DISNEY KINDERGARTEN AND PRIMARY SCHOOL

PRIMARY FOUR SCIENCE LESSON NOTES TERM II- 2020

TOPIC ONE OUR FOOD
Lesson 1
Food is something good to eat or drink.
Sources of food.
 Markets
 Gardens
 Shops
 Lakes
 rivers
Reasons for eating food.

I. We eat food to grow well.

II. We eat food to get energy.
III. We eat food to be healthy.

The reasons for eating food can also be represented by the 5Hs i.e. Health, Habit,
Hunger, Happiness and Hospitality.

A BALANCED DIET

A balanced diet is a meal which contains all food values in their correct amount.

A balanced diet is made up of seven classes which include;

 Carbohydrates
 Proteins
 Vitamins
 Mineral salts
 Roughages
 Fats and oils
 Water

However, the main classes of food are; carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins.

These three classes of food are also abbreviated as the 3Gs i.e. Go foods, Grow foods,
Glow foods.

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Activity

1. What is food?
2. List three reasons why we eat food
3. Write the 5Hs in full.
4. Define a balanced diet
5. Mention the classes that make up a balanced diet.
6. State the three main classes of food.
7. Write the 3Gs in full.

Lesson 2
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are food nutrients which give the body energy.

Examples of food rich in carbohydrates are;

 Cassava, sweet potatoes, millet, rice, yams, Irish

Honey, bread, posho, jam, green bananas.
Carbohydrates provide the body with energy.

PROTEINS

Proteins are body building foods.

Examples of foods rich in proteins are;
 Eggs  Lean meat
 cheese  soya beans
 Beans  Fish
 ground nuts  chicken

Importance of proteins in the body

 Proteins help our bodies to grow.

 Proteins repair worn out body tissues.
 Proteins help to make anti-bodies and enzymes.

Activity
1. Mention any three groups of people that need a lot of carbohydrates.
2. List any three examples of foods which in carbohydrates.
3. Mention two sources of proteins.
4. Why are we advised to give babies a lot of proteins?
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 Lesson 3
VITAMINS
Vitamins are foods that help to protect our body against diseases. They are also called
health giving foods.
Vitamin Source of vitamin Its importance
A Green vegetables; carrots; oranges, egg It keeps eye sight in a good
yolk, paw paws, liver, margarine, mangoes condition.
B Millet, beans, ground nuts, meat, green It keeps nerves in good
vegetables, sorghum, yeast, egg yolk health.
C Oranges, paw paws, mangoes, pineapples, It keeps the gum, skin and
passion fruits, water melon blood vessels healthy.
Eggs, butter, milk, smoked fish, meat, Helps bones and teeth to
D margarine, liver grow healthy.
E Green vegetables, eggs, butter, liver Helps in proper working of
reproductive organs.
K Liver, green vegetables, egg yolk, For proper healing of
unpolished cereals, cabbages wounds (Helps in clotting of
blood when the skin is cut).

Activity
1. Give four groups of vitamins.
2. Mention the food values that keep our bodies healthy
3. List any two sources of vitamin K.

Lesson 4
MINERAL SALTS
Mineral salts are also protective foods.

Mineral salt Source Use

Calcium Smoked fish, green vegetables,
beans, fruits, meat, bread
Iron Beans, meat, liver, kidney smoked
fish, milk, green vegetables
Iodine Iodised salt, sea water, garlic,
mushroom, pumpkin, cabbage
Makes bones and teeth strong.
It helps in formation of blood
(haemoglobin)
For proper working of the
thyroid glands.

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FATS AND OILS
Fats and oils are foods which provide our body with more energy and heat.
In mammals like man, excess fats are stored under the skin.
Sources of fats
Milk, butter, ghee, egg yolk, avocados, Ground nuts, simsim, cheese, palm oil
Uses of fats in the body
 Fats provide the body with heat (warmth)
 Fats provide the body with energy.
 Fats protect the heart and kidneys.
NB: Excess fats in the body lead to a condition called obesity.

Activity
1. Give the three groups of mineral salts (examples)
2. Mention the importance of iron in ones’ diet.
3. Identify the mineral salt required for strong growth of bones and teeth.
4. Of what importance are fats in the baby (give two)
5. Mention two sources of fats.

Lesson 5
ROUGHAGES
Roughages are undigestible fibres from the cell walls of plants.
Sources of roughages
Green vegetables, Oranges, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, peas

Functions of roughages in the body.

 Roughages help to prevent constipation.
 They reduce the risk of bowl cancer.
 They add bulk to the diet.
 Roughages encourage chewing of food and ease digestion.

Activity

1. List any three foods that provide the body with roughages.
2. Write one use of roughages in the body.

Lesson 6
DEFICIENCY DISEASES
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These are diseases we get when our bodies lack enough of some food values.

Examples of deficiency diseases are;

 Marasmus  goitre
 beriberi  Rickets
 Kwashiorkor  anaemia
 pellagra  Night blindness
 Scurvy  haemophilia

MARASMUS
It is caused by lack of enough carbohydrates in the body.

Signs of Marasmus
 The child is always hungry.
 The lower part of the abdomen is swollen.
 The child’s face looks like that of a very old person.
 The child becomes very thin.

Prevention of Marasmus

Marasmus can be prevented by feeding the child on foods with carbohydrates.

Activity
1. Mention any three examples of deficiency diseases.
2. What causes Marasmus?
3. Give any two signs of Marasmus.
4. How can one prevent him / her self from getting marasmus?

Lesson 7
KWASHIORKOR
It is caused by lack of enough proteins in the body.

Signs of kwashiorkor
 The child will have a swollen face.
 The child will have swollen hands and feet.
 The upper parts of the arms look very thin.
 The child has swollen abdomen.
 The hair turns reddish brown.

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Prevention of kwashiorkor
It is prevented by feeding on foods rich in proteins.

Activity
1. How can a P.4 pupil tell a child suffering from kwashiorkor from the community?
(Give two signs)
2. Give the best way of preventing kwashiorkor from attacking the children.

Lesson 8
SCURVY
 It is caused by lack of enough vitamin C in the body.
 Scurvy is a skin disease.

Signs of scurvy
 Bleeding gums in the mouth.
 Wounds which do not easily heal.
 The person is very weak.

Prevention of scurvy

 Scurvy is prevented by feeding on fruits and vegetables.

 Scurvy is prevented by feeding on foods rich in vitamin C.

RICKETS
Rickets is caused by lack of enough vitamin D in the body.
It affects the bones of children.

Signs of rickets
 Bones are soft and swollen.
 Bones are weak and bow shaped.

Prevention of rickets

 By sunbathing in morning sunshine for a short time in the morning.

 By feeding a child with foods which contain vitamin D.

NIGHT BLINDNESS
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It is caused by lack of enough vitamin A in the body.
Sign of night blindness
 A person does not see well at night or in dim light.
Prevention of night blindness

By eating foods rich in vitamin A

Activity

1. Identify the deficiency disease one gets due to lack of enough vitamin c.
2. Give two signs of the disease you have mentioned above.

3. Rickets is caused due to lack of enough vitamin D in the diet.

Give two signs of rickets in children.
4. What cause night blindness?

Lesson 9
GOITRE

Goitre is a swelling of the gland in the throat.

Goitre is caused due to lack of enough iodine in the body.
Sign of goitre
 Swelling in the neck.

Prevention of goitre
Goitre can be prevented by eating foods rich in iodine.

ANAEMIA
It is caused by lack of enough iron in the body/ lack of enough blood in the body.
Other causes of anaemia include; malaria, hook worms and jiggers.
Signs of anaemia

 The inside part of the eyelid and tongue look pale.

 One will have white finger nails.
 Severe body weakness and tiredness.
 One has pale gums.

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Prevention of anaemia
Anaemia can be prevented by eating foods rich in iron.

Activity

1. What causes the following?

a) Goiter
b) Anaemia
2. How can one prevent the swelling of the gland in the throat?

Lesson 10
BERIBERI
It is caused by lack of enough vitamin B1 in the body.
Signs of beriberi
 Loss of appetite.
 The hands and feet become paralysed.
 Swelling of arms and legs.
 Pain in the muscles of the body.
 Retarded body growth.
 Tiredness without much work.

Prevention of beriberi
By eating foods rich in vitamin B1

PELLAGRA
It is caused by lack of enough vitamin B2 in the body.
Signs of pellagra.

 Skin disorders.
 Mouth sores.
 Eye membrane sores.

Activity

1. Mention any two signs of beriberi.

2. Identify the food deficiency disease that causes sores in the mouth.

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