Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 2

Personal and social well-being: health and nutrition (Grade 2) – Week 1 focus

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Subject: Life Skills

Class: Grade 2

Term: 1st Term

Week: 1

Theme: General lesson support

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

Lesson summary

This lesson introduces Grade 2 learners to the fundamental concepts of health and nutrition. In South Africa, where learners come from diverse backgrounds with varied diets, it is crucial to build a foundational understanding of which foods help our bodies and why. This topic empowers children to make healthier choices, whether at home with a plate of pap and morogo, at the school tuck shop, or when sharing lunch with friends. The lesson uses simple, memorable categories ('Go, Grow, and Glow') to make the science of nutrition accessible and fun. By understanding that food is fuel for playing, learning, and staying healthy, learners can develop lifelong positive habits.

Lesson notes

This section explains the main ideas about healthy eating that Grade 2 learners need to know. What is Healthy Food? Healthy food is like special fuel for our bodies. Just like a car needs petrol to drive, our bodies need good food to work properly. Good food helps us to run, jump, play, learn at school, and grow bigger and stronger every day. We can think of healthy foods in three special groups: Go Foods, Grow Foods, and Glow Foods.

Go Foods (Carbohydrates)

What they do: Go Foods give us energy. This is the power we need to be active all day long. When you run on the playground, play soccer, or even just think hard in class, you are using energy from Go Foods.

Why we need them: Without Go Foods, you would feel tired and weak, and you wouldn't be able to concentrate on your schoolwork. South African

Examples: Pap (Maize Meal): A very popular Go Food in many South African homes.

Bread: Especially brown bread, which is full of energy.

Rice: Another great source of energy.

Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes (Batata): These grow under the ground and are packed with power.

Samp: Dried corn kernels, often cooked with beans.

Grow Foods (Proteins)

What they do: Grow Foods help our bodies to build and repair themselves. They build strong muscles, strong bones, and even help heal a cut on your knee. They are the building blocks for our bodies.

Why we need them: To grow taller and stronger. Every part of you, from your hair to your toenails, needs Grow Foods. South African

Examples: Chicken and Meat: Helps build strong muscles.

Fish: Like snoek or hake, is excellent for your brain and body.

Eggs: A perfect package of Grow power.

Beans and Lentils: A very healthy and affordable Grow Food. Milk, Maas (Amasi), and Yoghurt: These make our bones and teeth strong because they have calcium. Glow Foods (Fruits and Vegetables)

What they do: Glow Foods are full of vitamins and minerals. These are like little superheroes that protect our bodies from getting sick. They help keep our skin, hair, and eyes healthy, which makes us 'glow' with health!

Why we need them: To fight off germs that cause coughs, colds, and flu. Eating Glow Foods every day is like having a shield that keeps you healthy. South African

Examples: Fruits: Oranges, naartjies, bananas, apples, mangoes, grapes.

Vegetables: Spinach (morogo), carrots, pumpkin, tomatoes, cabbage, butternut. What are 'Sometimes' Foods? Some foods are delicious but are not very good for our bodies if we eat them too often. We call these 'Sometimes' Foods or Treats. They often have a lot of sugar, salt, or unhealthy fat. They don't give us the right kind of fuel to Go, Grow, or Glow.

Why we call them 'Sometimes' Foods: It's okay to have a treat on a special occasion, like a birthday party. But if we eat them every day, they can make us feel tired, sick, and can be bad for our teeth.

Examples: Sweets, chocolates, and lollipops Chips (crisps) Fizzy drinks Cake and biscuits