Level: Class 1 (Primary 1) | Subject: Our World Our People (OWOP) | Topic: Myself, My Five Senses, and My Environment | Curriculum: Ghana NaCCA
In Class 1, children begin to understand themselves more deeply – how their body works, how they learn about the world through their senses, and how the natural world around them is organised. This lesson covers the human body, the five senses, plants, and animals in the Ghanaian environment.
My Body
Our bodies are amazing and complex. Every part has a job to do. In Class 1, we focus on the main external body parts children can see and touch.
| Body Part | Its Job |
|---|---|
| Eyes | Seeing – we use our eyes to read, find our way, recognise people, and enjoy the beauty around us. |
| Ears | Hearing – we listen to music, speech, warnings, and the sounds of nature. |
| Nose | Smelling and breathing – we breathe in air through the nose. It warms and filters the air before it reaches our lungs. |
| Mouth | Eating, speaking, and tasting – food enters our body through the mouth, where teeth begin breaking it down. |
| Hands | Touching, holding, writing, cooking, building, drawing – our hands do more work than any other body part. |
| Legs and feet | Walking, running, jumping, standing – they carry us everywhere we need to go. |
| Brain | Thinking, feeling, controlling the body – the brain is the control centre for everything we do. |
| Heart | Pumping blood around the body – the heart beats all day and night without stopping. |
| Lungs | Breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide – we cannot live without working lungs. |
Taking Care of Our Body
- Eat balanced and nutritious meals every day.
- Drink clean water – at least 6 to 8 cups a day.
- Wash your hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
- Exercise regularly – play, run, and be active.
- Get enough sleep – children need 9 to 11 hours every night.
- See a doctor or nurse when you feel sick. Do not ignore illness.
My Five Senses
We learn about the world around us through our five senses. Each sense uses a specific part of the body and gives us different information.
| Sense | Body Part Used | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Sight | Eyes | Seeing colours, shapes, faces, reading words, watching animals |
| Hearing | Ears | Listening to music, hearing a teacher’s voice, hearing rain fall |
| Smell | Nose | Smelling food cooking, smelling flowers, smelling smoke warning of fire |
| Taste | Tongue | Tasting sweet (mango), sour (lemon), salty (kelewele seasoning), bitter (medicine) |
| Touch | Skin | Feeling hot, cold, rough, smooth, soft, hard, wet, dry |
Activity – Sense Hunt: Ask children to close their eyes and use only their nose. What can they smell? Then open eyes. What can they see? Tap the desk – what does it feel like? This makes the five senses real and personal.
Plants Around Us
Plants are living things that grow in the ground. They make their own food from sunlight, water, and air. Ghana has a rich variety of plants, many of which provide us with food, medicine, and shelter.
Parts of a Plant
- Root: Holds the plant in the ground. Drinks up water and minerals from the soil.
- Stem: Carries water and food between roots and leaves. Holds the plant upright.
- Leaves: Make food for the plant using sunlight (this process is called photosynthesis).
- Flower: Attracts insects for pollination. Produces seeds for new plants to grow.
- Fruit: Holds and protects the seeds. Many fruits are also food for animals and people.
- Seeds: Can grow into new plants when planted in suitable soil.
Uses of Plants
- Food: Yam, cassava, maize, mango, plantain, tomato, garden eggs, pepper, pineapple
- Medicine: Neem tree (treats malaria and skin conditions), ginger (stomach problems), garlic (infections)
- Building: Trees provide wood for furniture, beams, and charcoal
- Shade and beauty: Trees keep streets and homes cool and make our environment beautiful
- Clean air: Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, helping us breathe
Animals Around Us
Animals are living things that can move, eat, breathe, and reproduce (have babies). Unlike plants, animals cannot make their own food – they eat plants or other animals.
Classifying Animals
| Group | Description | Ghanaian Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Mammals | Have hair or fur. Give birth to live young. Feed babies with milk. | Cow, goat, dog, cat, bat, grasscutter, elephant, human being |
| Birds | Have feathers and wings. Most can fly. Lay eggs. | Hen, eagle, weaver bird, vulture, parrot, duck, flamingo |
| Reptiles | Have scales. Cold-blooded. Most lay eggs. | Lizard, snake, crocodile, tortoise, chameleon |
| Fish | Live in water. Have scales and fins. Breathe through gills. | Tilapia, catfish, tuna, sardine, shark |
| Insects | Have 6 legs and 3 body parts. Most can fly. | Mosquito, butterfly, bee, ant, grasshopper, beetle |
Uses of Animals
- Food: Fish, chicken, beef, goat meat, eggs, milk
- Work: Oxen and donkeys for farming, dogs for guarding
- Clothing: Leather from cow hides
- Company: Pets like dogs and cats
Practice Questions: My Body, Senses, Plants, and Animals
1. Which sense do we use when we listen to our teacher speaking?
Reveal Answer
2. Which part of a plant takes in water from the soil?
Reveal Answer
3. A tilapia is an example of which animal group?
Reveal Answer
4. Which of these is a good habit for taking care of your body?
Reveal Answer
5. Which plant is widely used in Ghana as a food crop and also has medicinal value?
Reveal Answer
Next topics: Class 1 OWOP: Transportation and Communication | Class 1 RME: God Our Creator, My Family, and Good Citizenship