Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 1

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• This week is dedicated to revising and consolidating the essential Life Skills concepts we have learned so far this term. In a busy and exciting country like South Africa, it is vital for our youngest learners to have a strong foundation in skills that keep them safe, healthy, and self-aware. This lesson revisits core themes such as personal information, body awareness, safety rules, healthy habits, and understanding feelings. By reinforcing these concepts, we empower Grade 1 learners to navigate their daily lives more confidently, whether they are at school in Soweto, playing on a farm in the Karoo, or visiting family in Cape Town. This revision ensures that knowledge is not just memorised, but understood and ready to be used in real-life situations.
• Learning Objectives:
• By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:
• Confidently state their full name, age, and a parent's/guardian's name or phone number.
• Identify and name at least five major body parts (head, arms, legs, hands, eyes) and state one simple function for each.

Lesson summary

This week is dedicated to revising and consolidating the essential Life Skills concepts we have learned so far this term. In a busy and exciting country like South Africa, it is vital for our youngest learners to have a strong foundation in skills that keep them safe, healthy, and self-aware. This lesson revisits core themes such as personal information, body awareness, safety rules, healthy habits, and understanding feelings. By reinforcing these concepts, we empower Grade 1 learners to navigate their daily lives more confidently, whether they are at school in Soweto, playing on a farm in the Karoo, or visiting family in Cape Town.

Lesson notes

Topic 1: All About Me (Personal Information)

What it is: This is special information that is only about YOU. It includes your full name (first name and surname), your age, and important contact details like your address or a parent's phone number.

Why it's important: Knowing your personal information is like having a superpower! If you ever get lost, for example at a busy place like a taxi rank or a big shop like Shoprite, you can tell a trusted adult (like a police officer or a security guard) your name and your parent's phone number. This helps them to call your family and get you back home safely.

Example: Meet Sipho. Sipho is 6 years old. He is at the park with his Gogo. He wanders off to look at a bird and when he turns around, he can't see his Gogo. He starts to feel scared. A lady wearing a park ranger uniform sees him and asks, "Are you lost, little one? What is your name?" Sipho remembers what his teacher taught him. He says clearly, "My name is Sipho Zulu. My Gogo's number is on the tag on my wrist." The ranger helps him call his Gogo, and soon they are safely back together. Knowing his name and where to find his Gogo's number kept Sipho safe.

Topic 2: My Body is Amazing!

What it is: Our body has many different parts, and each part has a special job to do. We are revising the main parts we can see.

Key Parts and Their Jobs: Head: Your head is on top of your body. It holds your brain, which helps you think and learn.

Eyes: You have two eyes to see the world around you – to see the beautiful South African flag, read a book, and see your friends' smiling faces.

Ears: You have two ears to hear sounds – to hear your teacher's instructions, listen to music, and hear the hadeda birds in the morning.

Nose: Your nose helps you smell things, like the delicious smell of roosterkoek cooking on a fire or the sweet smell of rain.

Mouth: Your mouth helps you to talk, sing our national anthem 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika', eat yummy food, and smile.

Arms and Hands: Your arms help you to reach for things. Your hands help you to hold a pencil, wave hello to a friend, and give a big, warm hug.

Legs and Feet: Your legs help you to stand, walk, run, and jump. Your feet help you to balance and play games like soccer.

Topic 3: Staying Safe What it is: Safety means protecting yourself from getting hurt. We have rules to help us stay safe.

Why it's important: Following safety rules helps prevent accidents and keeps us out of danger. It's important to know these rules at home, at school, and in our community. Key Safety Rules &

Examples: Safety at Home: "Never play with matches or the stove." The stove can get very hot and cause a bad burn. Fire can be very dangerous. Only adults should use the stove. If you see matches, leave them alone and tell an adult.

Safety at School: "Always walk, don't run, in the passages and classrooms." When you run inside, you might slip and fall, or bump into someone else and hurt them and yourself. Walking keeps everyone safe.

Stranger Danger: "Never take anything from or go anywhere with someone you don't know." A stranger is a person you and your family do not know. If a stranger offers you sweets or asks you to get in their car, you must shout "NO!" as loud as you can and run to a trusted adult like your parent, teacher, or a police officer.

Topic 4: Healthy Habits What it is: These are the small things we do every day to keep our bodies strong and stop us from getting sick.

Why it's important: When we are healthy, we have more energy to learn, play, and grow. Healthy habits fight off germs that can make us ill. Key Healthy Habits &

Examples: Washing Hands: Germs are tiny invisible things that can make you sick. They are on doors, toys, and many other places. We must wash our hands with soap and water for 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice) before we eat, after we go to the toilet, and after playing outside. This washes the germs away.

Eating Healthy Food: Your body needs good food to have energy. Fruits like bananas and apples, and vegetables like carrots and spinach, are 'go-foods' that give you energy to play. Sweets and chips are 'sometimes-foods'. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables helps you grow strong and keeps your body working properly.

Topic 5: My Feelings What it is: Feelings, or emotions, are what we feel on the inside. Everyone has feelings. It's okay to feel happy, sad, or angry.

Why it's important: Understanding our feelings helps us understand ourselves and others. Talking about our feelings with someone we trust can make us feel better. Key Feelings &

Examples: Happy: You feel happy when something good happens. Your face shows a big smile.

Example: You feel happy when you get to play with your best friend.

Sad: You feel sad when something upsetting happens. You might frown or have tears in your eyes.

Example: You might feel sad if your favourite toy breaks.

Angry: You feel angry when something feels unfair or makes you cross.