Common Illnesses in the Community: Identifying Symptoms and Prevention
Lesson Plan: Common Illnesses in the Community
Subject: Social Studies
Class: Primary 3 (Basic 3)
Term: Second Term
Week: 7
Age: 8–9 years
Topic: Common Illnesses in the Community
Sub-Topic: Identifying and Understanding Common Illnesses
Duration: 40 Minutes
Behavioural Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
- Identify common illnesses found in the community.
- Understand the symptoms and causes of illnesses like malaria, flu, and the common cold.
- Describe how these illnesses can affect the body.
- Suggest ways to prevent the spread of these illnesses in the community.
Keywords
- Malaria
- Flu
- Cold
- Symptoms
- Community
- Prevention
Set Induction
The teacher shows pictures of people suffering from common illnesses such as fever, coughing, and sneezing. Pupils are asked:
- “Can you guess what illness this person might have?”
- “What do you think causes these illnesses?”
Entry Behaviour
Pupils have previously learned about the importance of staying healthy and have discussed illnesses in their homes and communities.
Learning Resources and Materials
- Pictures of people with common illnesses.
- Chart paper for group research.
- Markers for writing and illustrating.
Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge
The teacher asks the pupils to share any experiences they or their family members have had with common illnesses. Pupils discuss how they felt and how they treated or prevented these illnesses.
Embedded Core Skills
- Research skills
- Communication and collaboration
- Critical thinking
- Health awareness
Learning Materials
- Lagos State Scheme of Work.
- Basic Science textbooks.
- Flashcards and pictures showing different symptoms of illnesses.
- Chart paper for group research.
Instructional Materials
- Flashcards or pictures of people with symptoms of malaria, flu, and cold.
- Research materials (books, internet access, etc.).
Content
Definition and Explanation
- Common Illnesses in the Community
- Malaria: A serious illness caused by a parasite transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms include fever, chills, and sweating.
- Flu (Influenza): A viral infection that affects the respiratory system. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue.
- Common Cold: A viral infection that affects the nose and throat. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and sore throat.
- Chickenpox: A viral infection that causes itchy rashes and fever. It is highly contagious and spreads through contact with an infected person.
- Typhoid Fever: Caused by bacteria, typhoid fever leads to symptoms like high fever, weakness, and abdominal pain.
- Symptoms and Causes of Common Illnesses
- Malaria: Caused by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, and sweating.
- Flu: Caused by a virus. Symptoms include fever, body aches, coughing, and sore throat.
- Common Cold: Caused by a virus. Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and mild cough.
- Prevention:
- Use mosquito nets and insect repellents to prevent malaria.
- Wash hands regularly and avoid close contact with sick people to prevent the flu and cold.
- Eat healthy food and stay hydrated to boost your immune system.
- How These Illnesses Affect the Body
- Malaria causes weakness and high fever, which can make the body feel tired and unable to function well.
- The flu and cold affect the respiratory system, making it hard to breathe and causing a sore throat, cough, and runny nose.
- Chickenpox causes itchy rashes and can lead to discomfort and fever.
- Typhoid fever causes stomach pain, diarrhea, and high fever, which can make the person feel weak and dehydrated.
Evaluation
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
- _______ is a serious illness caused by a parasite transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.
- a) Flu
- b) Typhoid
- c) Malaria
- d) Chickenpox
(Answer: c)
- _______ is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system and causes fever, body aches, and fatigue.
- a) Flu
- b) Malaria
- c) Chickenpox
- d) Typhoid
(Answer: a)
- _______ causes itchy rashes and is spread by contact with an infected person.
- a) Typhoid
- b) Malaria
- c) Chickenpox
- d) Cold
(Answer: c)
- The flu is caused by a _______ infection.
- a) Bacterial
- b) Fungal
- c) Viral
- d) Parasitic
(Answer: c)
- One way to prevent malaria is by using _______.
- a) Sunscreen
- b) Mosquito nets
- c) Vitamins
- d) Medication
(Answer: b)
- A person suffering from a cold will often experience a _______ nose.
- a) Runny
- b) Blocked
- c) Dry
- d) Swollen
(Answer: a)
- _______ is caused by bacteria and leads to symptoms like fever and stomach pain.
- a) Typhoid
- b) Chickenpox
- c) Cold
- d) Flu
(Answer: a)
- A common symptom of chickenpox is _______.
- a) Rashes
- b) Cough
- c) Fever
- d) Sore throat
(Answer: a)
- To prevent the spread of cold, you should _______ your hands regularly.
- a) Wash
- b) Shake
- c) Scratch
- d) Ignore
(Answer: a)
- The flu can cause _______ throat.
- a) Sore
- b) Swollen
- c) Red
- d) Dry
(Answer: a)
Class Activity Discussion
FAQs with Answers
- What causes malaria?
Malaria is caused by a parasite spread through mosquito bites. - How can we prevent the flu?
Wash your hands regularly and avoid close contact with people who are sick. - What are the symptoms of a cold?
Symptoms of a cold include a runny nose, sore throat, and mild cough. - How do we get chickenpox?
Chickenpox spreads when you come into contact with someone who has the virus. - What should you do if you have a fever?
Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and seek medical attention if needed. - Can the flu spread easily?
Yes, the flu is highly contagious and can spread through coughing or sneezing. - What is the best way to avoid malaria?
Use mosquito nets and repellents to avoid mosquito bites. - Is chickenpox dangerous?
While it is usually mild in children, chickenpox can lead to complications, so it is important to rest and seek medical help. - Can a person with a cold go to school?
If symptoms are mild, it’s okay, but they should rest and avoid close contact with others to prevent spreading the virus. - How does washing hands help prevent illness?
Washing hands removes germs that could cause illnesses like the cold or flu.
Presentation
- Step 1: The teacher revises the previous lesson on the “Ways of Helping Someone Who Has Abused Drugs.”
- Step 2: The teacher introduces the new topic on “Common Illnesses in the Community,” showing pictures and discussing different illnesses.
- Step 3: The teacher invites pupils to share their own experiences with illnesses, asking questions to correct misconceptions and expand on ideas.
Teacher’s Activities
- Display pictures of common illnesses and engage pupils in identifying symptoms.
- Guide pupils in group discussions about ways to prevent these illnesses.
- Encourage pupils to ask questions and share their knowledge about illness prevention.
Learners’ Activities
- Participate in identifying common illnesses from the pictures.
- Discuss in groups the symptoms and ways to prevent common illnesses.
- Answer questions and contribute to the class discussion.
Evaluation Questions
- What is malaria, and how is it caused?
- What are the symptoms of the flu?
- How can we prevent the spread of the common cold?
- What is chickenpox, and how can it be prevented?
- How does washing hands help in preventing illness?
- Why is it important to rest when we are sick?
- Can you describe the symptoms of typhoid fever?
- What should you do if you have a fever?
- What are the differences between the flu and the cold?
- How can we prevent malaria in our community?
Conclusion
The teacher walks around to mark answers and provides feedback. Pupils are reminded to practice good hygiene and seek medical help when necessary to stay healthy.