Animals and Their Homes for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Third Term
Week: 7
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Basic Science and Technology
Curriculum Theme: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Previous Lesson: Pupils identified different types of animals.
Topic: Animals and Their Homes
Subject Matter: Animals and Their Homes.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify at least three different animals and their homes.
• Name the homes of common animals like a dog, lion, and bird.

Affective Domain

• Show interest in learning about where animals live.
• Appreciate that animals, like humans, need shelter.

Psychomotor Domain

• Point to the correct home when shown a picture of an animal.
• Participate in singing a rhyme about animal homes.

Social Domain

• Take turns mentioning animals and their homes during class discussion.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4
• Early Childhood Care and Education resources
• Relevant early-years science workbook

Instructional Materials

• Charts showing different animals and their homes (e.g., horse-stable, lion-den, dog-kennel, bird-nest)
• Picture cards of various animals and their homes
• Video documentary showing animals and their homes
• Whiteboard/Chalkboard

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for 5-year-olds as it helps them understand the natural world around them and develop observation skills. Learning about animal homes fosters an appreciation for living creatures and their basic needs, connecting to the children’s own experiences of needing a home for safety and comfort.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can already identify and name some common animals found in their environment.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Animals and Their Homes

Just like people live in houses, animals also have special places where they live. These places are called their homes or shelters. Animals need homes to stay safe from danger, bad weather, and to raise their young ones.

Examples of Animals and Their Homes:

• Horse lives in a Stable
• Lion lives in a Den
• Dog lives in a Kennel
• Bird lives in a Nest
• Goat lives in a Pen
• Chicken lives in a Coop
• Fish lives in Water
• Cow lives in a Barn or on a Farm

Key Words

• Animal – A living creature that is not a human, bird, or insect.
• Home – A place where an animal lives.
• Stable – A building where horses are kept.
• Den – A wild animal’s lair or resting place, especially a lion’s.
• Kennel – A small shelter for a dog.
• Nest – A structure built by birds to hold their eggs and young.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

The teacher should display charts or large picture cards showing each animal clearly with its corresponding home. For example, a picture of a lion and a den, a bird and a nest.

Watch a Video about Animal Homes

We will watch a short video that shows us different animals and where they live. Pay close attention to see how many homes you can remember!

Animals and Their Homes Rhyme

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lion in the den, roar, roar, roar,
Bird in the nest, fly, fly, fly.
Doggy in the kennel, woof, woof, woof,
Animals have homes, just like you and I.
Horse in the stable, neigh, neigh, neigh,
Safe and sound, all through the day!

Actions:

• “Lion in the den, roar, roar, roar”: Make a roaring sound and claw hands.
• “Bird in the nest, fly, fly, fly”: Flap arms like a bird.
• “Doggy in the kennel, woof, woof, woof”: Bark and wag an imaginary tail.
• “Animals have homes, just like you and I”: Point to self and then to others.
• “Horse in the stable, neigh, neigh, neigh”: Make a neighing sound and pat knees.
• “Safe and sound, all through the day!”: Hug self.

How to use the rhyme: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the rhyme with actions. Repeat several times to help pupils remember the animals and their homes.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Video Presentation, Question and Answer, Repetition.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and starts with a simple “Animal Sounds” song to get their attention. The teacher then asks pupils to name some animals they know.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils greet the teacher, sing along, and name different animals.

Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and recall prior knowledge about animals.

Step 2: Presentation of Animals and Homes (Pictures/Charts)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Naming

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows charts or picture cards of different animals (e.g., lion, bird, dog, horse) and their homes. The teacher names each animal and its home clearly, e.g., “This is a lion, and it lives in a den.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures and listen as the teacher names the animals and their homes. They repeat the names after the teacher.

Learning Point: Pupils begin to associate specific animals with their homes.

Step 3: Video Presentation

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Observation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the short video documentary showing various animals and their homes. The teacher encourages pupils to watch carefully and identify the animals and their shelters.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video attentively, pointing out animals and their homes as they appear on the screen.

Learning Point: Pupils visually reinforce their understanding of animals and their homes.

Step 4: Guided Practice (Oral Repetition)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Oral Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks questions like, “Where does a bird live?” or shows a picture of a dog and asks, “What is this animal, and where does it live?” The teacher guides pupils to provide the correct answers.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally, naming the animals and their homes. They point to the correct home on the chart or picture card when asked.

Learning Point: Pupils practice recalling and verbally identifying animal homes.

Step 5: Rhyme Reinforcement

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Rhythmic Learning/Memory Aid

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Animals and Their Homes Rhyme” with actions. The teacher encourages energetic participation.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme together, performing the actions, which helps them remember the animal homes.

Learning Point: Pupils use song and movement to reinforce the lesson content.

Step 6: Application Activity (Matching Game)

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Practical Application/Matching

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher holds up a picture of an animal and asks a pupil to pick the matching home picture from a selection on the table or point to it on a chart. For example, “Here is a lion, who can find its home?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils take turns matching animal pictures to their correct home pictures or pointing them out.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate their understanding by matching animals to their homes.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.

1. What is the home of a dog called?
2. Where does a bird live?
3. Point to the home of a horse on the chart.
4. Name one animal and its home that you remember from the video.

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/Dismissal

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly summarises the lesson, reminding pupils that all animals need homes. The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and dismisses them.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and respond to the teacher’s praise.

Learning Point: Pupils conclude the lesson with a reinforced understanding of the topic.

Lesson Keywords

• Animal – A living creature that is not a human, bird, or insect.
• Home – A place where an animal lives.
• Stable – A building where horses are kept.
• Den – A wild animal’s lair or resting place, especially a lion’s.
• Kennel – A small shelter for a dog.
• Nest – A structure built by birds to hold their eggs and young.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who are struggling, the teacher can focus on just two or three common animals and their homes (e.g., dog-kennel, bird-nest) with repeated oral practice and hand-over-hand pointing. Use larger, clearer pictures.
• Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, the teacher can introduce one or two more animals and their homes (e.g., rabbit-burrow, bee-hive) or ask them to draw an animal in its home. They can also be asked “Why do animals need homes?”

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure all instructional materials, especially the charts/picture cards and the video, are ready and easily accessible. The video should be pre-loaded to avoid delays. Encourage active participation from all pupils, especially during the rhyme and matching game. For pupils who are shy, gently prompt them or allow them to point rather than speak. Observe pupils’ ability to correctly match or name the homes as a key indicator of understanding. Emphasize that homes provide safety and shelter, connecting it to their own experiences. Repeat the key animal-home pairs throughout the lesson for better retention.