Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 1

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• This lesson introduces Grade 1 learners to the fundamental principles of healthy eating. The focus is on understanding that the food we eat directly impacts our ability to play, learn, and grow. In the South African context, where learners come from diverse backgrounds with various diets, it is crucial to teach these concepts using familiar examples like pap, morogo (spinach), and amasi. This lesson moves beyond simply saying "eat your vegetables" and explains why different foods are important, empowering learners to start making conscious, healthy choices. We will use the simple and effective "Go, Grow, and Glow" model to categorise foods, making the information accessible and memorable for young minds.
• By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:
• Identify at least three healthy foods and three unhealthy foods.
• Explain in simple terms why our bodies need food and water.
• Sort pictures of common South African foods into the three categories: Go, Grow, and Glow.

Lesson summary

This lesson introduces Grade 1 learners to the fundamental principles of healthy eating. The focus is on understanding that the food we eat directly impacts our ability to play, learn, and grow. In the South African context, where learners come from diverse backgrounds with various diets, it is crucial to teach these concepts using familiar examples like pap, morogo (spinach), and amasi. This lesson moves beyond simply saying "eat your vegetables" and explains why different foods are important, empowering learners to start making conscious, healthy choices.

Lesson notes

This week, we learn about the amazing fuel our bodies need to work properly. Just like a car needs petrol to move, we need healthy food to have energy, to get bigger and stronger, and to keep from getting sick. We can put healthy foods into three special groups: Go, Grow, and Glow. A. Go Foods (Energy Foods) What are they? Go foods are the foods that give us energy. This energy helps us to run, jump, play outside with our friends, and even to think hard in class. Why do we need them? Without Go foods, we would feel tired and weak, like a toy with no batteries. They are the 'petrol' for our bodies. South African

Examples: Pap (Maize Meal): Many of us eat pap. It gives us lots of energy for the day.

Bread: A slice of bread in our lunchbox helps us play during break time.

Rice: Rice gives us the power to learn and do our schoolwork.

Potatoes: Whether boiled or mashed, potatoes are a great Go food.

Samp: Samp is a wonderful Go food that keeps us full and energetic. B. Grow Foods (Body-Building Foods) What are they? Grow foods help our bodies to build and repair themselves. They build strong bones, strong teeth, and strong muscles. They help us grow taller and stronger every single day. Why do we need them? Think of building a house with blocks. Grow foods are the 'building blocks' for our bodies. They help cuts and scrapes heal faster too. South African

Examples: Chicken or Fish: These help build strong muscles.

Eggs: An egg for breakfast is a super Grow food.

Beans and Lentils: These are powerful plant-based Grow foods.

Milk and Amasi (Maas): These are packed with calcium for strong bones and teeth.

Peanuts: A handful of peanuts is a great Grow food snack. C. Glow Foods (Protective Foods) What are they? Glow foods are full of vitamins and minerals. They help our bodies to work perfectly, protect us from getting sick, and keep our skin, hair, and eyes looking healthy and bright. They make us 'glow' with health! Why do we need them? Glow foods are like a superhero shield for our bodies. They fight off germs that can cause colds and flu. South African

Examples: Morogo/Spinach: This green leafy vegetable is a super Glow food.

Carrots: They help us see well in the dark! Oranges, Naartjies, and Mangoes: These fruits are full of Vitamin C to fight sickness.

Tomatoes and Onions: We use these in sishebo, and they are great Glow foods.

Bananas: Give us energy and help our bodies glow. D. The Importance of Water Water is not a food, but it is the most important drink! Our bodies are mostly made of water. We need to drink clean water every day to help the Go, Grow, and Glow foods do their jobs properly. It helps us think, keeps our bodies cool, and cleans us from the inside. Guided Practice (With Solutions) (Teacher shows pictures or real items for each question)

Question 1: Look at this picture of an apple. Is it a Go, Grow, or Glow food? Why do you think so? Solution and

Commentary: An apple is a Glow food. It is a fruit that is full of vitamins. These vitamins act like a shield to stop us from getting sick and help our skin to glow. It doesn't give us as much energy as bread (Go food) or help us build muscles like chicken (Grow food).

Question 2: I am thinking of a food that we often eat with chicken or beef. It is white and gives us lots of energy to play soccer. Is it pap or a tomato? Solution and

Commentary: The correct answer is pap. Pap is a Go food. We know this because the clue says it gives us 'lots of energy to play'. Tomatoes are healthy, but they are Glow foods that protect our bodies, they don't give us the main energy for running.

Question 3: Thabo wants to pack his lunchbox. He has a chocolate bar and a boiled egg. Which one is a Grow food that will help him build strong muscles? Why is the other one not a good choice for lunch? Solution and

Commentary: The boiled egg is the Grow food. It helps Thabo's body build strong muscles and bones. The chocolate bar is a treat, not a healthy choice for lunch. It has too much sugar which is bad for his teeth and doesn't help him grow strong. It gives a very fast burst of energy that disappears quickly, making him feel tired later. Independent Practice (Questions Only) Draw a circle around all the Go foods in this list: Bread, Banana, Rice, Fish, Potato Draw a line to match the food to its group. Chicken -> Go Amasi -> Grow Carrot -> Glow Look at the picture of a lunchbox. Cross out ONE food that is unhealthy. (Image shows a sandwich, an apple, a bottle of water, and a packet of sweets). Why is it important to drink water every day? Tell your friend one reason. Draw your favourite meal on a plate. Can you find and circle one Go food, one Grow food, and one Glow food in your drawing from question 5? Sipho feels very tired at school. Which food group does he need more of? (Go, Grow, or Glow) Name one Glow food that is the colour orange.