Basic 5 · Our World and Our People · Nature of God
Human Beings Are Unique
In this topic you will explain the features that make human beings unique compared to other creatures.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- State features that are special to human beings
- Compare human beings with other animals
- Explain how these features help people
What you already know
- Myself and my body (Basic 4)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- All About Us
- Sub-strand
- Nature of God
- Indicator
- B5.1.1.1.1 – Explain that human beings are unique compared to other creatures
Introduction
A goat, a dog and a human being all eat, breathe, grow and have young ones. Yet only human beings write books, build cars, make laws and pray. What makes human beings so different?
1. Features That Make Humans Unique
| Feature | What it allows humans to do |
|---|---|
| a large, highly developed brain | think, reason, plan, solve problems and invent |
| speech and language | talk, write, read and share ideas across time |
| walking upright on two legs | free the hands for work; see far |
| hands with a thumb that can touch each finger | hold pens, tools and needles; do fine work |
| conscience | know right from wrong and feel guilt or shame |
| creativity | make music, art, stories and machines |
| worship | believe in and worship God |
| culture | have customs, festivals, clothes and laws |
2. Humans and Other Animals
Animals mostly act by instinct. Instinct is a natural behaviour that an animal does without being taught, such as a weaverbird building its nest or a baby goat standing soon after birth. A weaverbird builds the same kind of nest every time. Human beings, however, learn from others, think about what they are doing and can change and improve their ways. A carpenter can design a new type of chair; a scientist can invent a new medicine.
Some animals can communicate with sounds, and some, like chimpanzees, can use simple tools such as sticks. But no animal can write, build a school or make a vaccine. Human beings can also pass knowledge from one generation to the next through books, schools and stories.
3. Why Our Uniqueness Matters
Because humans can think and know right from wrong, they are responsible for their actions. Religions teach that God made human beings in a special way and gave them the duty to care for the earth and its creatures. Our special abilities should be used to help others, protect the environment and treat animals kindly, not to destroy.
Remember: Instinct is behaviour an animal is born with. Humans can learn, reason and choose.
New words
- unique
- Different from all others.
- instinct
- Natural behaviour that is not learnt.
- reason
- To think logically and make sensible decisions.
- conscience
- An inner sense of right and wrong.
- upright
- Standing straight on two legs.
- culture
- The way of life of a group of people.
Summary
- Humans have a highly developed brain, language and skilful hands.
- Humans have a conscience and can worship.
- Animals act mostly by instinct; humans learn and reason.
- Our abilities make us responsible for caring for the world.
Class activity: Human or Animal?
- Your teacher reads activities (e.g. building a nest, writing a letter).
- Decide whether each is done by humans, animals or both.
- Give a reason for each answer.
You need: Hand mirror, Printed photographs of Ghanaian children with local animals, Manila comparison chart
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which ability is special to human beings?
- A. Writing books
- B. Eating
- C. Breathing
- D. Sleeping
Show answer
Answer: Writing booksAnimals cannot write.2. A weaverbird building its nest is an example of…
- A. instinct
- B. reasoning
- C. culture
- D. conscience
Show answer
Answer: instinctIt is not taught.3. Which part of the body lets humans do fine work like sewing?
- A. Hands with thumbs
- B. Feet
- C. Ears
- D. Knees
Show answer
Answer: Hands with thumbsThe thumb can touch each finger.4. Animals can make laws.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseOnly humans make laws.5. Humans can pass knowledge from one generation to the next through books.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThrough writing and schools.6. An inner sense of right and wrong is the ______.
Show answer
Answer: conscienceOnly humans have it.7. State three features that make humans unique.
Show answer
Answer: Developed brain, speech and language, conscience (or upright walking, skilful hands, worship).Any three.8. Explain why humans are responsible for their actions while animals are not.
Show answer
Answer: Humans can reason and know right from wrong; animals act mostly by instinct.Conscience and reason.
Homework
- Watch an animal at home for ten minutes. List what it does and decide which actions are instinct.