My Family Members
Primary 1 · Social and Religious Studies
My Family Members
Lesson 4 of 4
12 min
Let's begin
It is evening at Habimana's home. The pot is on the fire. The plates are still in the basket.
His mother is carrying water. His father is coming in through the gate.
Nobody tells Habimana what to do. He already knows. Today you will learn why.
Parents go out to work. With that money they buy food and clothes.
They pay for school. They take you to the health post when you are sick.
They teach you what is right and what is wrong.
That is a lot of work, and it never stops.
You go to school and you learn.
You sweep the compound. You fetch water in a jerrycan.
You lay the plates before the meal. You wash your own cup.
You greet older people, and you listen when they speak.
Home is the first place you learn to respect people.
Later you show that same respect at school and everywhere else.
A father can sweep the floor. A mother can go out to work.
A boy can wash the plates. A girl can carry the hoe.
Careful! Some people say only mothers must clean the house. That is not true.
Worked example
evening at Habimana's home.
Step 1 Mother cooks the beans and the rice.
Step 2 Father fixes the lamp and brings in the goat.
Step 3 Habimana lays the plates on the mat.
Step 4 His young sister carries the small jug of water.
Four people and four jobs. The meal is ready quickly.
When everybody helps, the work becomes light.
Umuryango mwiza means a good family. This Kinyarwanda song is from UNICEF Rwanda. Sing along, then name one job you do at home.
Tip
Every pair of hands helps
Before you sit down at home, look around you once.
Find one small job nobody has done yet, and do it.
Do each one, then tap Show answer to check.
Name two things parents do for their children.
Answer: many are right. They buy food. They pay school fees. They care for you when you are sick.
Name two jobs a child can do at home.
Answer: sweep the compound. Fetch water. Lay the plates. Wash your own cup.
True or false: only mothers should clean the house.
Answer: false. A father, a boy and a girl can all clean.
Uwase has finished her homework. The compound is full of dry leaves. What should she do?
Answer: take the broom and sweep. Helping at home is her work too.
Today, do one job at home before anybody asks you.
Answer: your own job. Tell a grown-up which one you chose.
What you learned today
Ask a grown-up to open one of these with you. They are free to read.
Tubana mu byishimo is in Kinyarwanda. It is about a boy and his big, happy family.
The same story in English is My family and I.
Both books come from African Storybook, who share their stories for free.
Quick check
Who buys food and clothes for the children?
