Be Body Wise with Napo (Part I)
Teacher guidance:
This resource is a lesson that can stand alone or be part of a wider project. It links to other subjects, as shown, but its main purpose is to use the engaging Napo films to teach children about how to take care of their bodies and avoid long-term damage, focusing on risks to the skin and to the back.
The first section given an overview of potential activities, objectives and resources required for the session. This is followed by links to a detailed three-part lesson plan pdf with an idea for extending the lesson, and to a downloadable help sheet which accompanies the lesson.
In this lesson children will use the Napo video clips to discover the risks to their own physical health and safety and how to protect themselves against such risks.
Learning Objectives
To recognise risks to physical health and safety
To predict similar risks in new situations
To explain how to avoid such risks
Activity Overview - See lesson plan for further detail
1-2 hours
Activity 1
Watch the first Napo clip provided with this lesson:
(Protect Your Skin – introduction and an edited selection of scenes. Danger, Chemicals – scenes such as Flammable or Corrosive)
Discussion about our skin and how it is vulnerable to damage. Extend the discussion to heat, cold, sun damage and chemicals, including detergents. Consider other dangers such as insects, plants that can cause skin-irritation (e.g. nettles) etc. Consider ways we can protect our skin.
Organise a game where the children should discover what could be dangerous to the skin in their outdoor and indoor environment (e.g. the children have to investigate if there are some plants that cause skin-irritation, spine-bushes or insects that sting).
Activity 2
Draw round their hands on a piece of plain paper; in each finger write a way to protect your skin from risk, such as wear gloves, don’t touch, wear a mask (in case of chemicals),apply sun cream and wear a hat (to protect from the sun)
Activity 3
Watch the second group of Napo clips provided with this session from the film “Lighten the Load” on the correct handling of heavy loads and on the risks of fixed postures:
Divide and rule
Think to move
Hold me tight
Discussion about our bodies and how vulnerable they can be to damage through sitting, lifting, standing incorrectly. Think about ways we can protect our backs from getting damaged by avoiding these risks. On the body shape template place the warnings about risks to the back and advice on how to keep healthy.
Extension work
Napo’s Hazard Holiday
Write or act out a story about when Napo goes on a holiday and learns about the risks to his body with specific reference to the back and the skin.
This could include:
Picking up a heavy suitcase
Sunbathing without cream
Getting bitten by a jelly fish
Playing too long on a computer game
Changing the oil in his car
Resources required
Napo film clips (provided)
Plain white paper and pencils
Large body shape template
Warning signs e.g. don’t slouch at the computer
Good advice to stick on body template e.g. sit up straight
Links to subjects/curriculum
Personal, social and health education
Rules for and ways of keeping safe.
To recognise how their behaviour affects other people To evaluate risks to personal health and limit them where possible
PE
To assess the risk within any physical activity and respond with preventive behaviours
Science
To recognise warning signs and labels and take notice ot them.
Citizenship/Education for civil life
To recognise hazards, assess consequent risks and risk control
Foreign/Native Language
Writing simple sentences to complete a story with a beginning, middle and end structure.
Detailed Lesson plan
Be Body Wise with Napo
Napo discovers many different situations where exposure to chemicals and other substances can cause skin problems. He learns about the amazing qualities of the skin, and strips naked to show the audience: 'Everything you always wanted to know about... your skin'. He identifies measures to prevent problems and has three important messages: Avoid -- Protect -- Check. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common work-related health problem in Europe, affecting millions of workers - at some point in their life as many as 90 percent of people will suffer from back pain, upper limb disorders, and repetitive strain injuries.
Watch the video
