Basic 5 · Our World and Our People · Nature of God
Using Our Unique Abilities Responsibly
In this topic you will explain how human beings should use their unique abilities to care for themselves, other people and other creatures.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain how human abilities can be used for good or harm
- Describe the responsibility of humans towards animals and the environment
- Show kindness to animals
What you already know
- Human beings are unique
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
The same brain that invented medicines also invented guns. Human abilities are powerful. Whether they help or harm depends on how we choose to use them.
1. Good and Harmful Uses of Human Abilities
| Ability | Good use | Harmful use |
|---|---|---|
| thinking and inventing | medicines, phones, clean water systems | weapons, harmful chemicals |
| speech | encouraging, teaching, settling quarrels | insults, lies, spreading rumours |
| skilful hands | building, farming, sewing, writing | stealing, fighting, destroying property |
| power over animals | rearing animals for food, protecting wildlife | cruelty, overhunting |
| power over land | farming, planting trees | galamsey, deforestation |
2. Caring for Animals
Human beings depend on animals for food, transport, clothing and companionship. Because we are stronger and wiser, we must treat animals kindly. Animal cruelty includes beating animals, starving them, overloading donkeys, tying them in the hot sun without water, and setting dogs to fight. Animals feel pain and fear, just like us.
- Give animals food, clean water and shelter.
- Take sick animals to a veterinary officer.
- Do not throw stones at animals or birds.
- Do not keep wild animals as pets.
- Protect endangered animals such as elephants, chimpanzees and sea turtles.
3. Protecting Wildlife
Ghana has protected areas where wild animals live safely, such as Mole National Park in the Savannah Region (elephants, antelopes, warthogs) and Kakum National Park in the Central Region (forest elephants, monkeys and a famous canopy walkway). Hunting in these parks is against the law. The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission protects them.
Some animals are endangered, which means very few are left and they could disappear for ever. Sea turtles lay eggs on Ghana's beaches, and people are encouraged not to kill them or take their eggs.
4. Being Responsible
Using our abilities responsibly also means helping other people, especially the weak, the old and people with disabilities. Pupils can use their intelligence to learn well and later serve the country.
New words
- responsibility
- A duty to take care of something.
- cruelty
- Causing pain on purpose.
- veterinary officer
- A doctor for animals.
- endangered
- In danger of disappearing for ever.
- national park
- A protected area for wildlife.
- wildlife
- Animals living in the wild.
Summary
- Human abilities can be used for good or harm.
- We must treat animals kindly and avoid cruelty.
- National parks such as Mole and Kakum protect wildlife.
- Responsible people use their abilities to help others.
Class activity: Good Use Pledge
- List five ways pupils can use their abilities to help others or care for animals.
- Write them on a pledge card.
- Sign it as a group and display it.
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 is an act of animal cruelty?
- A. Beating a donkey
- B. Feeding a goat
- C. Giving a dog water
- D. Building a coop
Show answer
Answer: Beating a donkeyIt causes pain.2. Mole National Park is in which region?
- A. Savannah
- B. Central
- C. Volta
- D. Western
Show answer
Answer: SavannahIt protects elephants.3. A doctor for animals is a…
- A. veterinary officer
- B. nurse
- C. pharmacist
- D. dentist
Show answer
Answer: veterinary officerVet for short.4. Animals can feel pain.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueSo we must be kind.5. It is good to keep wild animals as pets.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseThey belong in the wild.6. Animals that may disappear for ever are ______.
Show answer
Answer: endangerede.g. sea turtles.7. Give one good and one harmful use of human speech.
Show answer
Answer: Good: teaching or encouraging. Harmful: insulting or lying.Any pair.8. Why must humans protect animals?
Show answer
Answer: Humans are stronger and can reason, so they are responsible; animals feel pain and are part of creation we depend on.Stewardship.
Homework
- Find out about one endangered animal in Ghana and write how it can be protected.