Grade Six Science
Hello Boys and Girls,
How have you been keeping? Have you been doing all that you need to do to be safe? Let’s keep working hard to achieve the success we desire this year.
We will now go on to another topic. We will turn our attention to the Food Groups. Food is so very important to having good health. This is so especially at this time of COVID 19, too. Our bodies must be strong to fight off diseases. What are some other reasons why it is important to eat food?
What is food? Food is any liquid or solid which we drink or eat to provide the body with nutrients. Food is so important to our lives. Can you do without food? For how long can a human being go without food? Have you ever heard of persons going on a hunger strike? Without food all living things would eventually die.
Name some of the foods that you like. Did you name chicken, ice-cream or any fruits? What are the functions of these and other foods to our bodies? How many functions did you name?
Let’s look at some food groups and how they affect our bodies. Do take note that some names may be different from the ones to which you may be accustomed.
Staple foods: Staple foods are those foods that form the bulk of the diet. Because they are usually the cheapest foods in our market, some people tend to eat too much of them! Some examples of staple foods are rice, corn, flour and pasta products, oats, starchy fruits, roots and tubers, such as bananas and plantain, breadfruit, cassava and sweet potato.
Sometimes we refer to the vegetables as greens. They include calaloo, eddo leaves, pakchoy, lettuce, and cabbage. Some may be served raw but they must be properly cleaned. They must never be overcooked as nutrients may be lost. Can you think of other vegetables?
Look at the food groups below and compare them with those we just looked at.
The right food is important for a healthy body and a healthy mind. We should as far as possible, always have balanced diets. What really is a balanced diet? A balanced diet is made up of an appropriate mixture of foods in the right amounts. Can you name those foods groups? Do check out your answers with a friend. Did you list Carbohydrates, Proteins, Vitamins, Fats and Minerals? Or did you list them in any other way such as “To go foods,” “To grow foods” and “To glow foods?” Can you think of any other ways? Did you put water on your list? Water is important to your diet though it is not often classified as a nutrient or food group. It is, however, present in large amounts in food and is needed by all living things. Do remember that it is so important to drink lots of water several times a day.
Let’s see how well you can answer these questions on food.
1. Why is food important to us?
2. Which food nutrient should we use to ensure rich blood?
3. Calcium is good for our _________ .
4. Eating foods rich in ________ helps in the digestion of food.
5. Three examples of legumes are __________, __________ and _________ . 6. Name two foods that are rich in carbohydrates.
7. To help in the growth and repair of their bodies, Mary and Rohan should use
lots of __________ .
8.
Match the following:
a. Carbohydrates b. Proteins c. Vitamins d. To go foods e. To grow foods f. To glow foods
9. Water accounts for about___% of living things.
10. What is a balanced diet? Suggest an example of a meal that is balanced. 11. Three examples of staples are __________ , __________ and __________ .
Important to remember at this point is the importance of exercise. Exercise is important for a healthy body. Exercise is important because it
throw) strengthens your muscles develops your lungs helps in the development for body coordination (so you can catch and
- uses up food for energy and may prevent the body getting fat.
- can help you to sleep at night time
Do you exercise? How do you exercise?
Until next week when we’ll continue, goodbye, Boys and Girls, and be safe!