PRIMARY 1: HOME ECONOMICS – THIRD TERM | WEEK FOUR

Updated September 23, 2026Home Economics, Primary 1, Third Term

TOPIC: HOME AND ITS SURROUNDINGS – TYPES OF DIRT AND CLEANING OF DUST

A: TEACHING AND LEARNING MATERIALS

Pictures of a clean home and dirty surroundings.
Small broom.
Dustpan.
Clean duster or soft cleaning cloth.
Waste bin.
Small waste-paper basket.
Dry leaves.
Pieces of clean waste paper for demonstration.
Picture cards showing different types of dirt.
Pictures showing sweeping, picking and dusting.
Pupils’ writing books and pencils.

B: REFERENCE MATERIALS

Scheme of work.
Recommended Home Economics textbook for Primary 1.
Online educational resources.

C: PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE

The pupils have learnt how to keep the toilet clean. They can identify some cleaning materials such as a broom, bucket, mop, cleaning cloth and waste bin. They also know that cleanliness makes the home and school more pleasant.

Previous lesson: Primary 1 Home Economics Third Term Week 3

D: PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

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

Explain the meaning of home surroundings.
Explain dirt in simple words.
Identify common types of dirt found in and around the home.
Mention places where dirt may be found.
State simple ways of removing dirt.
Identify materials used for picking, sweeping and dusting.
Demonstrate simple dusting correctly.
Demonstrate simple sweeping under supervision.
Explain why rubbish should be put in a waste bin.
Mention simple ways of keeping the home and its surroundings clean.

E: CONTENT

Meaning of Home Surroundings

The home surroundings are the places around our home.

They may include:

The compound.
The front of the house.
The backyard.
The walkway.
The garden.
The drainage area.
Other open spaces around the house.

The inside of the home and the surroundings should be kept clean.

Home and Its Surroundings

Meaning of Dirt

Dirt is anything that makes a place look unclean or untidy.

Dirt may be found:

Inside the home.
In the classroom.
In the compound.
On furniture.
On the floor.
Around the school.

Examples of dirt include:

Dust.
Pieces of paper.
Dry leaves.
Food crumbs.
Sand.
Mud.
Empty wrappers.
Small pieces of rubbish.

Types of Dirt

For Primary 1 pupils, common types of dirt can be grouped simply as follows:

Type of Dirt	Example
Dust	Fine dirt on tables and furniture
Paper litter	Pieces of paper on the floor
Leaves	Dry leaves around the compound
Food dirt	Crumbs or food pieces
Sand	Loose sand carried into a room
Mud	Wet soil carried by shoes
Wrappers	Empty biscuit or sweet wrappers

Dust

Dust is very fine dirt that may settle on things.

Dust may settle on:

Tables.
Chairs.
Shelves.
Windows.
Television stands.
Books.
Other surfaces.

Sometimes we may not notice dust until we look closely or wipe the surface.

How Dust Gets Into the Home

Dust may enter the home through:

Open doors.
Open windows.
Shoes.
Wind.
Movement around the compound.

That is why surfaces should be cleaned regularly.

Paper Litter

Pieces of paper may make a place untidy.

Examples are:

Used writing paper.
Torn paper.
Empty paper packets.

Paper should not be thrown on the floor.

Suitable waste paper should be placed in a:

Waste-paper basket.
Waste bin.

Dry Leaves

Dry leaves may fall from trees around the home.

They can collect:

In the compound.
Near the doorway.
Along the walkway.
In the garden.

Dry leaves can be gathered by sweeping or raking where appropriate.

Food Crumbs

Small pieces of food may fall:

On the dining table.
On the floor.
Around the eating area.

They should be cleaned after eating.

Sand and Mud

Sand and mud may be carried into the home by shoes and feet.

We can help reduce this by:

Cleaning muddy footwear.
Using a doormat.
Sweeping the floor when necessary.

Ways of Removing Dirt

There are different ways of cleaning dirt.

Simple methods include:

Picking.
Sweeping.
Dusting.
Mopping.
Washing.

This week’s lesson focuses mainly on picking, sweeping and dusting.

Cleaning Methods at a Glance

Cleaning Method	What We Remove
Picking	Pieces of paper and safe dry litter
Sweeping	Dust, sand, leaves and light dirt
Dusting	Dust from furniture and surfaces
Mopping	Dirt from suitable floors
Washing	Dirt from washable items and surfaces

Picking

Picking means using the hand, or a suitable tool, to collect safe pieces of rubbish.

Examples of dirt that may be picked include:

Clean pieces of paper used for classroom demonstration.
Empty safe wrappers.
Dry leaves.

After picking the dirt, put it in the proper waste bin.

Important Safety Rule

Pupils should not pick up:

Broken glass.
Razor blades.
Needles.
Unknown sharp objects.
Dirty medical waste.
Unknown liquids or chemicals.

If a pupil sees any dangerous object, he or she should tell an adult.

Sweeping

Sweeping means using a broom to gather dirt together.

We sweep:

The floor.
The classroom.
The compound.
The walkway.
Other suitable places.

Materials Used for Sweeping

We may use:

Broom.
Dustpan.
Waste bin.

Simple Steps in Sweeping

Get the broom.
Start from one part of the area.
Sweep the dirt together into a small pile.
Use a dustpan to collect the dirt.
Put the dirt in the waste bin.
Keep the broom and dustpan properly after use.

Sweeping Sequence

GET THE BROOM

↓

SWEEP THE DIRT

↓

MAKE A SMALL PILE

↓

USE THE DUSTPAN

↓

PUT DIRT IN THE BIN

↓

STORE THE TOOLS

Dusting

Dusting means removing dust from furniture and other suitable surfaces.

We may dust:

Tables.
Chairs.
Shelves.
Window ledges.
Some household furniture.

Materials for Dusting

We may use:

Clean soft cloth.
Duster.

A duster or cloth used for dusting should be kept clean.

Simple Steps in Dusting

Get a clean duster or cloth.
Remove light objects from the surface where necessary.
Wipe the surface gently.
Fold or turn the cloth when one part becomes dirty.
Return safe objects to their proper places.
Clean or wash the cloth after use where necessary.
Store it properly.

Simple Dusting Sequence

GET A CLEAN CLOTH

↓

WIPE THE SURFACE

↓

REMOVE DUST

↓

ARRANGE THE AREA

↓

CLEAN AND STORE CLOTH

Sweeping and Dusting Are Different

Sweeping	Dusting
Uses a broom	Uses a duster or cloth
Cleans floors and compounds	Cleans tables and other surfaces
Gathers loose dirt	Removes fine dust
Dirt is collected with a dustpan	Cloth collects the dust

Cleaning Tools and Their Uses

Cleaning Tool	Use
Broom	Sweeping
Dustpan	Collecting swept dirt
Waste bin	Holding rubbish
Duster	Removing dust
Cleaning cloth	Wiping surfaces
Mop	Cleaning suitable floors
Rake	Gathering leaves outdoors

Proper Disposal of Dirt

After cleaning, dirt should not be left in another part of the compound.

Suitable rubbish should be put in the correct:

Waste basket.
Waste bin.

We should not:

Throw rubbish through the window.
Throw waste on the road.
Leave swept dirt in the walkway.
Hide rubbish under furniture.

Good and Poor Cleaning Habits

Good Cleaning Habits	Poor Cleaning Habits
Putting rubbish in a bin	Throwing rubbish on the floor
Sweeping dirt properly	Sweeping dirt under furniture
Dusting with a clean cloth	Using a very dirty cloth
Returning tools after use	Leaving tools on the walkway
Keeping surroundings neat	Scattering waste around
Reporting dangerous waste	Picking up sharp objects carelessly

Why We Keep Our Home and Surroundings Clean

Keeping our surroundings clean:

Makes the home look neat.
Makes the surroundings pleasant.
Reduces dirt.
Helps us find things easily.
Reduces unpleasant smells.
Helps keep walkways clear.
Teaches us good habits.

Everyone should help to keep the home clean according to his or her age and ability.

What a Primary 1 Pupil Can Do

A Primary 1 pupil may safely help by:

Putting paper into a waste bin.
Arranging books.
Putting toys away.
Dusting a low table with a clean cloth.
Sweeping a small safe area under supervision.
Picking clean demonstration litter.
Keeping personal belongings properly.
Telling an adult about dangerous dirt or objects.

What Pupils Should Leave for Adults

Children should ask adults to handle:

Broken glass.
Sharp metal.
Razor blades.
Heavy objects.
Strong cleaning chemicals.
Deep drains.
Dangerous cutting tools.

Practical Classroom Activity

The teacher may prepare a safe cleaning practice area.

The teacher can place:

Clean pieces of paper.
Dry leaves.
A little clean sand.

Pupils can practise:

Picking paper.
Sweeping leaves and sand.
Using a dustpan.
Putting waste into a bin.
Dusting a table.
Returning cleaning tools to their proper places.

The teacher should supervise the activity throughout.

Simple Clean-Surroundings Rule

Pupils can remember:

SEE DIRT

↓

CLEAN IT SAFELY

↓

USE THE BIN

↓

STORE THE TOOLS

↓

KEEP IT NEAT

F: LESSON PRESENTATION

F1: Teachers’ Activities

Revises the previous practical lesson on cleaning the school toilet.
Displays pictures of clean and dirty surroundings.
Explains the meaning of home surroundings.
Introduces the meaning and examples of dirt.
Shows safe examples of paper, leaves, dust and sand.
Displays a broom, dustpan, duster, cloth and waste bin.
Explains the use of each cleaning material.
Demonstrates how to pick safe litter properly.
Demonstrates the correct way of sweeping.
Demonstrates how to use a dustpan.
Demonstrates how to dust a table with a clean cloth.
Guides pupils through a simple supervised cleaning activity.
Explains the proper disposal of rubbish.
Discusses dangerous objects pupils should not pick up.
Asks oral questions and corrects pupils where necessary.

F2: Pupils’ Activities

Mention what they learnt in the previous lesson.
Identify clean and dirty surroundings from pictures.
Explain dirt in simple words.
Identify examples of dirt.
Identify cleaning materials.
State the use of each cleaning material.
Demonstrate picking safe practice litter.
Practise sweeping under supervision.
Practise using a dustpan.
Demonstrate dusting a safe classroom surface.
Put sample rubbish into the waste bin.
Mention dangerous objects that should be reported to an adult.
State ways of keeping their homes and school surroundings clean.
Answer the teacher’s questions.

G: CONCLUSION

The teacher revises the meaning of home surroundings, common types of dirt and simple ways of removing dirt.

The teacher reminds pupils that picking, sweeping and dusting are useful ways of keeping the home and school neat.

The teacher emphasises that rubbish should be put into a proper waste bin and that young pupils should never pick up sharp or dangerous objects.

Pupils are encouraged to take part in simple, safe and age-appropriate cleaning activities at home and at school.

Next lesson: Primary 1 Home Economics Third Term Week 5

H: EVALUATION GUIDE

Pupils should be able to answer the following questions:

What are home surroundings?
What is dirt?
Mention five examples of dirt.
Where can dust be found?
Mention three ways of removing dirt.
What do we use for sweeping?
What do we use a dustpan for?
What is dusting?
Mention two materials used for dusting.
Mention four places that may be swept.
Mention three surfaces that may be dusted.
Where should rubbish be put after cleaning?
Mention three good cleaning habits.
Mention three dangerous objects pupils should not pick up.
State four simple ways a Primary 1 pupil can help to keep the home clean.
What should you do after using a broom or cleaning cloth?
Complete: Broom is for sweeping, while a duster is for ________.
Why should we keep our home and surroundings clean?