Causes of Sickness and Care for Sick People for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: First Term
Week: 8
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Basic Science and Technology
Curriculum Theme: Basic Science and Technology
Previous Lesson: Good Hygiene Habits
Topic: Causes of Sickness and Care for Sick People
Subject Matter: Sickness: Causes of sickness and care for the sick.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Mention some causes of sickness, such as drinking dirty water or eating uncovered food.
• Identify a sick person and a healthy person from pictures.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of cleanliness in preventing sickness.
• Show empathy towards sick people.

Psychomotor Domain

• Point to pictures showing causes of sickness.
• Demonstrate simple actions of caring for a sick person, such as pretending to rest.

Social Domain

• Suggest simple ways to care for a sick person.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4.
• Early Childhood Care and Education resources.

Instructional Materials

• Charts showing sick and healthy people.
• Pictures of dirty water, uncovered food, dirty environments, clean environments.
• Pictures of a doctor, a resting person, healthy food.
• Video clips (verified YouTube video).
• Play doctor’s kit (optional, for role-play).

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps 5-year-old pupils understand why people sometimes feel unwell and what they can do to stay healthy. It also fosters empathy and teaches them simple, safe ways to show care for others who are sick, connecting to their everyday experiences at home and school.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can identify some parts of their body and have learned about basic hygiene practices like washing hands and bathing.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Causes of Sickness and Care for Sick People

Sometimes our bodies do not feel strong and well. This is called sickness or illness. When we are sick, we might feel weak, have a headache, or a fever.

Causes of Sickness

Many things can make us sick. Some common causes are:

• Drinking dirty water: Water that is not clean has germs that can make us sick.
• Eating uncovered food: Food left open can get germs from flies or dust.
• Living in a dirty environment: A dirty home or school with rubbish can have germs and insects that spread sickness.
• Not washing hands: Germs on our hands can enter our bodies when we eat.
• Getting wet in the rain: Staying wet for too long can make us catch a cold.
• Not resting enough: Our bodies need rest to stay strong.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Display charts showing:
  • A child drinking dirty water versus clean water.
  • Food covered versus uncovered.
  • A dirty environment versus a clean environment.
  • A sick child (e.g., with a runny nose, lying down) versus a healthy, active child.
  • A doctor helping a child.

How to Care for Sick People

When someone is sick, we should help them get well. Here are some ways to care for them:

• Visit the doctor: A doctor can give medicine and advice to make the sick person better.
• Rest: Sick people need to sleep and rest a lot so their bodies can heal.
• Eat properly: Give them healthy, easy-to-eat food like fruits, vegetables, and warm soup.
• Drink clean water: Ensure they drink plenty of clean water to stay hydrated.
• Keep their environment clean: A clean room helps them feel better and prevents more germs.
• Be kind and gentle: Talk softly and help them with what they need.

Stay Healthy Rhyme

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Wash your hands, wash them well,
Keep the germs away, oh tell!
Eat good food and drink clean water,
Healthy boys and girls, no bother!
If you’re sick, go see the doctor,
Rest and eat, be a good actor!
Soon you’ll feel so strong and new,
Healthy habits, good for you!

Actions:

• “Wash your hands”: Pretend to wash hands.
• “Keep the germs away”: Shake hands as if shaking off germs.
• “Eat good food”: Pretend to eat.
• “Drink clean water”: Pretend to drink.
• “If you’re sick”: Rub tummy or forehead.
• “Go see the doctor”: Point to an imaginary doctor.
• “Rest and eat”: Pretend to sleep, then eat.
• “Strong and new”: Flex muscles.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the rhyme together, encouraging pupils to perform the actions. Repeat it several times to reinforce the message of staying healthy and caring for the sick.

Watch and Learn About Germs

Let’s watch a short video about germs and how they can make us sick, and what we can do to stay healthy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3c-O-M82kU

(Teacher to explain that the video shows how germs spread and why washing hands is important to prevent sickness.)

Key Words

• Sickness – When your body does not feel well.
• Germs – Tiny things that can make you sick.
• Doctor – A person who helps sick people get well.
• Rest – To relax and sleep, especially when you are tired or sick.
• Clean – Free from dirt and germs.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Role-play, Repetition, Practical Activity.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Greeting/Engagement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and leads them in a familiar health song like “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” The teacher then asks, “How do you feel today? Do you feel strong and happy?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, sing the song with actions, and answer the teacher’s questions.

Learning Point: Pupils are settled and engaged, thinking about how they feel.

Step 2: Introducing Sickness

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Observation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks, “What happens when you don’t feel well? What do you do?” The teacher shows pictures of children who look sick (e.g., with a runny nose, lying down, looking sad) and asks pupils to describe what they see.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils share their experiences or ideas and point to and describe what they see in the pictures.

Learning Point: Pupils begin to understand what sickness means and how a sick person might look.

Step 3: Discussing Causes of Sickness

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Picture Talk/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays charts/pictures showing dirty water, uncovered food, and a dirty environment. For each picture, the teacher asks, “What do you see here? Can this make us sick? Why?” The teacher explains simply how these things can cause sickness.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures, answer questions, and listen to the teacher’s explanation.

Learning Point: Pupils identify some common causes of sickness.

Step 4: Reinforcing Causes and Rhyme

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Song/Repetition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Stay Healthy Rhyme” with actions. The teacher then reminds them about other causes like not washing hands after playing or before eating.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme with actions and repeat key phrases about washing hands.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of how to prevent sickness through song and repetition.

Step 5: Caring for Sick People

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Role-play

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows pictures of a doctor, a resting person, and healthy food. The teacher discusses with pupils what we should do when someone is sick (e.g., take them to the doctor, help them rest, give them healthy food, keep their space clean). The teacher can initiate a simple role-play, pretending to care for a sick doll.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures, suggest ways to care for the sick, and participate in the simple role-play.

Learning Point: Pupils learn practical ways to care for sick people.

Step 6: Video and Identification

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the short video about germs and hygiene. After the video, the teacher shows charts with both sick and healthy people and asks pupils to point to the sick person and then the healthy person.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video and then point to the sick and healthy people on the charts.

Learning Point: Pupils visually reinforce their understanding of germs and can identify sick and healthy individuals.

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.

1. “What are two things that can make us sick?”
2. “Point to the picture that shows dirty water.”
3. “What should we do if our friend is sick?”
4. “Show me how a sick person might rest.”

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/Encouragement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly recaps the lesson, reminding pupils to always keep clean and tell an adult if they feel sick or see someone who needs help. The teacher praises the pupils for their participation.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and acknowledge the importance of staying healthy.

Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to practice healthy habits and seek help when needed.

Lesson Keywords

• Sickness – When your body does not feel well.
• Germs – Tiny things that can make you sick.
• Doctor – A person who helps sick people get well.
• Rest – To relax and sleep, especially when you are tired or sick.
• Clean – Free from dirt and germs.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who need extra help, use larger, clearer pictures. Focus on just one or two main causes of sickness (e.g., dirty water, dirty hands) and one or two ways to care (doctor, rest). Provide hand-over-hand guidance for pointing.
• Extension: For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, ask them to suggest more examples of healthy foods for sick people. Ask them to describe what a doctor does or what they do when they feel sick at home.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Preparation: Ensure all charts and pictures are clear, visible, and ready before the lesson. Test the video link to ensure it works correctly and is appropriate for the age group.

Engagement: Encourage active participation through questions, pointing, and simple role-play. Use a gentle and reassuring tone when discussing sickness to avoid creating fear in the children.

Main Idea: The core message for pupils is that cleanliness helps prevent sickness, and we should be kind and helpful to those who are sick, always involving a responsible adult.

Misconceptions: Pupils might initially think all sickness is “bad luck.” Gently guide them to understand preventable causes through their actions and environment.

Repetition: Repeat the rhyme and key phrases often throughout the lesson to aid memorisation and understanding.

Shy Pupils: Encourage shy pupils by asking them to point to pictures or perform actions rather than speaking initially, building their confidence.

Safety: Emphasize that if they feel sick or see someone sick, they must tell a parent, teacher, or another trusted adult immediately. Stress that children should never try to give medicine themselves.

Assessment: Observe if pupils can correctly identify causes of sickness from pictures and suggest appropriate care actions. Their ability to participate in the rhyme and role-play also indicates understanding.