Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Social Habits
Curriculum Theme: Social Habits
Previous Lesson: Good Manners at Home and School
Topic: Children’s Rights and Why They Matter
Subject Matter: My Rights – Children’s rights. Weekly focus: Children’s Rights and Why They Matter.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

Identify at least two rights children have.
State in simple terms why children’s rights are important.

Affective Domain

Appreciate that all children deserve to have their rights respected.
Show willingness to share and play fairly with others.

Psychomotor Domain

Point to pictures representing different children’s rights (e.g., food, school, play).
Participate in a simple role-play demonstrating a right (e.g., playing safely).

Mention some rights they enjoy at home and school.
Engage in discussions about how to respect others’ rights.

Reference Materials

NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4
Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Relevant picture books on children’s rights

Instructional Materials

Charts showing children enjoying different rights (e.g., eating, playing, in school)
Posters with simple illustrations of children’s rights
Flashcards with pictures representing food, school, home, doctor, toys
Storybook about children sharing or being safe

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson introduces children to the fundamental concept that they have certain entitlements simply because they are children. Understanding their rights helps them feel valued, safe, and encourages them to respect the rights of others, fostering a sense of fairness and community in their early social development.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can already identify basic needs like food and shelter. They also understand simple rules for playing and sharing with friends.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Children’s Rights and Why They Matter

What are Rights?

Rights are special things that every child should have or be allowed to do, just because they are a child. They are like promises that help children grow up happy, healthy, and safe.

Some Important Children’s Rights:

Right to a Name: Every child should have a name.
Right to a Family: Every child should have a family to love and care for them.
Right to Food: Every child should have enough healthy food to eat.
Right to Shelter: Every child should have a safe home to live in.
Right to Go to School: Every child should be able to learn and go to school.
Right to Play: Every child should have time to play and have fun.
Right to Health: Every child should get help when they are sick and have good health.
Right to Protection: Every child should be safe from harm and bad treatment.

Why Do Children’s Rights Matter?

Children’s rights matter because they help you:

Grow big and strong.
Learn new things and be smart.
Be safe and happy.
Play with friends and have fun.
Be loved and cared for.

Key Words

Rights – Special things every child should have or be allowed to do.
Protection – Keeping children safe from harm.
Family – People who love and care for a child.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

Display charts and posters showing children eating, playing, reading, and in a home.
Draw simple stick figures showing children doing these activities.
Point to pictures as each right is discussed.

My Rights Song

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

I have rights, yes, I do,
Rights for me, and rights for you.
Right to learn, and right to play,
Right to eat good food each day.
Right to be safe, right to be free,
Rights for all, for you and me!

Actions:

“I have rights, yes, I do” – Point to self, nod head.
“Rights for me, and rights for you” – Point to self, then to a friend.
“Right to learn” – Pretend to read a book.
“And right to play” – Make playing motions.
“Right to eat good food each day” – Rub tummy.
“Right to be safe” – Hug self.
“Right to be free” – Spread arms wide.
“Rights for all, for you and me!” – Point to everyone.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the song together, encouraging pupils to do the actions. Repeat it several times to help them remember the key rights.

Watch and Learn About Your Rights

The teacher will show a short video about children’s rights to reinforce the lesson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUxN_2s10hQ

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them what they remember about good manners. The teacher then tells them that today they will learn about special things they should all have and be allowed to do.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils greet the teacher and respond to questions about good manners. They listen attentively.

Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the new topic.

Step 2: Explaining “Rights”

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Visual Aids

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains in simple terms what “rights” are, using familiar examples. “Rights are things you should have, like food to eat, a home to live in, and going to school.” The teacher shows pictures of children enjoying these things.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and look at the pictures. They may point to things they recognise in the pictures.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the basic meaning of “rights.”

Step 3: Identifying Specific Rights

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces specific rights one by one, using charts and flashcards. “Every child has a right to a name,” “Every child has a right to go to school.” The teacher asks pupils to name their own names and point to the school picture.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, repeat the names of rights, and point to relevant pictures. They mention their own names.

Learning Point: Pupils can identify several children’s rights.

Step 4: Why Rights Matter

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Connecting

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains why these rights are important. “Why do you think it’s good to have food? (So you can grow strong!) Why is it good to go to school? (So you can learn!)” The teacher guides pupils to connect rights with positive outcomes.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils offer simple reasons why each right is good for them.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the importance of having rights.

Step 5: Rhyme and Video Reinforcement

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Singing/Visual Learning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “My Rights Song” with actions. Afterwards, the teacher shows a short, child-friendly video about children’s rights to reinforce the concepts.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along with actions and watch the video attentively, pointing out things they recognise.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of rights through song and visual media.

Step 6: Role-Play and Discussion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Role-play/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher initiates a short role-play, e.g., “Let’s pretend we are playing. What is our right? (To play safely!) How do we do that?” The teacher encourages discussion about how they enjoy their rights at home and school.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in the role-play and share examples of rights they enjoy (e.g., “My mummy gives me food,” “I play with my friends”).

Learning Point: Pupils apply their understanding of rights to real-life situations.

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.

What is one thing every child should have? (e.g., food, home, school)
Point to the picture that shows a child learning.
Why is it important for children to have rights?
Can you tell me one right you enjoy at home?

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/Reinforcing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them that everyone has rights, and it’s important to respect everyone’s rights. The teacher leads them in singing the “My Rights Song” one last time.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song and tidy up their learning area.

Learning Point: Pupils leave with a reinforced understanding of children’s rights.

Lesson Keywords

Rights – Special things children should have.
Food – What we eat to grow strong.
School – Where we go to learn.
Play – Having fun with friends.
Safe – Not in danger, protected.

Differentiation

Support: For pupils who are struggling, the teacher can use larger, clearer pictures, repeat explanations more slowly, and provide hand-over-hand guidance when pointing to pictures. Focus on just two key rights (e.g., food and play) for them to identify.
Extension: For quicker learners, the teacher can ask them to identify more rights from the charts, or ask them to draw a picture of themselves enjoying one of their rights. They can also be encouraged to explain in their own words why a particular right is important.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure all charts, posters, and flashcards are ready and easily visible. Prepare the video link and ensure the projector/screen is working. When explaining “rights,” use simple, concrete examples that relate directly to the children’s daily lives (e.g., “You have a right to eat your lunch,” “You have a right to play with your friends during break time”). Emphasize that rights come with responsibilities, such as playing safely and sharing toys. Encourage all pupils to participate in the discussions and role-play, especially the quieter ones. Observe if pupils can correctly identify pictures related to rights and articulate simple reasons why these rights are important. Their ability to mention rights they enjoy in their own words is a good indicator of understanding.