Gifts of Nature
Staying healthy and happy
Know the habits the chapter builds a day around — brushing, washing, sleep, water and playing outside — and tell a safe place to play from an unsafe one.
The chapter opens with five questions to ask yourself: did I brush my teeth, did I take a shower, did I comb my hair, did I wash my hands with soap, are my nails trimmed. Then it asks you to write out a whole day, from waking to sleeping, and check it against a list.
The list your day is checked against
Take a shower. Wash your hands with soap. Brush your teeth. Drink six to eight glasses of water. Eat food. Sleep well for at least eight hours in total. Play outside. Some of these happen once a day and some happen many times — brushing twice, washing hands whenever you come in from outdoors or leave the toilet.
Worked example
Moyna's grandfather does not use a toothbrush. Is he doing something worse?
Look at what he actually does: he takes a fresh twig from a neem or babool tree and chews the end until it frays into a brush.
The frayed end is the brush. Nothing about the job has changed — the tool has.
Try it together
Now work out why running about leaves you puffing, together.
Something in your chest is doing more work than it was a minute ago.
1.You have just chased a friend across the playground. Your cheeks are red, you feel warm, and you are doing something to your skin that cools you down. What?
Have a go
Your turn. The home-cleaner activity leaves peels and vinegar shut in a jar. Where does the chapter say to keep the jar, and for how long?
Ready to practise?
Eight questions on what you have just read. Nothing is timed, and you can play as many times as you like.