HOME ECONOMICS CLASS NOTE: FOOD FOR HEALTH & THE CLASSES OF FOOD
Class: Nursery Three (Ages 5–6)
Theme: Food and Nutrition
Topic: Food for Health and the Classes of Food
1. THE STORY OF THE HUMAN CAR (Introduction)
Imagine that you are a shiny, fast, and beautiful car! To move, a car needs petrol (fuel). If the car has no petrol, it stays still and cannot go to school or the park. Our bodies are just like that car. Food is our "fuel."
But a car also needs oil to keep the engine smooth and water to keep it cool. If we only give our "human car" one type of food, we might run out of breath, get tired, or get sick. To be a "Super Car," we need to eat different types of food every day. These different types are called the Classes of Food.
2. WHY DO WE EAT? (The Purpose of Food)
We do not just eat because food tastes yummy; we eat to keep our "human car" running perfectly. There are three big reasons why we eat:
- To Grow Big and Tall: Have you noticed your shoes or clothes are getting tight? That is because you are growing! Food helps your bones and muscles get bigger so you can grow from a small child into a big adult.
- To Get "Zoom-Zoom" Energy: To play football, dance, jump, or even write in your notebook, you need power. Food gives you the energy to stay active all day without getting sleepy.
- To Stay Healthy (The Body Shield): Sometimes, tiny germs try to make us cough or sneeze. Healthy food acts like a shield or a "superhero cape," protecting us from getting sick.
3. THE SIX CLASSES OF FOOD (The Body Team)
Our food is divided into six special groups. Each group has a different job to do for our body.
A. Carbohydrates (The Energy Givers)
Carbohydrates are like the petrol in a car. They give us the strength to run around the playground and stay awake in class.
- Nigerian Examples: Yam, Rice, Garri (Cassava), Maize (Corn), and Agege Bread.
- Other Examples: Spaghetti, Potatoes, and Oats.
B. Proteins (The Body Builders)
Proteins are like the bricks used to build a house. They help build your muscles and repair your skin if you get a scrape or a cut.
- Nigerian Examples: Beans, Moin-moin, Akara, and Groundnuts.
- Other Examples: Eggs, Fish, Meat, Chicken, and Milk.
C. Fats and Oils (The Energy Reserve)
Fats give us extra energy and keep our skin glowing. They also help keep us warm when the weather is cold. We only need a little bit of these to stay healthy.
- Nigerian Examples: Palm oil (the red oil in our soup) and Groundnut oil.
- Other Examples: Butter, Avocado, and Margarine.
D. Vitamins (The Protectors)
Vitamins are the "soldiers" of the body. They fight off sickness and make your eyes see clearly. They also make your skin look bright and beautiful.
- Examples: All Fruits (Mangoes, Oranges, Bananas, Pawpaw, Watermelon) and Vegetables (Ugwu leaves, Carrots, Spinach, Cabbage).
E. Minerals (The Strength Helpers)
Minerals make our teeth strong so we can crunch apples and make our bones hard so they don’t break when we jump. Calcium is a very important mineral found in milk that makes you strong.
- Examples: Milk, Cheese, Fish (with tiny bones), and Sea salt.
F. Water (The Refresher)
Water is the most important! It helps wash the food down and carries the "fuel" to every part of your body. It also helps you go to the toilet easily and keeps your brain smart.
4. REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES (Scenarios)
- Scenario 1: The Sports Day Race
If tomorrow is "Sports Day" at your school, you should eat a big bowl of Rice or Yam (Carbohydrates). This gives you the "zoom-zoom" energy to win the race!
- Scenario 2: The Boo-Boo Healer
If you fall down and get a small scratch on your knee, you should eat an Egg or some Beans (Protein). The protein acts like a "repair crew" to fix your skin and make the scratch go away quickly.
- Scenario 3: The Rainy Day
When the weather is very cold and rainy, a little bit of Butter on your bread or Palm oil in your soup (Fats) helps your body stay warm on the inside.
5. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: BUILDING A BALANCED PLATE
A "Balanced Plate" means having a little bit of everything so your body is happy. Here is how to make a perfect lunch:
- Fill Half the Plate with Colors: Put lots of vegetables (like carrots or spinach) and a piece of fruit. (Vitamins).
- Add a Scoop of Energy: Put a portion of rice or yam. (Carbohydrates).
- Add a "Building Block": Put a piece of fish, meat, or a scoop of beans. (Protein).
- Don't Forget the Drink: Always have a clean glass of water nearby!
6. PROJECT-BASED LEARNING: "MY HEALTHY PLATE COLLAGE"
Goal: To show that you know how to choose a healthy meal.
Materials Needed:
- A paper plate (or a circle cut out of cardboard).
- Old magazines, food wrappers, or pictures of food drawn by you.
- Safety scissors and glue.
- Crayons.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Divide the Plate: Use a crayon to draw a line down the middle of your plate. Divide one of those halves again. Now you have one big space and two smaller spaces.
- The Big Space (Vitamins/Protectors): Glue pictures of fruits and vegetables here. This should be the biggest part of your meal!
- Small Space 1 (Carbohydrates/Energy): Glue pictures of rice, bread, or yam here.
- Small Space 2 (Proteins/Builders): Glue pictures of fish, eggs, or beans here.
- The Water Circle: Draw a small blue circle next to your plate to show your glass of water.
- Show and Tell: Show your plate to your family and explain: "This is my protein for muscles, this is my carbohydrate for energy, and these are my vitamins to keep me healthy!"
7. HOME PRACTICE ACTIVITIES: "THE KITCHEN DETECTIVE"
Activity 1: The Sorting Game
- Task: Go into the kitchen with an adult. Point to three things and name their class.
- Example: Point to the beans and say, "That is Protein! It helps me grow." Point to an orange and say, "That is a Vitamin! It protects me."
- Outcome: You will learn that your kitchen is full of different "body fuels."
Activity 2: The "Rainbow Plate" Challenge
- Task: During dinner, count how many colors are on your plate.
- White (Rice), Brown (Meat), Green (Vegetables), Orange (Carrots).
- Outcome: A plate with many colors is a very healthy plate!
8. LIFE SKILLS & CAREER CONNECTIONS
- Healthy Choices: When you go to a party, instead of only eating sweets, you can choose to eat some moin-moin (protein) or fruit (vitamins) to stay strong.
- Who uses this knowledge?
- Doctors: They tell sick people which foods will help them get better.
- Chefs: They cook delicious meals that have all the classes of food to keep customers happy and healthy.
- Athletes: Famous footballers like Victor Osimhen eat lots of carbohydrates and proteins so they can run fast and score goals!
9. STUDENT REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- If you want to have very strong teeth and bones, which class of food (and drink) should you have?
- Can you name one "Energy Giver" food that we eat in Nigeria?
- Why is water important after eating our food?
- If you want to grow taller than your teacher, which class of food should you eat more of?
Teacher’s Note: Encourage the children to sing the "Food Class Song" (To the tune of 'Are you sleeping?'):
"Carbohydrates, Carbohydrates, give us power, give us power. Proteins build our muscles, Proteins build our muscles, Grow, grow, grow. Grow, grow, grow."
DOXCOV ACADEMY