Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 3

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify 'Go', 'Grow', and 'Glow' foods.
• Explain why physical activity is important.
• Describe three key personal hygiene practices.
• Understand the need for sleep and rest.
• Make simple choices for a healthy lifestyle.

Lesson summary

This lesson introduces Grade 3 learners to the concept of a healthy lifestyle. It explores the essential components of making good choices for our bodies, including nutrition, physical activity, personal hygiene, and rest. In South Africa, where learners come from diverse backgrounds, understanding these basic principles is crucial for long-term well-being, concentration in school, and preventing common illnesses. This topic empowers learners to take responsibility for their own health, whether they live in a bustling city like Johannesburg or a rural village in the Eastern Cape. By making healthy choices, they can have more energy to play, learn, and grow strong.

Lesson notes

A healthy lifestyle is like building a strong house for your body. You need four important walls to keep it strong: Eating Well, Moving Your Body, Keeping Clean, and Getting Enough Rest.

Wall 1: Eating Well (Ukutya kakuhle) Our bodies need fuel to work, just like a car needs petrol. This fuel comes from the food we eat. We can group foods to help us understand what they do for our bodies. 'Go' Foods (Energy Foods): These give us energy to run, play, and learn. They are like the petrol for our bodies.

What they are: Starchy foods like pap (maize meal), bread (especially brown bread), rice, potatoes, and pasta.

Why we need them: They give us power for the whole day. Imagine trying to play a soccer match with no energy – you wouldn't get very far! Eating 'Go' foods for breakfast is very important to help you concentrate at school.

Example: Thabo eats a bowl of pap for breakfast. This gives him the 'Go' energy he needs to listen to his teacher and play with his friends during break time. 'Grow' Foods (Body-Building Foods): These help us grow tall and strong. They build and repair our muscles, bones, and teeth.

What they are: Foods with protein like chicken, fish, beans (ubhoncyisi), lentils, eggs, milk, maas (amasi), and cheese.

Why we need them: Your body is always growing. 'Grow' foods are the building blocks, like bricks for a house, that make your body bigger and stronger.

Example: Lerato drinks a glass of maas and eats a boiled egg. These 'Grow' foods help her bones become strong for dancing and netball. 'Glow' Foods (Protective Foods): These foods are full of vitamins and minerals that protect us from getting sick. They make our skin and eyes healthy and help our bodies fight germs.

What they are: All kinds of fruits and vegetables! Think of colourful apples, bananas, oranges, spinach (morogo), carrots, and tomatoes.

Why we need them: They are like a shield that protects you from coughs and colds. The vitamins in 'Glow' foods help your body's army (your immune system) to be strong.

Example: Sipho eats a juicy orange from Limpopo. The Vitamin C in the orange helps his body fight off germs so he doesn't miss school.

Important: We also need to drink lots of clean water! Water helps our body work properly, just like oil helps a car's engine run smoothly. Try to drink 4-6 glasses of water a day.

Wall 2: Moving Your Body (Ukushukumisa umzimba wakho) Our bodies are made to move! Being physically active means moving around instead of just sitting and watching T

V. Why it's important: It makes your heart strong. It builds strong muscles and bones. It helps you stay at a healthy weight. It can make you feel happy and less stressed.

How to be active: Walk or cycle to school (if it's safe). Play games during break time like tag, soccer, or skipping. Help with chores at home like sweeping the floor or working in the garden. Dance to your favourite music.

Wall 3: Keeping Clean (Ukuzigcina ucocekile) Keeping our bodies clean is called personal hygiene. This is very important because it washes away tiny, invisible things called germs that can make us sick.

Handwashing: This is the most important rule!

Wash your hands with soap and water: Before you eat. After you use the toilet. After playing outside. After coughing or sneezing.

How: Use soap, rub your hands together for 20 seconds (sing 'Happy Birthday' twice), and rinse with clean water.

Brushing Teeth: Brush your teeth at least two times a day (morning and before bed). This removes old food and stops cavities (holes in your teeth).

Bathing: Bathing or showering with soap and water washes away sweat and germs from your whole body.

Wall 4: Resting and Sleeping (Ukuphumla nokulala) Your body and brain need to rest and recharge. Sleep is when this happens.

Why we need sleep: It helps your body grow and repair itself. It helps your brain to remember what you learned during the day. It gives you energy for the next day.

How much sleep: Grade 3 learners need about 10 hours of sleep every night. This means going to bed early and at a regular time. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: The Lunchbox Sort Look at this lunchbox that Nomsa's mom packed for her. Identify which food is a 'Go' food, which is a 'Grow' food, and which is a 'Glow' food. A brown bread sandwich with cheese. An apple.

Solution 1: 'Go' Food: The brown bread is the 'Go' food because it is made from grains and gives Nomsa energy for the afternoon. 'Grow' Food: The cheese is the 'Grow' food because it is a dairy product that helps build strong bones and teeth. 'Glow' Food: The apple is the 'Glow' food because it is a fruit packed with vitamins that will help protect Nomsa from getting sick.

Question 2: Busi's Busy Day Busi wakes up and gets ready for school. She forgets to do something important. She eats breakfast, puts on her uniform, and runs to school. What important hygiene step did she miss?

Solution 2: Busi forgot to brush her teeth.