Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 3

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Name the three food groups: Go, Grow, and Glow.
• Explain what each food group does for our bodies.
• Sort South African foods into the correct groups.
• Plan a balanced meal.
• Understand why drinking water is important.

Lesson summary

This lesson introduces Grade 3 learners to the fundamentals of healthy eating, a critical component of a healthy lifestyle. In South Africa, where we have a rich diversity of foods, it is vital for learners to understand how to make wise choices to fuel their bodies for learning and play. This topic moves beyond simply telling children to 'eat vegetables'; it empowers them with the knowledge of why certain foods are important. Understanding food groups helps them make informed decisions at the school tuck shop, at home, and at community gatherings.

Lesson notes

This week, we are learning to be food detectives! We will learn the secrets of food and how it helps our bodies. Think of your body like a car. A car needs petrol to go, oil to keep the engine working, and a good wash to keep it shiny and protected. Our bodies also need different things to work properly. We get these things from the food we eat. We can sort food into three main groups, which we can call the 'Go, Grow, and Glow' foods. A. GO Foods (Carbohydrates and Fats) What are they? These are energy-giving foods. Why do we need them? We need GO foods to give our bodies energy to walk, run, jump, play, and even to think in class! Without energy, we would feel tired and weak.

Starchy Foods: These are the main energy providers. They make us feel full and give us long-lasting energy.

Examples from South Africa: Maize meal (we use it to make pap and samp) Bread (brown bread is the healthiest choice!) Rice Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes (ubhatata)

Pasta and noodles Fats and Oils: These give us extra energy and help to keep our bodies warm. We only need a small amount of these.

Examples from South Africa: Cooking oil (like sunflower oil) Margarine or butter Avocado (avokado)

Peanuts and peanut butter Think about it: A taxi needs petrol to drive passengers around Johannesburg. You need GO foods to have the energy to get through your school day! B. GROW Foods (Proteins) What are they? These are body-building foods. Why do we need them? We need GROW foods to help our bodies build strong muscles, strong bones, and strong teeth. They help us grow bigger and stronger. They also help our bodies heal when we get a cut or a scrape.

Examples from South Africa: Chicken, beef (vleis), and fish Eggs Milk, cheese, and yoghurt Amasi (fermented milk) Beans, lentils, and chickpeas Soya Think about it: When you build a house with bricks, you need cement to hold the bricks together and make the walls strong. GROW foods are like the cement for your body, making it strong. C. GLOW Foods (Fruits and Vegetables) What are they? These are protective foods. Why do we need them? We need GLOW foods because they are full of vitamins and minerals. These are like tiny superheroes that protect our bodies from getting sick. They help keep our skin, hair, and eyes healthy. They help us fight off germs that cause colds and flu. A good way to remember to eat Glow foods is to 'eat a rainbow' every day. This means eating fruits and vegetables of different colours.

Examples from South Africa: Green: Spinach (morogo), cabbage, green beans, broccoli, green peppers Orange/Yellow: Carrots, pumpkin (ithanga), butternut, oranges, bananas, mangoes Red: Tomatoes, red peppers, apples, strawberries Purple/Blue: Beetroot, grapes Think about it: A shield protects a warrior in a fight. GLOW foods are like a shield for your body, protecting you from sickness. D. The Importance of Water Water is not a food, but it is essential for life! Your body is made up of a lot of water. Why do we need it? It helps carry the good stuff from the Go, Grow, and Glow foods to all parts of your body. It helps your body get rid of waste. It helps keep your body at the right temperature, especially on hot days in places like Limpopo or the Northern Cape. We should drink about 6-8 glasses of clean, safe water every day. Sugary drinks like soda and juice are not a good replacement for water. Building a Balanced Plate To be healthy, we need to eat a little bit of everything. A healthy, balanced meal should have: A GO food (for energy) A GROW food (for strength) And a GLOW food (for protection) Example of a Balanced South African Supper: GO: A portion of pap GROW: Some chicken stew or beans GLOW: A side of cooked morogo or a tomato and onion salad (sheba). This meal gives you everything your body needs to be healthy and strong! Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Food Group Sorting Look at the list of foods below.

Draw a table with three columns: GO, GROW, and GLO

W. Write each food in the correct column.

Foods: Banana, Bread, Eggs, Carrots, Amasi, Pap, Chicken, Spinach Solution 1: | GO | GROW | GLOW | |---------|--------|----------| | Bread | Eggs | Banana | | Pap | Amasi | Carrots | | | Chicken| Spinach |

Commentary: This activity helps learners practice categorising foods. We put 'Bread' and 'Pap' in the GO column because they are starchy foods that give us energy. 'Eggs', 'Amasi', and 'Chicken' go in the GROW column because they are proteins that help our bodies build muscle. 'Banana', 'Carrots', and 'Spinach' go in the GLOW column because they are fruits and vegetables that protect us with vitamins.

Question 2: What's Missing? Sipho is eating lunch. On his plate, he has a piece of fish (GROW food) and some rice (GO food). What food group is missing from his plate to make it a balanced meal? Give one example of a food he could add.

Solution 2: Missing Food Group: The GLOW (protective) food group is missing.