Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v3 - Primary 1
Overdose (too much eating, drinking or smoking)
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Overdose (too much eating, drinking or smoking)
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Nigeria 2025 app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Social Studies
Class: Primary 1
Term: 1st Term
Week: 5
Theme: Social And Health Issues
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Watch on YouTubePupils should be able to demonstrate the looks and behaviours of people who take too much food, drink or smoke mention the effects of drinking too much say what to do to help somebody who is suffering from too much eating, drinking or in haling
2. 1. What is Overdose (too much)? "Overdose" in this context refers to consuming or taking in more than the body can handle or more than is safe. It means doing something "too much." When we eat, drink, or breathe in things excessively, it can make us sick or cause harm. 2.
2. Too Much Eating (Overeating) Eating too much food, even healthy food, can be harmful.
Looks of someone who overeats: Stomach appears distended or very full. Might look uncomfortable, groggy, or sleepy. Face might appear pale or flushed.
Behaviours of someone who overeats: Complains of stomach ache or discomfort. Might belch frequently. May feel nauseous or vomit. Becomes sluggish, tired, or wants to lie down. Has difficulty concentrating or moving around.
Effects of too much eating (Immediate): Stomach ache, indigestion. Nausea and vomiting. Feeling sleepy or sluggish. Difficulty breathing comfortably due to a very full stomach. Nigerian Context
Example: A child eating too much jollof rice and chicken during a party, leading to stomach ache and feeling very uncomfortable. Or a child eating too many puff-puff or akara (fried bean cakes) from a hawker, resulting in indigestion. 2.
3. Too Much Drinking (Over-drinking) For Primary 1, "drinking" refers to non-alcoholic beverages like water, sugary drinks (minerals/soft drinks), or even too much medicinal syrup. Looks of someone who over-drinks (especially sugary drinks): May appear very active initially (sugar rush) then suddenly tired/drowsy. May look pale or unwell. Stomach might look a bit bloated.
Behaviours of someone who over-drinks: Complains of stomach upset or feeling full. May urinate frequently (if too much water). Becomes restless or hyperactive (from sugar), then crashes and becomes very sleepy. May vomit.
Effects of too much drinking (Immediate): Stomach ache or nausea. Frequent urination (from too much water, can dilute body salts). Drowsiness or extreme tiredness after initial hyperactivity (from sugary drinks). Headache. Nigerian Context
Example: A child drinking too many bottles of Fanta or Coca-Cola at a celebration, leading to a severe stomach ache and eventual vomiting. Or a child given too much cough syrup by an uninformed caregiver. 2.
4. Too Much Smoking or Inhaling For Primary 1, this primarily focuses on inhaling smoke from cigarettes (passive smoking), fumes from burning refuse, or other harmful substances. Direct smoking by pupils is not the focus, but understanding the dangers of being around smoke is critical. Looks of someone affected by too much smoke/inhaling: Eyes may be red, watery, or irritated. Face may look pale or unwell. Might appear to be struggling to breathe. Behaviours of someone affected by too much smoke/inhaling: Persistent coughing or wheezing. Rubbing eyes due to irritation. Complains of difficulty breathing or chest pain. Becomes restless or distressed. May start feeling dizzy or having a headache. Effects of too much smoking/inhaling (Immediate): Coughing and shortness of breath. Eye irritation (stinging, redness). Headache or dizziness. Chest discomfort. Nausea. Nigerian Context
Example: A child sitting near adults smoking in a public space like a bukka (local eatery) or a taxi park, suffering from eye irritation and persistent coughing. Or a child inhaling smoke from a nearby refuse dump being burnt. 2.
5. What to do to help someone suffering from an overdose: Alert an adult immediately: Tell a parent, teacher, guardian, or any responsible adult. This is the most important first step. Remove the person from the source (if safe): If someone is inhaling too much smoke, gently move them to fresh air. If they are still eating/drinking, gently stop them.
Help them sit or lie down comfortably: This can ease discomfort. Offer water (if conscious and appropriate): For stomach upset, a little water can sometimes help, but always confirm with an adult. Do NOT give them anything else to eat or drink without adult instruction.
Stay calm: Your calmness can help the affected person. --- 3.
1. Introduction (10 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Begin by asking pupils about things they like to do. Guide the discussion towards eating and drinking. Ask questions like, "What happens if you eat too many sweets?" or "What happens if you drink too much water very quickly?" Introduce the term "too much" and explain that it can make us sick.
Student Activity: Pupils share their experiences and answer questions, participating in a brief class discussion. 3.
2. Exploration and Explanation of Key Concepts (25 minutes)
Teacher Activity (Looks and Behaviours): Display pictures or charts showing people looking sick, tired, or uncomfortable after eating, drinking, or being around smoke. Describe the typical looks and behaviours associated with each type of "overdose" (eating, drinking, inhaling).
Demonstration: Teacher briefly and safely demonstrates (using exaggerated but clear actions) the looks and behaviours: For too much eating: holding stomach, belching sound, looking sleepy, sluggish walk.
For too much drinking (sugary): initial hyperactivity (jumping), then sudden tiredness, holding head.
For too much inhaling smoke: coughing loudly, rubbing eyes, pretending to gasp for air. Engage pupils by asking, "How do you think this person feels?" Student Activity: Pupils observe the pictures/charts and teacher demonstrations. They respond to questions about how people might look and feel, imitating some safe behaviours (e.g., holding stomach for pain).
Teacher Activity (Effects): Explain the immediate effects of each type of overdose in simple language. Use Nigerian examples like stomach ache from too much garri or coughing from smoke at the motor park. Use flashcards with simple drawings representing effects (e.g., a sad face with stomach, a coughing child, red eyes).
Student Activity: Pupils listen attentively, identify effects from flashcards, and might share brief related personal observations if appropriate. 3.
3. Problem-Solving and Action (15 minutes)
Teacher Activity (What to do): Present scenarios: "What if your friend eats too much puff-puff and starts holding their stomach?" "What if your younger sibling drinks too much malt and starts vomiting?" "What if you are walking with your parents and someone smokes near you and you start coughing?" Guide pupils to understand the first and most important step: telling an adult. Discuss other helpful actions (removing from source, offering water, helping to sit).
Role-play Setup: Divide pupils into small groups (3-4 pupils).
Assign roles: one pupil is 'sick' from too much (eating/drinking/inhaling), another is the 'helper', and a third is the 'adult'.
Student Activity: Pupils discuss the scenarios and suggest actions. In groups, they briefly role-play helping someone suffering from an overdose, focusing on telling an adult and offering comfort. 3.
4. Conclusion (5 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Summarize the main points: moderation is good, too much can make us sick, and always tell an adult if someone is suffering. Reiterate the importance of being observant and helpful.
Student Activity: Pupils participate in a quick recap session by answering questions like, "What is one bad thing about eating too much?" --- Question 1: Imagine your friend, Emeka, ate too many chin-chin (a crunchy Nigerian snack). What might he look like or do?
Guidance: Prompt pupils to think about what happens when their stomach gets too full.
Solution: Emeka might look uncomfortable, hold his stomach, rub his tummy, or complain of a stomach ache. He might also become sleepy or feel like vomiting.
Commentary: This question assesses the pupil's ability to demonstrate the looks and behaviours of someone who has eaten too much, using a familiar Nigerian snack.
Question 2: Your sister drank too much Zobo (a popular Nigerian drink) and now her stomach hurts. What is one bad thing that happened because she drank too much?
Guidance: Focus on a single, clear effect.
Solution: One bad thing that happened is that her stomach hurts (stomach ache). She might also feel like vomiting.
Commentary: This question targets the performance objective of mentioning the effects of drinking too much, using a relevant local drink.
Question 3: You see an adult constantly smoking near children. What is one bad thing that can happen to the children who breathe in the smoke?
Guidance: Remind pupils about the effects of smoke on the body.
Solution: The children might start coughing, their eyes might sting and become red, or they might feel dizzy.
Commentary: This question addresses the effects of inhaling too much, particularly passive smoking, which is a common issue in Nigerian environments.
Question 4: If your classmate, Amina, looks very sick after eating too much lunch, what is the most important thing you should do to help her?
Guidance: Emphasize the immediate and safest action for a Primary 1 child.
Solution: The most important thing to do is to quickly tell the teacher or another trusted adult (e.g., school helper, lunch monitor).
Commentary: This question assesses the pupil's understanding of what to do to help someone, focusing on the primary safety action of alerting an adult. --- Differentiation Strategies for Diverse Learners: Visual Learners: Utilize more picture cards, charts, and drawings to illustrate looks, behaviours, and effects. Use simple picture stories depicting scenarios.
Auditory Learners: Incorporate more verbal explanations, storytelling, and group discussions. Encourage pupils to describe what they see and feel.
Kinesthetic Learners: Emphasize role-playing, demonstrations, and action-based learning. Allow them to physically act out the looks and behaviours.
Simplified Language: Use very simple, direct sentences and local terms where appropriate to explain concepts.
Remediation for Struggling Learners: One-on-One Reteaching: Provide individual or small-group reteaching focusing on one concept at a time (e.g., first "too much eating," then "too much drinking").
Drawing Activities: Ask pupils to draw a picture of someone who has eaten too much and then label (with help) one effect. This simplifies verbal recall.
Repetitive Practice: Use flashcards with simple pictures of "sick" people and ask pupils to identify what might be wrong and what to do.
Peer Support: Pair struggling learners with more capable peers for short, guided practice activities like drawing or simple role-playing. Extension/Enrichment for High-Achieving Learners: Poster Creation: Challenge them to create a simple poster illustrating the dangers of overeating or the importance of telling an adult when someone is sick from an overdose. They can include drawings and very short sentences.
Scenario Development: Ask them to create their own short scenario (similar to the guided practice) about someone suffering from an overdose and then present it to the class, explaining the effects and what to do.
Research (Guided): Provide simple picture books or age-appropriate materials (if available) about healthy eating habits or the importance of clean air, allowing them to explore related concepts further and share what they learned.
Healthy Eating Habits at Home and School: This lesson integrates with encouraging healthy eating practices. Teachers can connect "too much eating" to the school lunch program or family meals, emphasizing balanced portions rather than overindulgence. For example, discussing why eating too much akara (bean cake) or puff-puff from a hawker might cause a stomach ache, encouraging pupils to make healthier choices and practice moderation.
Awareness of Environmental Health Hazards: The "too much inhaling" component directly relates to environmental awareness in Nigeria. Pupils can be taught about the dangers of inhaling smoke from burning refuse (common in many communities), vehicle exhaust fumes, or passive smoking in public spaces like markets or motor parks. This helps them identify harmful environments and advocate for moving away or informing an adult.
Community Safety and Helping Others: The lesson fosters a sense of community responsibility. By learning to identify when someone is unwell due to overdose (in its simple form) and knowing to "tell an adult," pupils become more aware of how to act in a minor emergency. This is particularly relevant in densely populated Nigerian communities where children often play and interact unsupervised, building a foundation for basic first aid awareness. ---