Usefulness of Plants to Humans and Animals

Grade 1 · General Science

Semester 1 | Period 3 | Week 17

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Subject: General Science

Semester: 1

Period: 3

Week: 17


Week 17
School Name:
Teacher’s Name:
Subject: General Science
Grade Level: Grade 1
Date: Week 17
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Week & Period: Week 17, Period 3
Topic: Usefulness of Plants to Humans and Animals
Sub-topic: Summary of Living and Non-living Things
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

  • Explain how plants are useful to humans and animals.
  • Recall examples of living and non-living things.
  • Summarize the differences between living and non-living things.

Previous Knowledge
Students already know:

  • Characteristics of living and non-living things.
  • Types of plants and animals.

Instructional Materials

  • Pictures showing plants used for food, medicine, clothing, and shelter
  • Real plant examples (fruits, leaves, flowers)
  • Chart comparing living and non-living things

Lesson Development – ABC Model
A – Anticipation (Warm-up / Starter) Time: 5–10 minutes

  • Teacher asks: “Which plants do we eat?” “Which plants help animals?”
  • Students share examples from home or school.

B – Building Knowledge (Main Lesson Body)

Time: 25–30 minutes

Learners’ Activities (Expanded):

  • Teacher displays or brings real objects (fruits, vegetables, wooden items, cotton cloth, herbs) and asks students:
    • “What is this?”
    • “How do we use it?”
  • Students observe examples of plants used for:
    • Food – rice, maize, cassava, yam, oranges, mangoes.
    • Medicine – aloe vera, ginger, neem leaves.
    • Clothing – cotton (used to make cloth).
    • Shelter – wood from trees used to build houses and furniture.
  • Teacher shows pictures of farm animals eating plants (e.g., goats eating grass, birds eating grains) to show how plants also help animals survive.
  • Students discuss in pairs: “What plant do you eat at home?” “What plant helps you when you are sick?”
  • Teacher leads a short role-play where groups act out different plant uses (one group “cooking food from plants,” another “building a house with wood,” another “making cloth from cotton”).
  • Teacher reviews previous lessons:
    • Living things (plants grow, breathe, reproduce).
    • Non-living things (chair, stone) do not show these features.
  • Students compare plants with non-living items around them to reinforce the difference.

Assessment Checks:

  • Teacher asks oral questions:
    • “Name one plant we eat as food.” (e.g., rice).
    • “Which plant can give us medicine?” (e.g., ginger).
    • “What do we use wood for?” (e.g., building, furniture).
    • “Do plants grow like living things or stay the same like non-living things?” (Living things).
  • Group work: Students classify picture cards into plants for food, medicine, clothing, shelter.
  • Quick quiz: Teacher shows an item (shirt, orange, table) and students say which plant it came from.

Notes (Expanded & Detailed):

  • Plants are very useful to humans and animals.
    • Food: Plants give us fruits, vegetables, grains, roots, and tubers to eat (e.g., rice, yam, maize, mango, orange).
    • Medicine: Some plants heal sickness (ginger helps with cough, aloe vera soothes the skin, neem leaves cure fever).
    • Clothing: Cotton plants are used to make clothes.
    • Shelter and materials: Wood from trees is used to build houses, chairs, tables, and beds.
  • Plants also provide oxygen for us to breathe and shade for us to rest.
  • Plants help animals survive too—goats, cows, and sheep eat grass; birds eat seeds; insects drink nectar from flowers.
  • Key reminder: Plants are living things because they grow, breathe, feed, and reproduce, unlike non-living things that stay the same.

C – Consolidation (Conclusion & Assessment) Time: 5–10 minutes
Summary:

  • Recap usefulness of plants and the differences between living and non-living things.

Evaluation Method (Expanded):

  • Exit slip: Students list one way plants help humans and one living and non-living thing.
  • Teacher provides oral feedback.

Assignment (Expanded):

  • Students make a drawing showing 2 ways plants are useful and label living/non-living things at home.

Follow-up Activity:

  • Nature walk to observe useful plants in the school environment.

Differentiation / Inclusive Strategies

  • Provide visual aids and real objects for learners with difficulties understanding.
  • Encourage peer support and group discussions.

Teacher’s Reflection (After Class)
• What worked well? ___________________________________________
• What needs improvement? ____________________________________
• Students’ engagement level: ☑ High ☑ Medium ☑ Low