Class: Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1, JSS 1)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 7 & 8
Age: 12 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Basic Science And Technology
Curriculum Theme: Basic Science
Sub Theme: Concept Of Living And Non Living Things
Previous Lesson: Family Health, Sanitation
Topic: Family Health: Nutrition
Subject Matter: Meaning Of Nutrition, Balance Diet and Give Examples, Classes of Food with Examples, An Adequate Diet for a Home.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:
(a) Define nutrition and balanced diet.
(b) List and explain the classes of food with examples.
(c) Describe an adequate diet for the family.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the importance of eating balanced meals at home.
(b) Show positive attitude towards healthy eating habits.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Demonstrate the ability to plan a simple balanced diet using local food items.
(b) Draw and label a simple food chart showing classes of food.
Social Domain:
(a) Work together in groups to suggest adequate family meals.
(b) Encourage peers to make healthy food choices.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
Lagos State Unified Scheme of work for Junior Secondary Schools
Online information from: World Health Organization (WHO)- Nutrition
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Food samples (rice, beans, vegetables, fish, fruits, etc.)
Food chart/poster showing classes of food
Flashcards with pictures of different foods
Chalkboard and chalk/marker
Drawing of balanced diet plate

Rationale for the Lesson

Good nutrition promotes growth, strengthens immunity, and helps families maintain good health and productivity.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with common food items eaten at home and already know that food gives strength and energy.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Family Health: Nutrition

Nutrition is the process by which living things take in food and use it for growth, energy, and body repair. It involves eating the right kind of food in the right amount.

The following are the importance of nutrition:

It helps the body grow properly.
It provides energy for work and play.
It helps the body fight against diseases.
It repairs worn-out tissues.

Meaning of Balanced Diet

A balanced diet is a meal that contains all the classes of food in the right amounts for the body’s needs. It ensures the body gets energy, growth, and protection.

Examples of balanced diet include:

Rice and beans with vegetables and fish.
Yam with egg sauce and fruit.
Maize pap with milk and groundnut.

Classes of Food with Examples

There are six major classes of food needed for healthy living. The following are the classes of food and examples:

Carbohydrates – provide energy. Examples are rice, yam, maize, cassava.
Proteins – help growth and repair of tissues. Examples are beans, meat, fish, milk, eggs.
Fats and Oils – provide heat and energy. Examples are groundnut oil, butter, palm oil.
Vitamins – protect the body from diseases. Examples are fruits like orange, pawpaw, mango.
Minerals – build strong bones and teeth. Examples are calcium from milk, iron from spinach.
Water – helps digestion and regulates body temperature. Example is clean drinking water.

Adequate Diet for a Home

An adequate diet means eating enough of the different classes of food every day. A good home meal should contain energy food, body-building food, and protective food. Examples include:

A breakfast of pap with milk and groundnut.
A lunch of rice, beans, vegetables, and fish.
A dinner of yam porridge with spinach and palm oil.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Discussion, Lecture, Explanation, Question and Answer, Group Work, Use of Visual Aids, Demonstration

Instructional Procedures

To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils what they ate before coming to school and links their answers to the importance of food.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by mentioning foods they ate.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that food is important for life.

Step 2: Meaning of Nutrition

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines nutrition and explains its importance with examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and write the meaning of nutrition.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the meaning and importance of nutrition.

Step 3: Balanced Diet

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains balanced diet and gives examples using a food chart.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils give examples of balanced meals they know.
Learning Point: Pupils know what balanced diet means.

Step 4: Classes of Food

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation and Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher presents food samples and explains the six classes of food with examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the food samples and state their classes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand classes of food and their functions.

Step 5: Adequate Diet for a Home

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Group Work
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to work in groups to plan a simple adequate meal for a day using local foods.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss and present their group meal plan.
Learning Point: Pupils learn how to plan an adequate diet.

Step 6: Note-Taking

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Writing/Copying
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher dictates or writes the board summary for pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the board summary.
Learning Point: Pupils retain the lesson in their notes.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What is nutrition?
Define balanced diet with examples.
Mention and explain the six classes of food.
Give three examples of adequate family meals.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer questions orally.
Learning Point: Pupils show understanding of the lesson objectives.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson and encourages pupils to eat balanced meals at home.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and respond with interest.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate the need for nutrition and healthy eating.

Home Task: Record two correct examples of Family Health: Nutrition from the lesson or home environment and explain each in your own words.

Lesson Keywords

Nutrition – the process of taking in and using food for growth and energy.
Balanced Diet – a meal that contains all classes of food in the right amounts.
Carbohydrates – food class that provides energy.
Proteins – food class for growth and repair of the body.
Vitamins – food substances that protect the body from diseases.

Differentiation

The teacher will support slower learners with visual aids like food charts, while advanced learners will plan detailed family meals. Group activities will encourage peer learning.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Relate examples of balanced diet to locally available food items to make learning realistic. Encourage active participation by asking pupils to share home meal experiences.