Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, ensure you have an open, safe space for movement, such as a classroom cleared of obstacles or a playground. Prepare any music or a video for the exercise routine. The central idea is for pupils to understand that exercise makes them strong and healthy, and to actively participate in simple morning exercises. Observe pupils’ enthusiasm and ability to follow basic movement instructions.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Physical & Health Education
Curriculum Theme: Physical and Health Education
Previous Lesson: Simple body movements like walking, running, and jumping.
Topic: GENERAL BODY EXERCISE: BENEFITS AND MORNING EXERCISE ROUTINE
Subject Matter: General Body Exercise: Benefits and Morning Exercise Routine.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify at least two benefits of general body exercise.
- Name simple exercises that can be done in the morning.
Affective Domain
- Express enjoyment while participating in exercise.
- Show willingness to engage in morning exercise routines.
Psychomotor Domain
- Demonstrate simple general body exercises like stretching, marching, and jumping.
- Follow basic instructions for a morning exercise routine.
Social Domain
- Participate cooperatively with peers during group exercise activities.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Instructional Materials
- Open playground or clear classroom space
- Skipping rope (for demonstration or supervised use)
- Music player for exercise songs
- Video on children’s morning exercise
- Picture cards showing children exercising (e.g., running, jumping, stretching)
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson introduces Pre-School Level 3 pupils to the importance of physical activity for their growing bodies. Understanding the benefits of exercise and practising a simple routine helps children develop healthy habits early, promoting physical development, coordination, and overall well-being.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can already perform basic movements like walking, running, and jumping. They are familiar with their body parts and can follow simple instructions.
Lesson Content/Board Summary
GENERAL BODY EXERCISE: BENEFITS AND MORNING EXERCISE ROUTINE
General body exercise means moving your whole body to make it strong and healthy. When we exercise, we make our muscles work and our heart beat faster.
Benefits of Exercise
Exercise is good for us because it:
- Makes our bodies strong.
- Helps us stay healthy and not get sick easily.
- Makes us happy and full of energy.
- Helps us sleep well at night.
- Helps us run fast and jump high.
Morning Exercise Routine
A morning exercise routine is a set of simple movements we do when we wake up to get our bodies ready for the day. It helps us feel awake and energetic!
Simple morning exercises include:
- Stretching: Reach your hands up high to the sky, then touch your toes.
- Marching: Lift your knees up and down like you are marching in a parade.
- Jumping: Jump up and down lightly on the spot.
- Arm Circles: Make small circles with your arms forward and backward.
- Skipping: (Teacher demonstration) Skipping with a rope or just skipping steps.
Movement Rhyme: “Wake Up, Body!”
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Lyrics:
Wake up, body, stretch and sway,
Start our happy, busy day.
Arms go up and touch the sky,
Legs can march and jump so high.
Wake up, body, strong and bright,
Ready for the morning light!
Actions: Stretch arms up, sway side to side, reach high, march in place, jump lightly.
Watch and Move Along
Key Words
- Exercise – Moving your body to make it strong.
- Strong – Having power in your body.
- Healthy – Being well and not sick.
- Stretch – To make your body long.
- March – To walk with high steps.
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Explain “general body exercise” simply, using actions. Discuss each benefit with clear, child-friendly examples (e.g., “Strong like a superhero!”). Introduce the morning routine by naming each exercise and demonstrating it yourself.
What to show or demonstrate: Physically demonstrate each exercise (stretching, marching, jumping, arm circles). Use a skipping rope to show how skipping works, even if pupils don’t use it themselves yet. Use picture cards of children exercising to reinforce the benefits.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the “Wake Up, Body!” rhyme with the pupils, demonstrating the actions clearly. Repeat it several times, encouraging pupils to join in with both singing and actions. Make it fun and energetic.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as “a fun way to exercise with other children.” Play the video and encourage pupils to watch and imitate the movements shown. Pause if needed to help them follow along or to discuss a specific movement. After watching, ask pupils what new movements they saw.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils are actively trying the movements, even if not perfectly. Look for smiles and enthusiasm. Correct any unsafe movements gently and encourage participation from all children.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Video Demonstration
- Imitation
- Practical Activity
- Question and Answer
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Motivation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and asks them how they feel this morning. The teacher then asks, “Who likes to run and play?” and “Do you know why it’s good to move our bodies?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, raise their hands if they like to play, and share simple ideas about moving their bodies.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and introduced to the idea of body movement.
Step 2: Introduction to General Body Exercise
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains that moving our whole body is called “general body exercise.” The teacher demonstrates simple movements like stretching arms up and wiggling toes, asking pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, watch the teacher, and imitate the simple movements.
Learning Point: Pupils understand what general body exercise means through action.
Step 3: Discussing Benefits of Exercise
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Picture Talk
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows picture cards of children looking strong, healthy, and happy while exercising. The teacher explains the benefits: “Exercise makes us strong, healthy, happy, and helps us sleep well.” The teacher asks, “Who wants to be strong?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the pictures, listen to the benefits, and raise their hands if they want to be strong.
Learning Point: Pupils identify key benefits of exercise.
Step 4: Demonstration of Morning Exercise Routine
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Modelling
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the idea of a “morning exercise routine” and demonstrates each simple exercise from the board summary (stretching, marching, jumping, arm circles, skipping). The teacher emphasizes clear, safe movements.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the teacher’s demonstration carefully and try to imitate the movements gently.
Learning Point: Pupils observe correct forms of simple morning exercises.
Step 5: Guided Practice of Morning Exercise Routine
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Correction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in practising the morning exercise routine together. The teacher provides encouragement and gentle correction where needed, ensuring pupils are moving safely and having fun.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate in the guided exercise routine, following the teacher’s lead.
Learning Point: Pupils practise and become familiar with the morning exercise routine.
Step 6: Reinforcement with Rhyme and Video
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Song/Video Integration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Wake Up, Body!” rhyme with actions. Afterwards, the teacher plays the “Morning Exercise for Kids” video and encourages pupils to watch and move along with the video.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme with actions and move along with the video, enjoying the energetic activity.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their learning through song and visual demonstration.
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.
- “Can you show me how to stretch?”
- “Tell me one thing exercise does for your body.” (e.g., makes you strong, healthy)
- “Can you march in place like we did?”
- “Who likes to exercise?”
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: Summarization/Encouragement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their active participation and reminds them to keep exercising every day to stay strong and healthy. The teacher encourages them to do some morning exercises at home.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and say “Yes, teacher!” showing enthusiasm for daily exercise.
Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to make exercise a regular habit.
Lesson Keywords
- Exercise – Moving your body to make it strong and healthy.
- Benefits – Good things that come from something.
- Routine – Things we do regularly, like every morning.
- Stretch – To make your body long, like when you wake up.
- March – To walk with high steps, moving your arms.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who find it difficult to follow movements, the teacher can provide one-on-one guidance, simplify the movements further (e.g., just lift arms instead of full arm circles), or use hand-over-hand assistance for stretching. Allow them to sit and watch if they are tired, then encourage them to join back in.
- Extension: For pupils who quickly grasp the movements, encourage them to lead a short part of the routine or suggest another simple exercise they know. Ask them to name more benefits of exercise or demonstrate a slightly more complex movement like hopping on one foot (with supervision).
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