General
- Home Science S1 File Uploaded 24/01/22, 11:54
Unit 1:PERSONAL HEALTH AND ETIQUETTES
By the end of this topic, we should be able to: ≈ apply principles of good personal health and etiquettes in our daily lives. ≈ practice acceptable social behaviours.
Key unit competency: Learners should be able to state, apply and implement the principles of personal health and etiquettes in their daily life.
INTRODUCTION
In this unit, we are going to look at aspects and principles of maintaining good personal health, importance of maintaining good personal hygiene, indices of good health as well as personal and professional etiquettes which include: communication and language, values and eating habits.
PERSONAL HYGIENE
Personal hygiene: This is the habitual practice of keeping one’s body clean including things we use, for example, clothing, shoes, toothbrushes, combs and so on.
Do you know that when we regularly and thoroughly wash our bodies, hair, hands, as well as brushing teeth,care for gums and keeping the feet and clothes clean, is of great importance? The following are the reasons for doing all that.
ways of maintaining good personal health
It is important to maintain good personal health. In groups of not less than five, identify the different ways how you as students can maintain good personal health.
After looking at the ways of maintaining good personal health, let us form groups of five and discuss the importance of maintaining good personal health.
From our findings, we shall note the following points as shown in the illustration below
Good health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being characterized with freedom from disease. When you are feeling good about your self that is happy, lively and not having any pain. It means you are in a state of good health. There fore, good health is not merely the absence of diseases but a state of being well, mentally, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. In addition to the above, other indices of good health include;
clear, bright skin and eyes.
Figure 1.2: Children with bright eyes and skin
strong teeth, gums, nails and hair.
Figure 1.3: Children with strong teeth and gums
- fresh breath and body odour.
- meals being digested with ease that is; no gas, bloating, heartburn and so on.
- feeling energized when you wake up with good energy level throughout the day.
Figure 1.4: Waking up when energized
regular and healthy bowel movements.
Figure 1.5: Regular bowel movements
clear urination.
wounds and bruises healing quickly.
joints and muscles flexing with ease.
Figure 1.6: Joints and muscles flex with ease
consistent temperature.
Figure 1.7: Having consistent temperature
being free from cravings for certain types of food and drink.
being able to maintain a suitable weight for your height and body.
Figure 1.8: Taking weight measurements
being rarely affected by colds, flu and other infections.
clear and focused thinking, good memory and concentration.
even and balanced temper.
being able to tolerate stress well.Physical exercise
We have all involved ourselves in activities that make our bodies sweat, increase the heartbeat and so on. This can be in form of walking, running, dancing, skipping, jumping and other activities. All these are forms of physical exercise.
We can therefore say that, physical exercises are important in the following ways.
Physical exercise helps to increase the circulation of blood.
It also makes the body to function better.
It helps to strengthen the body muscles.
It keeps the body physically fit.
It controls on the body weight gain.
It helps one to relax and sleep better.
It reduces stress and tension.We should also note that exercises should be done under fresh air and sunshine. We as young people should have exercises in form of swimming, running, tennis, soccer, dancing, and gymnastics while older people can walk for some distance at regular times of the day.
Sleep
Every individual has slept either knowingly or unknowingly. Think of those moments when reading a piece of material and you find yourself sleeping and wake-up the following morning. When this happens, it helps in the following ways.
It restores the lost energy particularly to the nervous system since much energy is lost during work.
It helps the brain to relax and recharge for more activities.
It also helps one to have proper digestion and utilization of food.
Figure 1.18: Child sleeping
Periodic medical check ups
In groups of five, answer the following questions and let the group leaders share their answers with the whole class. Your teacher will moderate your contributions.
- When was the last time you did medical checkup?
- How often do you take medical checkup in a year?
- Do you do medical checkups regularly or when you are sick?
- Give reasons for doing periodic medical checkups.
- Identify the different activities that happen when you go for medical check up.
After answering our questions in the activity above, we shall note that regular or periodic visits to a doctor help to cure certain illnesses and prevent certain diseases such as cancer, tooth decay, epilepsy, high blood pressure, and diabetes which may develop without our notice.
Eating a balanced diet
In pairs, answer the following questions and thereafter share your experiences.
- Mention the food you commonly eat at home.
- Do you think every time you eat you have a balanced diet or not?
- How many meals do you have in a day?
- Give the importance of eating a balanced diet.
Figure 1.19: Foods containing the balanced diet
Considering the numerous advantages of eating a balanced diet, we can note that a balanced diet is a diet containing carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and fibre in the right amount and proportion to keep an individual healthy.
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ETIQUETTES
In our communities, we are all expected to behave in a certain manner or way.
Different societies have different set rules that are followed. The acceptable rules or habits governing behaviour regarded as correct or acceptable in social or official life are what we refer to as Etiquette.
They can also be defined as a standard and code of practice followed by members of any profession or group.
Let us study the table below and identify acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in society and give reasons why it is acceptable or unacceptable.
After research and discussion, identify the different personal and professional etiquettes. The table above shows different personal and professional etiquettes and how best they can be presented and achieved.
Communication and language
Figure 1.20: Communication
Communication is the importing or exchanging of information or news. Language is a method of human communication either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words. Communication is transmitted by body language through; use of eye contact, gestures, facial expressions Communication can also be expressed in the voice that is: it’s quality, use of tone, articulation
It can also be conveyed in the words we use.
To be good at communication, you:
- need to mind about your body language and its meaning.
- need to use expressive, gestures which are neutral at the same time.
- need to produce a good resonant booming sound that can be heard by your audience.
- Should present a clear speech so that you are understood.
- Need variation in pitch and pace of the presentation.
- Need to use a good upright posture good eye contact, open body language and have a firm handshake.
- Need appropriate clothing, neat and clean hair, nails and shoes.
- Need a well-produced voice which amplifies confidence.
Values and Ethics
Values are important long lasting beliefs or ideas about what is important to a person of a culture society.
Ethics are referred to as a set of rules which are plainly adopted by a group of people.
To observe professional values and ethics, the following should be put into consideration;
Figure 1.21: Shaking hands
Being excellent: Excellence is a quality of service which is unusually good and so surpasses ordinary standards, it should be made a habit for it to make a good impression on your bosses and colleagues.
Being trustworthy: Trustworthiness is being dependable, and reliable when called upon to deliver a service.
Being accountable: This is taking responsibility for your actions and its consequences whether good or bad.
Being courteous and respectful: Courteousness is being friendly, polite and considerate in manners towards others.
Being honest, open and transparent: Honesty is an aspect of moral character that means positive and good attributes such as truthfulness, straightforwardness of conduct, loyalty, fairness, sincerity, openness in communication and generally operating in a way for others to see what actions are being performed.
Being competent and improving continually: Competence is the ability of an individual to do a job properly.
Always be honorable and act with integrity; honorable action is behaving in a way that portrays goodness of soul.
Being respectful of confidentiality: Confidentiality is respecting the set of rules that restricts you from unauthorized distribution of information.
Setting good examples: One must show and lead by good example. This is about living an exemplary life within so that others can learn from you.
Giving value in return to your business and customers.
Treating others well and having concern for the well-being of others.
Never to use foul language, insult or demean your colleagues.Body language
Body language is a kind of non-verbal communication where thoughts, intentions or feelings are expressed by physical behaviour. Body language can take form as:
- Facial expression
- Body posture
- Gestures
- Eye movement
- Touch
- Use of spaceBody language to express different feelings
Figure 1.22: Body language to express different feelings
Facial expression
This is the presentation of the face when expressing emotions through the body. Happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, depressed, angry.
We shall note that the face conveys the immense richness of non-verbal communication than any other body part
Meaningful facial expressions involve:
- Maintaining eye contact while talking with others.
- Not studying hands or cleaning fingernails while others are talking.Body posture
This is the way in which your body is positioned when you are sitting or standing. Body posture displays one’s emotions such as: anger, fear , nervousness, attentiveness.
Let us role play different postures in groups of five and the class will identify the meaning of different standing and sitting postures.
Gesture
Gesture is defined as the movement of part of the body, especially the hands, arms, fingers, legs or the head to express an idea or meaning.
Handshakes
A handshake is an act of shaking a person’s hand with one’s own, used as a greeting or to finalise an agreement.
Handshakes show level of confidence and emotions in form of:
- Finger squeeze
- Bone crusher (shaking strongly).
- Limp fish (shaking weakly).
Figure 1.23: Handshake
In pairs, learners will demonstrate different handshakes and the rest of the class will identify the meaning of each type of handshake.
Other types of body movements
We shall also find out that there are other types of body movements, for example covering one’s mouth suggests suppression of feelings and perhaps uncertainty. This could also mean that someone is thinking hard and may be unsure of what to say next.
Eating Habits
We shall research and present the definition of eating habits as the way a person or group eats, considered in terms of what types of food are eaten in what quantities and when.
Eating habits refers to why and how people eat which food they eat and with whom they eat as well as the way people obtain, store, use and dispose of food leftovers.
We shall note that there are factors which influence people’s eating habits.
Including:
- Individual factors
- Social factors
- Religious factors
- Economic factors
- Environmental factors
- Political factors
Using our research findings and presentation, we shall realise that we need to do the following to achieve good eating habits.
- Scheduling three meals a day.
- Eating a healthy breakfast. - Eating frequent and nutritious meals.
- Enjoying snacks in between meals.
- Drinking water or having soup before meals to reduce over-eating.
- Eating slowly and chewing the food thoroughly aids in digestion.
- Obtaining proteins from nuts, legumes, grains, sprouts and choose low fat dairy products, lean white meats or fish.
- Choosing a variety of whole grain produce to include millet, barley, sorghum, oats and wheat.
- Choosing organic products to eliminate chemical exposure.
- Avoiding processed food as sometime it’s hard to digest.
- Choosing sea salt for cleaning purposes.
- Eliminating sugars or choosing unrefined sugar such as honey.
- Drinking a lot of water to wash out toxins.
- Gradually weaning from large portions to achieve a healthy weight.
- Eating less in the evening.
- Eating at least one nutritious meal per day with your family to encourage good eating habits.
Eating a balanced diet
Figure 1.24: Balanced diet
Relating this unit and other subjects
In this topic; home management and subtopic personal health, etiquettes and home care, there are many aspects looked at which are also studied in other subjects.
This unit is related to other subjects for example, the study of human body and personal hygiene is in biology, etiquettes, pronunciations and expressions are in languages then physical exercises in physical education and eating a balanced diet and eating habits are in food and nutrition.
In this unit area, we have looked at the aspects and principles of maintaining good personal health, personal and professional etiquettes that is: Communication and Language, Values and Ethics, Body language and Eating habits. In the next subtopic area, we shall study types of colours, principles and use of colours and types of decorative materials, tools and equipment.
GLOSSARY
Body language: the process of communicating what you are feeling or thinking by the way you place and move your body rather than by words
Communication: the activity or process of expressing ideas and feeling of giving people information
Ethics: the moral principles that control or influence
Behaviour Etiquettes: the formal rules of correct or polite behaviour in society or among members of a particular organisation
Habit: a thing that you do often and almost without thinking, especially something that is hard to stop doing
Health: the condition of a person’s body or mind
Hygiene: the practice of keeping yourself and your living and working areas clean in order to prevent illness and diseases
Indices: signs or measures that something else can be judged by Medical
checkup: a thorough examination of your body that a doctor does Physical
exercise: is any body activity that enhances physical times and overall health and wellness
Sleep: the natural state of rest in which your eyes are closed, your body is not active and mind is not conscious
Values: beliefs about what is right and wrong and what is important in life- Home Science S1 SB File Uploaded 1/11/21, 10:54
- Home Science S1 TG File Uploaded 1/11/21, 10:57