteristics determined by our genes. Examples in Ghana: Skin colour, hair texture (e.g., coiled hair), eye colour, height, having dimples, or the shape of your earlobe. These are normal variations and are not diseases. B. What is a Hereditary Disease?
A hereditary disease (or genetic disorder) is a health condition caused by an abnormality in an individual's genetic material (genes or chromosomes). This "faulty" gene is passed down through families, just like normal traits.
It is crucial to understand that these are medical conditions, not the result of a curse, witchcraft, or any fault of the parents or the child. C. Common Hereditary Diseases