Skills
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Life Skills
Study guide
Grade 4
CAPS aligned
LM van der Walt
LESSON ELEMENTS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
What the learner should know at the end of the lesson. Taken from CAPS.
IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY
New terminology to extend understanding of the subject as part of the lesson.
ACTIVITY
Questions that must be done in order to test the knowledge of the completed lesson.
SAMPLE
PREFACE
Welcome in Grade 4!
You should read widely about the topics we are going to discuss to broaden your general knowledge.
Life Skills as subject contributes to your overall development as a learner. That means it teaches you about a variety of things so that you can reach your potential on a physical, intellectual, personal, emotional and social level. You will be equipped with knowledge and skills to help you function as fully-fledged member of society. The subject encourages you to develop life skills that will help you deal effectively with society’s challenges. Then you will also be able to play an active and responsible role in the community, and will be able to help and support many people.
Life Skills as subject comprises three sections:
• Personal and Social Well-Being (PSW)
• Physical Education (PE)
• Creative Arts (CA) – Dramatic Arts and Visual Arts
In this study guide, the three sections flow together. The PE activities are not found at the back of the study guide, but are included in each term’s work. You can adjust the lesson content at your own discretion, but you have to ensure that ALL the work is completed during the term. You and your facilitator can adapt the lesson content as you see fit, but you have to ensure that ALL the work is covered during the term. If you, for example, want to do PE more than once a week, you can.
SAMPLE
Personal and Social Well-Being teaches you about your role in the relationship between yourself and your environment and community. It gives you the life skills to make informed decisions regarding everyday life. This includes decisions about your personal lifestyle, health and social well-being.
It will help you deal with difficult situations. It mainly focuses on three topics:
• Self-development
• Health and environmental responsibility
• Social responsibility
Physical Education, on the other hand, focuses on physical development. You will learn about healthy eating and exercise habits to boost your health and fitness.
The last part is Creative Arts. This exposes you to dance, drama, music and visual arts. It helps you develop and expand your creativity. Visual Arts focuses on the following three aspects:
1. Visual literacy
2. Designs in 2D
3. Designs in 3D
Dramatic Arts focuses on the following four aspects:
1. Warm-up and games
2. Improvise and create
3. Read, interpret and perform
4. Appreciate and reflect
All the formal assessments are in the portfolio book.
SAMPLE
Lesson 1: Personal strengths
TERM 1 1
Lesson 2: Respect for your own and others’ bodies
Lesson 3: Conflict resolution
Formal assessment
Lesson 4: Warm-up and play
Lesson 5: Improvise and create
2
3
Lesson 6: Read, interpret and perform
Lesson 7: Appreciate and reflect
Lesson 8: Visual literacy
Lesson 9: Create in 2D
Lesson 10: Create in 3D
Lesson 11: Safety measures during activities
Lesson 12: Movement performance –locomotive, elevation, rotation and balance
Lesson 13: Participation in locomotive, elevation, rotation and balancing activities
TERM 2
5
6
Lesson 14: Emotions
Lesson 15: Personal experience of group work
Lesson 16: Bullying
Lesson 17: Children’s rights and responsibilities
Lesson 18: Warm-up and play
Lesson 19: Improvise and create
Lesson 20: Read, interpret and perform
Lesson 21: Appreciate and reflect
assessment 7
Lesson 22: Visual literacy
Lesson 23: Create in 2D
Lesson 24: Create in 3D
Lesson 25: Safety issues in sport
8
Lesson 26: Adapted invasion games
Formal assessment
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
UNIT 1:
Personal and social well-being
LEARNING AIMS
After completing this unit, you should be able to do the following:
• Identify, investigate and appreciate your own personal strong points.
INTRODUCTION
• Identify successful and less successful experiences.
• Turn less successful experiences into positive learning experiences.
• Show respect for your own, as well as other people’s bodies.
• Apply appropriate strategies to avoid and handle conflict situations.
Personal and social well-being is about learning how to lead a healthy, happy, successful life. In this unit, you will learn how to identify your strengths as well as those of others. It is important to know what your strengths are, so that you can use them to reach your goals. It is also good to know about your weaknesses, so that you can work on and improve them. It can even become one of your strengths!
SAMPLE
We must respect our bodies. We must nourish our bodies with healthy food and strengthen it with physical activities. It is also important to respect other people’s bodies. You may never do anything that makes someone else uncomfortable. Lastly, we will look at conflict, and how you can avoid or handle it. Everything is set out below to make it easier to understand:
Personal strengths
• Identify own and others’ strengths.
• Use strengths positively.
• Read about role models and successful people.
Respect for own and others’ bodies
• How to groom and respect your own body.
• How to respect other people’s bodies.
• Read about grooming and respect for the body.
Conflict resolution
• Conflict at home and at school.
• Reasons for conflict.
• Conflict resolution.
• Read about safe environments and how to avoid conflict.
IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY
• Strengths: A person’s positive characteristics that he/she can use to achieve success, e.g. conscientiousness, loyalty.
• Weaknesses: Characteristics a person wants to change, e.g. a short temper or impatience.
• Role model: A person who is a positive inspiration to you.
• Respect: When someone or something is important to you and you handle them/it with consideration and care.
• Conflict: When two parties disagree about something.
Lesson 1: Personal strengths
Recommended resources: study guide, pictures from magazines, books about role models and successful people, and newspaper articles
1.1 Identify, examine and appreciate your own strengths
Who are you?
Paste a photograph of yourself in the block below.
SAMPLE
Look at the photograph of yourself in the block. Now answer the following questions in your workbook. Be honest with yourself!
1. What is the first thing you notice when you look at the photograph?
2. Are you satisfied with what you see?
3. Give a good reason for your answer to question 2.
4. Make a list of your strengths, in other words all your strong points.
5. Make a list of your weaker points – those are the things you would like to change about yourself.
You will now have a clearer picture of yourself as a person. We all have strengths and weaknesses. That is why we have successful as well as less successful experiences. It is important that you know which points you need to work on, in order for you to reach your full potential. You must appreciate and use your strengths to reach your goals. You must realise that you will have less successful experiences, but that you can learn something positive from each of these experiences.
You might think of Superman when I use the word “strengths”. But that is not the kind of strength I am talking about here. Your strengths are the things you can do well. The following is a list of strengths:
• Creativity
• Healthy curiosity for knowledge
• To be open-minded
• Thirst for knowledge
• Willingness to take risks
• Perseverance
• Vivaciousness
• Good heartedness
• Leadership qualities
• Can apply self-control
• Good sense of humour
It is equally important to know your weaknesses. It often happens that someone who is unsuccessful cannot understand why they fail repeatedly. If, however, you can identify your weaknesses, you can improve on them and then you can be successful in everything you do.
The following is a list of weaknesses that can get in the way of success:
• Aggression
• Arrogance
• Insensitivity to others’ feelings
• Prejudice
• Hard-headedness
• Bossiness
• Anxiety
• Impatience
• Negative attitude
• Impulsiveness
• Laziness
• Selfishness
• Rudeness
It is also important to notice and appreciate other people’s strengths. Study the picture below:
My name is Thabo Thabo has done an analysis of his strengths and weaknesses. This will help him determine which characteristics he needs to improve on.
Things Thabo likes doing
• Playing rugby with his friends.
• Listening to music.
• Playing with his dog in the garden.
ACTIVITY 1
Things Thabo does not like doing
• Doing the dishes. Taking out the trash.
• Doing homework.
• Getting up early for school.
Things Thabo does well Things Thabo wants to improve
• He is a loyal friend.
• He can sing well.
• He always tells the truth.
• He wants to help his mom in the house.
• He wants to keep his room tidy.
• He wants to be more diligent with his homework.
1. Use the same method Thabo used. Draw a diagram in your workbook and write down your own, personal characteristics.
2. Now draw a diagram for your friend/brother/sister and identify his/her characteristics.
3. Compare the two diagrams.
1.2 Ways of converting less successful experiences into positive learning experiences
Things do not always work out the way we would like them to. You might have wanted to win first place in the Eisteddfod, but you came third. You are sad, because you know you are a good artist; it is one of your strong points. But maybe you are prone to being hasty. Maybe you tried to complete your picture as fast as possible and did not pay enough attention to neatness and the finer details. On the positive side, you can use your strengths to improve your weaknesses.
In future, you can focus on your talent and the finer details of your artwork, and promise yourself never to rattle off your artwork again! It is important for your development into a well-rounded young adult not to focus on the negative, but to learn a lesson from it. Then you can improve on the things you are not that good at.
ACTIVITY 2
Read the story below and complete it so that it has a positive outcome. Erica really wants to participate in the revue. Even though she knows she cannot sing very well, she auditions anyway. Unfortunately, she does not get cast in the revue. She is very sad. Erica then hears that the teacher is looking for someone to pain the decor, and she is a very good artist ...
1.3 Read about role models or successful people with self-confidence
There are many people who use their strengths to overcome their weaknesses. We see these people as role models. Countless books have been written by people who had to overcome obstacles on their road to success.
Examples of books you could read:
SAMPLE
All these books tell the stories of people who successfully overcame obstacles in their lives.
Also read the story about Siya Kolisi, captain of the Springbok rugby team that won the World Cup in 2019.
Siya Kolisi is a role model today for people throughout the world
Image 1.1
Siyamthanda (Siya) Kolisi is probably the one South African sportsman that most South Africans know and admire
Kolisi is captain of the Springboks, our South African rugby team, and has led his team to a World Cup victory in 2019. Kolisi is the first black man to hold the position of Springbok captain.
Even as a child, Kolisi was a formidable talent. He was raised in the Zwide informal settlement in Port Elizabeth and excelled in rugby at the Emsengeni Primary School.
He was chosen for the Eastern Province u12 B team and was subsequently spotted by the prestigious school Grey High School. Grey is known for excellence on the sports field and has produced a number of famous sportsmen. Grey awarded Kolisi a scholarship and he was a natural leader at the school.
There was a big contrast between his life at Grey and at home and when he returned home, he often received scathing comments from community members. He however soon gained their respect.
Kolisi suffered several hardships as a child since his mother and grandmother passed away while he was still at school. He went through very difficult times, but he worked hard and set a brilliant example both on and off the field. His work rate and commitment were exemplary. Kolisi was a favourite amongst the Grey pupils and proved to be a role model for younger pupils.
According to the information website Wikipedia a role model is a person whose behaviour, example or success is or can be emulated by others.
Kolisi is a role model today for thousands of people throughout the world – he is a shining example of someone who rose above his circumstances to achieve great successes. He is proud of all the accolades, but he is still a humble guy who is thankful to all the people who have made a difference in his life.
He believes that one should give back to the community and is involved with several projects to make a difference in the lives of children.
Search for a couple of articles about people we regard as role models. Paste the articles into your workbook.
1.4 Reach your full potential by practising good self-management
What does a young person striving for success look like? It is someone who believes in him/herself and knows what he/she wants to accomplish, who works hard and never gives up. Successful people set clear goals and surround themselves with positive people from whom they can learn to be successful.
Each person has certain skills, talents and interests and you have to determine what yours are. You can improve your talents and skills and it can become your strengths. Weaknesses make you feel negatively about yourself and it can prevent you from reaching your full potential. You should work on improving your weaknesses every day.
Self-management is a skill that helps you plan and enables you to adapt to change. It helps you move towards your goals.
How do I practise good self-management?
Step 1: Set clear goals
• What do you want to achieve in the short term? (The end of the term)
• What do you want to achieve in the medium term? (The end of the year)
• What do you want to achieve in the long term? (When you grow up)
Step 2: Use your time wisely
• Time is precious – plan how you use your time.
• Use a diary and lists.
• Set deadlines and stick to them.
Step 3: Keep the balance
• Eat healthy.
• Exercise regularly.
• Get enough sleep.
• Make time to do fun things.
Step 4: Act like a winner
• Always work hard at school
• Always greet others in a friendly manner.
• Treat everybody with respect.
Lesson 2: Respect for your own and others’ bodies
Recommended resources: study guide, books and newspaper articles about grooming and respect for body
2.1 How to take care of and respect my own body
If you respect and take care of your own body, you will feel good about yourself. You do not want to feel embarrassed when you are with other people. It is therefore important to follow the following basic steps every day:
• Brush your teeth in the morning and at night.
• Take a bath or shower at least once a day.
• Eat healthily and get regular exercise.
• Wash your hair at least three times a week.
• Sleep eight to 10 hours per night. • Do not consume alcohol.
• Do not smoke.
Follow these rules to ensure that you groom yourself properly. You may not always understand why you have to take a bath if you do not even feel dirty, or why you must brush your teeth during the holidays – sometimes it feels so unnecessary! Let me explain why it is important to do these things.
1. Brushing your teeth
The first step in good hygiene is brushing your teeth. You must brush your teeth for at least two minutes. The best method is to gently move back and forth with the toothbrush. Always brush away from you gums, otherwise you could damage them.
Colgate S.A. gives the following guidelines for brushing your teeth correctly:
SAMPLE
Brush the outer surface of the top and bottom teeth
Brush the inner parts of the top and bottom teeth.
Brush the tongue to ensure fresh breath.
Your toothbrush should ideally be soft with a small head. You should replace your toothbrush every three months. Choose the toothpaste that works best for you. It is important to take good care of your teeth. Neglected teeth and gums can lead to:
• Plaque
• Tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Tartar
• Tooth loss
• Bad breath
2. Bath and shower
We lose hundreds of dead skin cells every day. If we do no wash the skin, it can cause infection and skin irritation. The skin could be itchy and very dry. We must also shower and bath so we do not smell of sweat and other body odours.
3. Washing your hair
It is important to wash your hair regularly. It prevents oily hair, as well as scalp infections like eczema and dandruff. Choose a shampoo that suits your hair type. Never use other people’s towels or brushes. You can get head lice if you do.
4. Eat healthy and exercise often
You need a variety of nutrients to be healthy. You need to consume a specific amount of each food group every day to be healthy.
There are five basic food groups:
• Carbohydrates give us energy. It is divided into two groups: 1) Starches such as bread, pap, corn, rice and potatoes. 2) Sugars, such as honey, jam, fruit, sweets and other sweet foods that contain sugar.
SAMPLE
• Fats provide the body with heat and is therefore important. It is also divided into two groups: 1) Animal fats, such as butter, cream and fat in meat. 2) Plant fats, such as oil, margarine, nuts and olives.
• Proteins are also divided into two groups: 1) Animal proteins, such as meat, fish, eggs, milk and poultry. 2) Plant proteins, such as legumes (peas and beans) and soya beans.
• Vitamins and minerals are essential for good health, growth, healthy bones and teeth, and normal eye function. We get it from different fruit and vegetables.
• Water and fibre are called cleaners. It keeps the body clean on the inside.
You are probably wondering how much of each food group you should eat every day. Here is an easy way to remember it.
Fats, oils and sweets
Milk, yoghurt, cheese, meat, fish, eggs and nuts
Vegetables, fruit
Bread, grains, rice and pasta
The pyramid goes from big to small, in other words the nutrients you need to consume most of are at the bottom and those you should consume the least of are at the top. It works as follows:
• Fats, oils and sweets = 1 portion per day
• Meat, fish, eggs and nuts = 2 portions
• Milk, yoghurt, cheese = 2 portions
• Vegetables and fruit = 5 to 7 portions
• Bread, grains, rice and pasta = 4 to 6 portions
ACTIVITY 3
Work out a healthy eating plan for yourself. Eating healthy is not enough. Exercise is also very important. A fit person is a healthy person. It is important to exercise for 30 – 45 minutes three times per week. It could be any type of exercise: running, walking, swimming or cycling.
Regular exercise has many health benefits:
• Keeps your body fit and healthy.
• Prevents obesity.
• Prevents heart disease.
• Keeps your mind fit and healthy.
• Helps you sleep better.