Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 1

Personal and social well-being: healthy living (Grade 1) – Week 1 focus

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Subject: Life Skills

Class: Grade 1

Term: 1st Term

Week: 1

Theme: General lesson support

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

Lesson summary

This week, we're diving into the wonderful world of healthy living! Learning about healthy habits is super important for all of us, especially here in South Africa. When we eat healthy foods, keep our bodies clean, and get enough rest, we feel strong, happy, and ready to learn and play. Think about how much more fun it is to run around with your friends when you're feeling your best! Also, staying healthy helps us fight off germs and avoid getting sick, so we can be at school and spend time with our loved ones. This week's focus is on the basics of healthy living: what it means to be healthy and how we can achieve it through simple everyday actions.

Lesson notes

What does it mean to be healthy? Being healthy means that your body is strong, happy, and working well. It means you have enough energy to play, learn, and do all the things you enjoy. Healthy also means that you don't get sick very often. Think of your body like a car. A car needs the right fuel (petrol) to run properly. It also needs to be cleaned and taken care of regularly. Our bodies are the same! We need the right "fuel" (healthy food), regular cleaning (hygiene), and rest (sleep) to work properly.

Healthy Foods: Healthy foods give us energy and help our bodies grow strong. They are full of vitamins and minerals that keep us healthy.

Some examples of healthy foods include: Fruits: Apples, bananas, oranges, mangoes, berries, pawpaw. Fruits are sweet and delicious and give us lots of vitamins. In South Africa, we have many wonderful fruits like mangoes, pawpaw, and guavas that grow well.

Vegetables: Carrots, spinach (morogo), tomatoes, beans, potatoes, cabbage. Vegetables help us grow strong and give us vitamins and minerals. Spinach is a very healthy vegetable that grows well in many South African gardens.

Protein: Chicken, fish, eggs, beans, lentils (dhal). Protein helps us build strong muscles. Many South African families eat chicken, fish, and beans as part of their regular meals.

Grains: Brown bread, pap (mielie meal), rice, oats. Grains give us energy to play and learn. Pap is a staple food for many South African communities. Why are these foods good for us? Fruits and vegetables give us vitamins that help our bodies fight off germs. Protein helps us build strong muscles for running and playing. Grains give us energy to learn and play all day long.

Example: Thando eats a banana for breakfast. The banana is a fruit, and it gives Thando energy to play during break time.

Keeping Our Bodies Clean (Hygiene): Keeping our bodies clean helps us get rid of germs that can make us sick. Germs are tiny little creatures that we can't see, but they can cause coughs, colds, and other illnesses. Here are some ways to keep our bodies clean: Washing our hands: Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, before eating, and after playing outside. Sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice while washing to make sure you wash them for long enough.

Brushing our teeth: Brush your teeth twice a day – once in the morning and once before bed – to keep your teeth clean and healthy. This prevents tooth decay.

Taking a bath or shower: Wash your whole body with soap and water to remove dirt and germs.

Wearing clean clothes: Change your clothes every day to keep them free of dirt and sweat. Covering our mouths when we cough or sneeze: Use your elbow or a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. This prevents germs from spreading to others.

Example: Sipho plays in the sand at school. When he comes inside to eat his lunch, he washes his hands with soap and water to get rid of the germs.

Handwashing Steps: Wet your hands with clean running water. Apply soap. Rub your hands together to make a lather. Scrub all surfaces of your hands, including the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails, for at least 20 seconds. Rinse your hands thoroughly under running water. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Getting Enough Rest (Sleep): When we sleep, our bodies rest and repair themselves. Getting enough sleep helps us feel energetic and ready to learn and play. Grade 1 learners need about 10-12 hours of sleep each night. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Avoid watching television or playing on electronic devices before bed. Make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool.

Example: Zanele goes to bed at 8:00 pm every night and wakes up at 7:00 am. She gets 11 hours of sleep, which is perfect for a Grade 1 learner. Drinking Water Our bodies need water to function properly. Water helps us stay hydrated, which means our bodies have enough fluids to work efficiently. Drink water throughout the day, especially when you are thirsty. Drink water after playing or exercising. Drink water with your meals.

Example: After playing soccer during break time, Musa feels thirsty. He drinks a glass of water to rehydrate his body. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Nomsa is choosing between chips and an apple for her snack. Which is the healthier choice and why?

Solution: The healthier choice is the apple. Apples are fruits and contain vitamins and minerals that help our bodies grow strong and fight off germs. Chips are often salty and oily and don't provide as many nutrients.

Question 2: Sipho forgot to wash his hands after playing with his toys outside. What should he do before eating his lunch?

Solution: Sipho should wash his hands with soap and water. Washing his hands will remove any germs he picked up while playing with his toys, preventing him from getting sick. He should scrub his hands for at least 20 seconds.