Basic 7 · Career Technology · Personal Hygiene and Food Hygiene
Staying Healthy
In this topic you will explain what it means to be healthy, why good health matters, and the daily practices that help you live a full and healthy life.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain the meaning of health and its three main parts
- State the importance of staying healthy
- Describe practices and materials that support healthy living
What you already know
- Personal hygiene and keeping the body clean (Upper Primary)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Health and Safety
- Sub-strand
- Personal Hygiene and Food Hygiene
- Indicator
- B7.1.1.1 – Discuss the need to stay healthy
Introduction
A healthy learner wakes up with energy, concentrates in class, plays with friends and gets along well with others. Health is more than not being sick; it is feeling well in body, mind and relationships.
1. What Is Health?
Health: A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or illness.
This definition, used by the World Health Organization (WHO), shows that health has several parts. A person may have no disease but still be unhealthy if they are always anxious, lonely or exhausted. Good health is a resource for living a full life: it allows us to learn, work, help our families and enjoy life.
2. The Three Parts of Health
| Part | Meaning | Signs of good health |
|---|---|---|
| physical health | the body is fit and working well | energy, normal weight, strong muscles, good sleep |
| mental health | the mind is calm and able to cope | clear thinking, managing stress, positive feelings |
| social health | relating well with other people | good friendships, respect, cooperation, sharing |
3. Why We Need to Stay Healthy
- A healthy learner attends school regularly and learns better.
- Healthy people can work, earn money and support their families.
- Good health prevents the cost of hospital bills and medicine.
- Healthy people live longer and enjoy life more.
- A healthy community is more productive and develops faster.
4. Signs That Health Is Poor
Poor health can show in many ways: frequent illness, tiredness, loss of appetite, sudden weight loss or gain, sadness that does not go away, anger, or withdrawing from friends. When you notice these signs in yourself or a friend, speak to a parent, teacher or health worker. Early help prevents small problems from becoming serious.
Remember: Health is physical, mental and social. All three parts affect each other.
5. Health as a Shared Responsibility
Staying healthy is the duty of the individual, the family, the school and the government. The individual makes daily choices about food, rest and hygiene. The family provides meals, a clean home and care when someone is ill. The school teaches health education, provides clean water and toilets and encourages sports. The government trains health workers, builds hospitals and clinics, and runs programmes such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and child immunisation, so that more people can get care when they need it.
New words
- health
- Complete physical, mental and social wellbeing.
- wellbeing
- Feeling comfortable, healthy and happy.
- mental health
- The state of a person's mind and emotions.
- social health
- The ability to relate well with others.
Summary
- Health is complete physical, mental and social wellbeing.
- Good health helps us learn, work and live longer.
- Signs of poor health should be reported early to a trusted adult or health worker.
Class activity: Health Wheel
- Draw a large circle and divide it into three parts: physical, mental and social.
- List three signs of good health in each part.
- Present your health wheel to the class.
You need: Bar of locally made soap, Clean towel, Toothbrush
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which of these is a part of health?
- A. Social health
- B. Weather
- C. Money
- D. Clothing
Show answer
Answer: Social healthRelating well with others.2. Feeling calm and able to cope with stress is a sign of good…
- A. mental health
- B. physical health
- C. food hygiene
- D. environmental health
Show answer
Answer: mental healthThe mind is well.3. A person with no disease is always fully healthy.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseMental and social wellbeing also matter.4. The organisation that defined health as complete wellbeing is the World ______ Organization.
Show answer
Answer: HealthWHO.5. Give three reasons why it is important to stay healthy.
Show answer
Answer: To learn well, to work and earn money, to live longer (or avoid hospital costs).Any three.6. Explain how poor social health could affect a learner's physical health.
Show answer
Answer: Loneliness and conflict can cause stress, poor sleep and loss of appetite, which weaken the body.Parts affect each other.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Health and Safety
- Sub-strand
- Personal Hygiene and Food Hygiene
- Indicator
- B7.1.1.1 – Discuss the need to stay healthy
Introduction
Staying healthy does not happen by chance. It comes from good choices made every day: what we eat, how we rest, how we move and who we spend time with.
1. Healthy Living Practices
| Practice | How it helps |
|---|---|
| eating a balanced diet | gives the body all the nutrients it needs |
| drinking enough clean water | keeps the body cool and helps digestion |
| regular exercise | strengthens the heart, muscles and bones |
| enough rest and sleep (8–10 hours) | restores energy and helps memory |
| personal hygiene | prevents germs and diseases |
| avoiding drugs, alcohol and smoking | protects the brain, lungs and liver |
| resisting negative peer pressure | prevents harmful behaviour |
| regular medical check-ups | finds problems early |
2. A Balanced Diet
A balanced diet contains the right amounts of carbohydrates (energy foods such as rice, yam and kenkey), proteins (body-building foods such as fish, beans and eggs), fats and oils, vitamins and minerals (from fruits and vegetables such as oranges, kontomire and garden eggs) and water. Eating too much of one type, such as sugary drinks, or skipping meals, can lead to illness.
3. Materials That Support Healthy Living
Some simple materials help us stay healthy every day. Soap removes dirt and germs from the skin. A toothbrush and toothpaste keep teeth and gums clean. A clean towel dries the body without spreading germs; it should not be shared. A mosquito net prevents malaria. A water filter or boiling makes drinking water safe. Sportswear and canvas shoes make exercise comfortable and safe.
4. Saying No to Negative Peer Pressure
Peers are people of the same age group. Positive peers encourage you to study, play sports and behave well. Negative peer pressure pushes you to do harmful things, such as smoking, taking drugs, skipping school or bullying. To resist, say "No" firmly, give a reason, suggest something better to do, and walk away if needed. Choose friends who respect your choices.
Tip: A simple rule for good sleep: put away phones at least one hour before bedtime.
5. Exercise and Rest
Young people should be physically active for at least one hour every day. Walking to school, playing football, skipping, dancing and helping with farm work are all good exercise. Exercise strengthens the heart and lungs, keeps body weight healthy, improves mood and helps you sleep well. Rest is just as important. During sleep the body repairs itself and the brain stores what you learned during the day, so a well-rested learner remembers lessons better.
New words
- balanced diet
- Meals containing all food nutrients in the right amounts.
- peer pressure
- Influence from people of the same age group.
- nutrients
- Substances in food the body needs to grow and stay healthy.
- medical check-up
- A visit to a health worker to examine one's health.
Summary
- Healthy living includes a balanced diet, exercise, rest, hygiene and avoiding drugs.
- Soap, toothbrushes, towels, mosquito nets and clean water support good health.
- Resist negative peer pressure by saying no, giving a reason and walking away.
Class activity: My Healthy Day Plan
- Write a one-day timetable that includes meals, exercise, study, hygiene and sleep.
- Mark the food groups in each meal.
- Share your plan with a partner and suggest one improvement to each other's plan.
You need: Bar of locally made soap, Clean towel, Toothbrush
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which food is mainly a body-building food?
- A. Beans
- B. Rice
- C. Yam
- D. Sugar
Show answer
Answer: BeansRich in protein.2. How many hours of sleep do young people of your age need each night?
- A. 8–10 hours
- B. 2–3 hours
- C. 4–5 hours
- D. 14–16 hours
Show answer
Answer: 8–10 hoursRestores energy.3. Sharing a towel can spread germs.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueTowels should be personal.4. Influence from people of the same age group is called peer ______.
Show answer
Answer: pressureIt can be positive or negative.5. Name four practices that can help us live a healthy life.
Show answer
Answer: Balanced diet, regular exercise, enough sleep, personal hygiene (or avoiding drugs, check-ups).Any four.6. Describe how you would respond if a friend offered you a cigarette.
Show answer
Answer: Say no firmly, give a reason such as it damages the lungs, suggest another activity and walk away if they insist.Refusal skills.
Homework
- Keep a three-day record of your meals and sleep, and judge whether they were healthy.