Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
Physical Activity for Healthy Living
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Physical Activity for Healthy Living
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Subject: Physical Education Health Elective
Class: SHS 2
Term: 1st Term
Week: 17
Grade code: 2.1.3.LI.3
Strand code: 2
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: 2.1.3.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.1.3.LI.3
Theme: Physical Education
Subtheme: Physical Activity for Healthy Living
This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.
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Good day, learners. Today, we are discussing a topic that affects every single one of us, our families, and our communities. We often hear about older relatives having "pressure" (hypertension) or "sugar" (diabetes). Many people think these are just diseases of old age, but the truth is that the seeds for these illnesses are often planted much earlier in life through our daily decisions. This lesson will empower you to understand how the simple choices we make every day—what we eat, how much we move, and what we consume—can either protect us from or lead us towards serious diseases. By understanding this link, you can take control of your health now and for the rest of your lives.
This lesson focuses on the powerful connection between our actions and our health. Let's break down the key ideas. Concept 1: What are "Life Choices"?
Life choices are the decisions and habits we practice daily that affect our well-being. They are not one-time events, but repeated behaviours that add up over time. These choices can be positive (promoting health) or negative (increasing risk of disease).
| Positive Life Choices (Protective) | Negative Life Choices (Risky) | | :--- | :--- | | Eating a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables (e.g., kontomire, garden eggs, oranges). | Frequently eating high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt foods (e.g., fried yam with sausage, meat pies, sugary drinks). | | Engaging in regular physical activity (e.g., walking to school, playing football, dancing). | Living a sedentary lifestyle (e.g., sitting for long hours watching TV or using a phone, taking a *tro-tro* for short distances). | | Getting enough sleep (7-9 hours per night). | Chronic lack of sleep or poor sleep patterns. | | Managing stress effectively (e.g., through hobbies, talking to friends, exercise). | Allowing stress to build up without healthy coping mechanisms. | | Avoiding tobacco (cigarettes, shisha) and excessive alcohol. | Smoking, regular and/or heavy consumption of alcohol. | Concept 2: Lifestyle Diseases (Non-Communicable Diseases - NCDs)
These are diseases that are not passed from person to person (not infectious). They are typically of long duration and slow progression. They are called "lifestyle diseases" because they are strongly linked to our life choices. The most common ones in Ghana include: Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): The force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is consistently too high. This makes the heart work harder and can lead to stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure. Type 2 Diabetes: The body either doesn't produce enough insulin or resists insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. High blood sugar over time can damage nerves, eyes, kidneys, and blood vessels. Heart Disease: Includes conditions like heart attacks and heart failure, often caused by blocked or narrowed blood vessels. Stroke: Occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Can be caused by a clot or a burst blood vessel. Certain Cancers: Uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Cancers of the lung, colon, and breast have strong links to life choices. Concept 3: The Connection - How Choices Impact Diseases