Basic 4 · Religious and Moral Education · The Environment
Littering, Sanitation and Air Pollution
In this topic you will discuss the effects of littering, poor sanitation and air pollution.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain the effects of littering and poor sanitation
- Explain the causes and effects of air pollution
- Suggest ways to keep the environment clean
What you already know
- Galamsey and water pollution
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- God’s creation and attributes
- Sub-strand
- The Environment
- Indicator
- B4.1.2.1.1 – Discuss the effects of human activities on the environment
Introduction
Plastic sachets block gutters in Accra and cause floods when it rains. Smoke from burning rubbish fills the air. These problems come from human activities.
1. Littering and Poor Sanitation
| Activity | Effect |
|---|---|
| littering | blocked gutters, floods, ugly surroundings |
| open defecation | spread of cholera and typhoid |
| uncovered rubbish heaps | flies, rats and bad smells |
2. Air Pollution
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| burning rubbish | smoke and breathing problems |
| vehicle smoke | coughing, eye irritation |
| factory smoke | dirty air, climate change |
3. Solutions
- use bins and sort waste
- take part in clean-up exercises
- use toilets and wash hands
- avoid burning rubbish
- maintain vehicles to reduce smoke
New words
- litter
- Rubbish thrown carelessly.
- sanitation
- Keeping the environment clean and healthy.
- open defecation
- Toileting in the open.
- air pollution
- Harmful substances in the air.
- clean-up exercise
- A group effort to clean an area.
- cholera
- A disease spread through dirty water and food.
Summary
- Littering blocks gutters and causes floods.
- Poor sanitation spreads diseases like cholera.
- Burning rubbish and vehicle smoke pollute the air.
- Bins, toilets and clean-ups keep the environment healthy.
Class activity: Clean-Up Exercise
- Clean the school compound using the broom and waste basket.
- Sort the waste.
- Discuss how the clean compound affects health.
You need: Printed photographs of local galamsey, Bush burning, Charred wood, Discarded water sachet, Manila cause-and-effect chart
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. What can littering cause?
- A. Floods
- B. Clean water
- C. Good health
- D. More trees
Show answer
Answer: FloodsLitter blocks gutters.2. Which disease is linked to poor sanitation?
- A. Cholera
- B. Broken arm
- C. Short sight
- D. Toothache
Show answer
Answer: CholeraIt spreads through dirty water.3. Which reduces air pollution?
- A. Not burning rubbish
- B. Burning tyres
- C. More smoke
- D. Open fires
Show answer
Answer: Not burning rubbishIt reduces smoke.4. Toilets help prevent disease.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThey contain human waste.5. Vehicle smoke is good for our lungs.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseIt harms the lungs.6. Keeping the environment clean and healthy is ______.
Show answer
Answer: sanitationThat is sanitation.7. Give two effects of littering.
Show answer
Answer: Any two: blocked gutters, floods, ugly surroundings, pests.Littering harms the environment.8. Why should communities hold regular clean-up exercises?
Show answer
Answer: To remove rubbish, prevent floods and stop diseases.Clean-ups protect health.
Homework
- Help keep your house surroundings clean for a week.