Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before the lesson, prepare a variety of pictures showing different activities children do in school, such as learning, playing, drawing, singing, and eating. The central idea is for pupils to recognise and name common school activities and express what they enjoy doing. Encourage all pupils to share their thoughts and participate in simple role-play. Successful learning will be observed when pupils can point to pictures of school activities and verbally describe at least one activity they enjoy.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: Second Term
Week: 7
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Social Habits
Curriculum Theme: Social Habits
Previous Lesson: Pupils have learned about their school environment and some people who work there.
Topic: ACTIVITIES IN THE SCHOOL
Subject Matter: ACTIVITIES IN THE SCHOOL.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify at least three different activities done in the school.
- Name some activities they do in their classroom.
Affective Domain
- Express enjoyment for certain school activities.
- Show appreciation for their school by discussing positive experiences.
Psychomotor Domain
- Participate in simple actions or role-play related to school activities.
- Point to pictures illustrating various school activities.
Social Domain
- Share their ideas about school activities with their peers and the teacher.
- Listen respectfully when others describe what they enjoy doing.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
- Early Childhood Care and Education resources
- Relevant picture books showing school life
Instructional Materials
- Chart showing various school activities (e.g., children reading, playing, drawing, eating)
- Posters of a classroom and playground
- Flashcards with images of school items (books, crayons, balls, blocks)
- Audio device for playing songs
- Video display for educational clips
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson helps 4-year-olds understand the purpose of school and the different things they do there. It fosters a sense of belonging and encourages them to articulate their experiences, which is crucial for their social and emotional development. Understanding school routines also helps them feel more secure and engaged in their learning environment.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify their school building and classroom. They know some of their teachers and classmates. They also engage in basic activities like playing and listening to stories in school.Lesson Content/Board Summary
ACTIVITIES IN THE SCHOOL
Our school is a place where we do many wonderful things every day!
What are School Activities?
School activities are all the things we do when we are in school. These can be inside our classroom or outside on the playground.
Examples of Activities We Do in School:
- Learning: We learn to count, read, and write.
- Playing: We play with friends, run around, and use toys.
- Singing: We sing songs and rhymes together.
- Drawing and Colouring: We use crayons and pencils to make beautiful pictures.
- Eating: We eat our snacks and lunch.
- Listening to Stories: Our teacher tells us interesting stories.
- Tidying Up: We help to keep our classroom neat and clean.
Why We Enjoy School Activities:
- They are fun!
- We learn new things every day.
- We get to play with our friends.
- Our teachers help us.
School Fun Rhyme
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
School is fun, hooray, hooray,
Many things we do each day.
We learn to count and read and play,
Happy children, hooray, hooray!
Singing songs and drawing bright,
School is fun with all our might!
Actions: Clap hands for “hooray”, pretend to read/write for “learn”, make playing motions for “play”, point to self for “happy children”, make drawing motions for “drawing bright”.
Watch and Learn About School Activities
Key Words
- School – A place where children learn and play.
- Activities – The things we do.
- Play – To have fun and enjoy games.
- Learn – To get new knowledge and skills.
- Friends – People we like to be with and play with.
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Begin by asking pupils what they like about school. Use the chart and posters to visually introduce different school activities. Point to each activity and ask pupils to name it. Encourage them to share if they do that activity in their own school. Emphasize that learning and playing are both important parts of school life.
What to show or demonstrate: Show pictures of children engaged in various activities like reading, writing, drawing, playing, and singing. Demonstrate simple actions for each activity, e.g., pretending to read a book, drawing in the air, or kicking an imaginary ball. Ask pupils to imitate these actions.
How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce the “School Fun Rhyme” by singing it slowly first. Demonstrate the actions clearly. Repeat the rhyme several times, encouraging pupils to join in with both the words and actions. Use it as a fun way to recap the different activities.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to see what other children do in school. Play the video, asking pupils to watch carefully for activities they recognise. After watching, ask questions like “What did you see the children doing in the video?” and “Which activity did you like the most?” Encourage them to mimic some of the actions seen in the video.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can correctly identify and name common school activities from the pictures. Pay attention to their enthusiasm when discussing what they enjoy. Encourage quieter pupils to participate by asking direct, simple questions or having them point to pictures.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Role-play
- Discussion
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Greeting/Warm-up
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and leads them in a short “Good Morning” song. The teacher then asks, “Who loves coming to school? Why do you love coming to school?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greeting, sing the song, and share simple reasons for loving school (e.g., “I like to play,” “I like my friends”).
Learning Point: Pupils feel welcomed and begin thinking about school positively.
Step 2: Discussing School Activities with Pictures
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Picture Talk/Facilitation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays the chart and posters showing various school activities. The teacher points to each picture and asks, “What are these children doing?” and “Do we do this in our school?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures, identify the activities, and respond by saying “Yes” or “No” if they do it in their school.
Learning Point: Pupils recognise and begin to name different activities common in a school setting.
Step 3: Naming Specific Activities
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Naming/Repetition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to name specific activities like “learning,” “playing,” “singing,” and “drawing.” The teacher repeats the names clearly and asks pupils to repeat after her.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils repeat the names of the activities after the teacher and point to the corresponding pictures on the chart.
Learning Point: Pupils practice saying and associating words with school activities.
Step 4: Role-play/Demonstration of Activities
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates simple actions for activities like reading (holding a book), drawing (moving hand like drawing), and playing (bouncing an imaginary ball). The teacher then invites pupils to imitate these actions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils imitate the teacher’s actions, pretending to read, draw, or play.
Learning Point: Pupils physically engage with the concept of different school activities.
Step 5: Sharing What They Enjoy
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Question and Answer/Encouragement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks, “Of all the things we do in school, what do you enjoy doing the most?” The teacher encourages pupils to give a simple answer.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils raise their hands and share one activity they enjoy most, e.g., “I like to play,” “I like to draw.”
Learning Point: Pupils express their preferences and share their feelings about school.
Step 6: Reinforcement with Rhyme and Video
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Songs and Rhymes/Visual Learning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing the “School Fun Rhyme” with actions. Afterwards, the teacher plays the short video about school activities, asking pupils to watch and identify activities they know.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme with actions and watch the video, pointing out activities they recognise.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of school activities through song and visual media.
Step 7: Evaluation/Review
Time: 4–5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.
- “Point to a picture where children are playing.”
- “What do we do when we learn to count?”
- “Name one thing you enjoy doing in school.”
- “Show me how you draw in school.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 1 minute
Teaching Skill: Summarising/Positive Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them that school is a wonderful place for learning and playing. The teacher leads them in a farewell song.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s praise and sing the farewell song.
Learning Point: Pupils end the lesson with a positive feeling about school and its activities.
Lesson Keywords
- School – A place where children learn and play.
- Activities – The things we do.
- Play – To have fun and enjoy games.
- Learn – To get new knowledge and skills.
- Friends – People we like to be with and play with.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who are struggling, use larger, clearer pictures and fewer choices. Provide hand-over-hand guidance for actions. Ask them to just point to the activity rather than naming it initially. Use more repetition and one-on-one prompts.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, ask them to name more activities not shown in the pictures, or to describe *why* they enjoy a particular activity. Encourage them to draw their favourite school activity.
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