Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 1

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify at least three key hygiene activities (e.g., washing hands, bathing, brushing teeth).
• Explain, in simple terms, why it is important to keep their body clean (e.g., to wash away germs, to stay healthy).
• Demonstrate the correct steps for washing their hands with soap and water.
• Sort objects into 'used for cleaning' and 'not used for cleaning' categories.
• State at least two instances when they must wash their hands (e.g., after using the toilet, before eating).

Lesson summary

This lesson focuses on personal hygiene, a critical component of healthy living for Grade 1 learners. In the South African context, where learners come from diverse backgrounds and live in varied conditions, establishing good hygiene habits from a young age is fundamental. It directly impacts a child's health, preventing common illnesses like diarrhoea and flu, which are major causes of school absenteeism. By understanding how to keep their bodies clean, learners are empowered to take responsibility for their own well-being. This fosters self-esteem, social acceptance, and creates a healthier school environment for everyone.

Lesson notes

What are Germs and Why Do We Care?

Explanation: Before we learn how to be clean, we must understand what we are cleaning away. On our skin, on surfaces, and all around us are tiny, invisible living things called germs. We can't see them with our eyes, but they are there. Some germs are harmless, but others can get inside our bodies and make us sick with a cold, a tummy ache, or the flu. The best way to fight these naughty germs is to wash them away!

Example: Think of germs like invisible glitter. If you play with glitter, it gets all over your hands. If you then touch your face or your food, the glitter spreads. Germs work the same way! When we play outside in the sandpit or touch a doorknob that many people have touched, germs jump onto our hands. If we eat our lunch without washing them, the germs go into our mouths and can make our bodies sick. Our Hygiene Superpowers Super Handwashing Why: Our hands are our biggest germ-spreaders because they touch everything! We must wash them often to keep ourselves and others healthy.

When: After using the toilet. Before eating or touching food. After playing outside. After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. After touching animals, like your dog or cat.

How (The 5 Steps): Wet: Use clean running water. In some schools in South Africa, this might be from a tap or a tippy-tap. The water can be warm or cold.

Soap: Use any kind of soap. Rub it all over to make lots of bubbles (lather).

Scrub: This is the most important step! Rub your hands together for 20 seconds. Make sure you scrub the palms, the back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. You can sing the 'Happy Birthday' song twice or 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'.

Rinse: Wash all the soap and germs away under clean, running water.

Dry: Dry your hands well with a clean towel or by shaking them in the air.

Terrific Teeth Brushing Why: Germs also love to live in our mouths. They eat the tiny bits of sugar left on our teeth after we eat. This can make holes in our teeth called cavities, which hurt! Brushing gets rid of the food and germs, keeps our breath fresh, and gives us a beautiful, strong smile.

How: Use a small bit of toothpaste (the size of a pea). Brush in little circles, all over the front and back of your teeth. Brush up and down. Don't forget to gently brush your tongue! Do this in the morning when you wake up and at night before you sleep.

Brilliant Bathing Why: All day long, our bodies sweat and collect dust and germs from the air and from playing. Bathing or showering with soap and water washes all of this away, so we feel fresh and clean and our skin stays healthy.

How: Use a cloth or sponge with soap to wash your entire body, including your face, under your arms, and your feet. Then rinse all the soap off with clean water. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: The Mixed-Up Pictures The teacher shows the learners a set of pictures of the handwashing steps, but they are in the wrong order: (A) Drying hands, (B) Rinsing hands, (C) Putting soap on hands, (D) Wetting hands, (E) Scrubbing hands with bubbles.

Task: "Themba wants to wash his hands properly. Can you help him put the pictures in the right order? What is step 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5?" Solution and

Commentary: Correct Order: D, C, E, B, A

Commentary: The teacher guides the learners by asking, "What is the very first thing we must do? We can't use soap if our hands are dry, so first, we must (D) Wet our hands. What comes next? Yes, we need (C) Soap to make bubbles. Then comes the most important part, we must (E) Scrub all the germs away for 20 seconds! After scrubbing, we have to (B) Rinse the bubbles and germs off. Finally, we need to get them (A) Dry. Well done!" Question 2: Nomsa's Day Task: "I am going to tell you a short story about Nomsa. When you hear a time she should wash her hands, I want you to clap your hands once. Ready?" Story: "Nomsa woke up and went to the toilet. [CLAP] Then, she helped her Gogo in the garden. After that, her Gogo called her to come and eat her breakfast of pap. [CLAP] After school, Nomsa played soccer with her friends. When she came inside, she sneezed into her hands. [CLAP]" Solution and

Commentary: Correct Clap Points: After using the toilet, before eating her breakfast, and after sneezing into her hands.

Commentary: The teacher affirms each clap. "Excellent! Nomsa must wash her hands after using the toilet to get rid of germs. Very good! She played in the garden and is about to eat, so she must wash her hands before eating. Fantastic! Oh dear, when we sneeze, germs from our nose go onto our hands, so she must definitely wash them now! You are all hygiene experts!" Question 3: The Cleaning Kit The teacher presents a box with several items: a bar of soap, a toothbrush, a toy car, a banana, a facecloth, and a crayon.

Task: "Sipho is packing his bag to stay clean for the day. Which of these things should he pack in his cleaning kit?