Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, prepare pictures of clean and dirty environments, a small broom, a dustpan, and a waste bin. The central idea is for pupils to recognise a clean environment and understand simple actions to keep it clean. Ensure a safe space for pupils to practise simple cleaning actions. Observe if pupils can point to clean areas and mimic putting waste in a bin.
Class: Pre-School Level 1
Term: Second Term
Week: 8
Age: 2 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Health Habits
Curriculum Theme: Health Habits
Previous Lesson: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Topic: Clean Environment
Subject Matter: Clean Environment: Things Found and How to Keep It Clean
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify pictures of a clean environment.
- Name one or two things found in a clean environment.
- Identify one material used for cleaning.
Affective Domain
- Show interest in keeping their surroundings clean.
- Listen attentively to instructions on cleanliness.
Psychomotor Domain
- Point to a waste bin for refuse.
- Mime sweeping or putting waste in a bin.
Social Domain
- Participate in simple classroom clean-up activities.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 1
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Instructional Materials
- Charts showing clean and dirty environments
- Pictures of flowers, green grass, swept ground, waste bins
- Small broom and dustpan
- Small waste bin
- Video clips on keeping the environment clean
Rationale for the Lesson
Learning about a clean environment at this age helps pupils develop early habits of hygiene and responsibility. It connects directly to their daily experiences at home and school, teaching them to appreciate and contribute to a healthy and pleasant space for everyone.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils know their immediate surroundings at home and school and can identify familiar objects.
Lesson Content/Board Summary
Clean Environment: Things Found and How to Keep It Clean
A clean environment is a place that is neat, tidy, and free from dirt and rubbish. It makes us feel happy and healthy.
Things Found in a Clean Environment
- Green grass
- Beautiful flowers
- Swept ground
- Waste bins (for rubbish)
- Clean air
How to Keep Our Environment Clean
- Sweep the floor and ground.
- Put all rubbish and waste into the waste bin.
- Do not throw things on the ground.
- Pick up litter and put it in the bin.
Materials Used to Keep the Environment Clean
- Broom (to sweep)
- Dustpan (to collect dirt)
- Waste bin (to put rubbish)
Key Words
- Clean – Not dirty.
- Environment – Our surroundings, where we live and play.
- Sweep – To clean with a broom.
- Dustbin – A container for rubbish.
Clean-Up Song
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Lyrics:
Clean, clean, clean our place,
Make a happy, healthy space.
Sweep the floor and pick up waste,
Put it in the bin in haste.
Clean, clean, clean our place,
Smiling on each happy face.
Actions: Mime sweeping, picking up, and putting in a bin while singing.
Watch and Learn About Clean Environment
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Use the charts to show pictures of clean and dirty environments. Point to and name things found in a clean environment. Demonstrate simple actions like sweeping and putting waste in a bin. Use simple, repetitive language.
What to show or demonstrate: Show the broom, dustpan, and waste bin. Demonstrate how to hold the broom and sweep lightly, then scoop imaginary dirt into the dustpan and empty it into the waste bin. Ask pupils to point to these items.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the “Clean-Up Song” slowly with clear actions. Repeat it several times, encouraging pupils to join in with the actions and simple words. Use it as a transition or a fun way to reinforce the message.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a story about keeping places clean. Ask pupils to watch carefully and point out things they see that are clean or dirty. After watching, discuss what they saw and encourage them to mimic the cleaning actions shown.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can distinguish between clean and dirty pictures, and if they can mimic the cleaning actions. Encourage all pupils to participate, even if it’s just by pointing or making sounds.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Imitation
- Manipulation of Objects
- Repetition
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to look around the classroom. “Is our classroom clean today? What makes it look clean?” The teacher shows a picture of a very clean place and a very dirty place, asking, “Which one looks nice?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, look around, and point to the clean picture. They may say “yes” or “no” to the cleanliness of the classroom.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of a clean environment.
Step 2: Identifying a Clean Environment
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Observation/Identification
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows charts with pictures of clean environments (e.g., a park with flowers, a swept compound) and dirty environments (e.g., litter on the ground). “This is a clean place! See the nice flowers? See the swept ground? This is a dirty place. Oh no, rubbish everywhere!” The teacher guides pupils to identify the clean pictures.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the charts and point to the clean environments when asked. They repeat “clean” and “dirty” after the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils learn to recognise a clean environment visually.
Step 3: Things Found in a Clean Environment
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Naming/Association
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher points to specific things in the clean environment pictures. “What do we see here? Flowers! Green grass! A waste bin for rubbish!” The teacher encourages pupils to name or point to these items.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils point to flowers, grass, and waste bins in the pictures. They repeat the names after the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils identify common elements of a clean environment.
Step 4: How to Keep Our Environment Clean
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Modelling
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates simple actions. “To keep our place clean, we sweep! (Mimes sweeping with a small broom). We put rubbish in the waste bin! (Mimes picking up paper and putting it in the bin).” The teacher asks pupils to try the actions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the teacher and then mime sweeping or putting imaginary rubbish into a bin.
Learning Point: Pupils learn simple actions for maintaining cleanliness.
Step 5: Materials for Cleaning and Song Reinforcement
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Practical Application/Singing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows the actual broom, dustpan, and waste bin. “This is a broom! We use it to sweep. This is a waste bin! We put rubbish here.” The teacher then leads the “Clean-Up Song” with actions, repeating it twice.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils touch the broom, dustpan, and waste bin (under supervision). They sing along with the teacher and do the actions for the “Clean-Up Song.”
Learning Point: Pupils associate cleaning materials with their use and reinforce learning through song.
Step 6: Video and Discussion
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Comprehension
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the short video about keeping the environment clean. After the video, the teacher asks simple questions like, “What did the children do to keep their place clean?” or “Where did they put the rubbish?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video attentively. They respond to questions by pointing or making simple sounds, or by mimicking actions seen in the video.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding through visual and auditory input.
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 the clean environment picture.”
- “Show me the broom.”
- “What do we put rubbish in?” (Point to waste bin)
- “Show me how we sweep.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarising/Encouragement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation. “Good job everyone! We learned how to keep our environment clean. Let’s always keep our classroom and home clean!” The teacher leads a final round of the “Clean-Up Song.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils clap for themselves and sing the “Clean-Up Song” one last time.
Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to practise cleanliness in their daily lives.
Lesson Keywords
- Clean – Not dirty.
- Environment – Our surroundings, where we live and play.
- Sweep – To clean with a broom.
- Dustbin – A container for rubbish.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who need extra help, provide more one-on-one guidance in pointing to pictures and mimicking actions. Use hand-over-hand guidance for demonstrating sweeping or putting waste in a bin. Repeat key words and phrases more often.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, ask them to identify another object in the classroom that helps keep it clean (e.g., a mop, a duster). Encourage them to help collect small paper scraps and put them in the classroom waste bin.
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