CLASS NOTES: GOOD FEEDING HABITS

Subject: Home Economics Class: Nursery Three Topic: Good Feeding Habits Curriculum: Nigerian Hybrid Curriculum (Integrating National Standards with Global Best Practices)

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🌟 Introduction: What are Good Feeding Habits?

Feeding habits are the ways we behave when we are about to eat, while we are eating, and after we have finished our food. Just like we learn how to say "Please" and "Thank you," we must also learn the right way to eat our food.

Good feeding habits help us grow tall and strong. They keep us from getting sick because they stop germs from entering our tummies. When we eat properly, we also show respect to the people around us and the person who cooked the delicious meal. In Nigeria, we value good manners, and eating well is a big part of being a "well-brought-up" child.

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🍽️ Comprehensive Core Concepts

1. Before We Eat (Preparation)

Before you touch your spoon or your food, there are important things to do. The most important one is washing your hands. Germs are tiny monsters that we cannot see with our eyes. They hide on our palms and under our fingernails from playing with toys or touching the floor.

Steps to take before eating:

• Wash your hands with soap and running water: Rub your palms, the back of your hands, and between your fingers.
• Sit down properly: Find a chair and sit upright. Do not lie down or run around while trying to eat.
• Say a prayer or a "Thank You": In many Nigerian homes, we say a short prayer to thank God for the food or thank our parents for providing it.

2. During the Meal (Table Manners)

While we are eating, we must be calm and polite. Eating too fast can make us choke, and making loud noises can be disturbing to others.

How to behave while eating:

• Chew with your mouth closed: Nobody wants to see the food inside your mouth! It also helps you breathe better while eating.
• Don't talk with food in your mouth: Finish your bite, swallow it, and then you can speak.
• Use your cutlery or hands correctly: If you are using a spoon, hold it gently. If you are eating "swallow" (like Eba or Pounded Yam) with your hands, make sure you only use your right hand (as is common in our culture) and take small, neat portions.
• Avoid splashing: Try not to spill soup or rice on the table or your clothes.

3. After the Meal (Cleaning Up)

Good feeding habits do not end when the food is gone. We must leave the eating area as clean as we found it.

What to do when you are finished:

• Say "Thank you": Tell the person who gave you the food that you enjoyed it.
• Clear your plate: Take your plate to the kitchen or the designated washing area.
• Wash your hands and mouth: Rinse away the oils and food particles from your hands and use water to rinse your mouth so your teeth stay clean.

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🌍 Real-World Examples

Scenario 1: The School Lunch Break

Imagine it is time for lunch at school. A student with good feeding habits will not start eating immediately. They will join the line to wash their hands at the tap. They will sit at their desk, open their lunchbox carefully, and eat their rice bit by bit without throwing any on the floor. When they are done, they close their lunchbox and wipe their mouth with a napkin.

Scenario 2: Eating at a Birthday Party

At a party, there are many children. A child with good habits waits for their turn to be served. They don't grab food or shout. They sit down to eat their cake and chicken, and they use a tissue to wipe their hands instead of rubbing them on their clothes.

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🛠️ Practical Applications: Step-by-Step Guides

How to Use a Napkin/Tissue

1. Step 1: Pick up the napkin before you start eating.
2. Step 2: Place it on your lap or tuck it slightly into your shirt to protect your clothes.
3. Step 3: If your mouth feels messy, gently "dab" or pat your lips with the napkin. Do not rub harshly!
4. Step 4: When you are finished, fold the used napkin and place it beside your plate.

How to Take a "Perfect Bite"

1. Step 1: Use your spoon to scoop a small amount of food (not a mountain!).
2. Step 2: Bring the spoon to your mouth (don't put your whole head down into the plate).
3. Step 3: Put the food in, take the spoon out, and close your lips.
4. Step 4: Chew quietly until the food is soft enough to swallow.

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🎨 Suggested Home Projects (Project-Based Learning)

Project: My "Good Manners" Star Chart

Materials Needed: A piece of cardboard or paper, a marker, and some stickers (or a pen to draw stars).

Procedure:

1. Draw a table with the days of the week (Monday to Sunday).
2. In the rows, write: "Washed Hands," "Chewed Quietly," "Cleared My Plate."
3. The Task: Every time you eat a meal (Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner), check if you did these things.
4. If you did all three, put a big star or a sticker on that day!
5. At the end of the week, show your teacher or parents how many stars you earned.

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🏠 Home Practice Activities

Activity 1: The "Silent Snack" Experiment

• Materials: A crunchy snack (like crackers, carrots, or chin-chin).
• Instructions: Try to eat the snack in two ways. First, eat with your mouth open (listen to the loud noise!). Second, eat with your mouth closed.
• Outcome: Notice how much quieter and neater it is when your mouth is closed.

Activity 2: Hand-Washing Song

• Instructions: Practice washing your hands while singing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. This ensures you wash for the full 20 seconds needed to kill germs.
• Outcome: Clean hands that smell fresh and are safe for eating.

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🚀 Life Skills Integration

• Health & Hygiene: Good feeding habits prevent stomach aches and cholera. By washing hands, you are acting like a Doctor protecting your body.
• Social Skills: People love eating with children who have good manners. This helps you make friends and makes people invite you to fun places.
• Career Connection: Chefs and Waiters in big hotels must know all about good feeding habits to serve people correctly. Learning this now prepares you for many jobs in the future!

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🤔 Student Reflection Questions

1. Why do you think we shouldn't talk when our mouth is full of food?
2. How do you feel when you see someone splashing food on the table?
3. What is the first thing you should do when you see your plate of food?
4. Who are you going to thank after your next meal?
5. Can you show your mummy or daddy how to wash your hands properly today?

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Teacher’s Note: Encourage the pupils to demonstrate the hand-washing technique in class and role-play a "dinner party" using empty plates and spoons to practice their manners.