Designing a Cone Hat for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4

Term: Third Term

Week: 6

Age: 5 years

Duration: 30 minutes

Subject: Creativity

Curriculum Theme: Not separately stated in the scheme.

Previous Lesson: Identifying and drawing simple shapes.

Topic: DESIGNING A CONE HAT

Subject Matter: Designing a Cone Hat

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify a cone shape from examples.
• Recall the steps for making a simple cone hat.

Affective Domain

• Show interest in creating their own hat.
• Appreciate the creative process of designing.

Psychomotor Domain

• Cut a triangular shape with guidance.
• Fold a piece of cardboard into a cone shape.
• Decorate their cone hat using colours and other materials.

Social Domain

• Share craft materials with classmates.
• Participate actively in the group activity.

Reference Materials

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

Instructional Materials

• Cardboard (various colours if available)
• Pencils and rulers (for teacher use)
• Child-safe scissors
• Bond gum or safe glue
• Crayons, markers, or paint for decorating
• Decorative items like stickers, glitter, yarn (optional)
• Examples of real-life cone shapes (e.g., party hat, ice cream cone, funnel)
• Pre-drawn triangles on cardboard (for support)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is essential for 5-year-olds as it develops their fine motor skills through cutting, folding, and gluing. It also fosters creativity and imagination as they design their hats, while reinforcing their understanding of the cone shape in a practical, hands-on way.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can identify basic shapes like triangles and circles. They have some experience using crayons and may have attempted simple cutting and gluing activities.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

DESIGNING A CONE HAT

A cone is a 3D shape that looks like a party hat or an ice cream cone. It has a circular base and a pointed top.

Steps to make a Cone Hat:

1. Identify materials: Cardboard, scissors, glue, colours.
2. Draw/Cut a large triangle: On a piece of cardboard, draw a large triangle. (Teacher will help or provide pre-drawn shapes).
3. Fold into a cone: Carefully roll or fold the triangle to bring two edges together, forming a cone shape.
4. Glue the edge: Apply glue along one edge and press it firmly to the other edge to secure the cone.
5. Decorate your hat: Use crayons, markers, stickers, or glitter to make your cone hat beautiful and unique!

Key Words

• Cone – A shape like a party hat or ice cream cone.
• Hat – Something worn on the head.
• Design – To plan and make something with a pattern or decoration.
• Fold – To bend something over on itself.
• Cut – To divide or open with scissors.
• Glue – To stick things together.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Display real-life examples of cone shapes (party hat, ice cream cone).
• Show a large triangle drawn on cardboard.
• Demonstrate the process of folding the triangle into a cone.
• Show how to apply glue and secure the cone.
• Display examples of decorated cone hats.

Our Cone Hat Song

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Triangle, triangle, big and wide,
Fold it, fold it, side by side.
Glue it, glue it, make it stick,
A cone hat, so quick, quick, quick!
Decorate it, bright and bold,
A lovely story to be told!

Actions:

• “Triangle, triangle, big and wide”: Use hands to show a large triangle shape.
• “Fold it, fold it, side by side”: Bring hands together as if folding paper.
• “Glue it, glue it, make it stick”: Mimic applying glue and pressing.
• “A cone hat, so quick, quick, quick!”: Point to head as if wearing a hat, then make quick hand motions.
• “Decorate it, bright and bold”: Mimic drawing or colouring.
• “A lovely story to be told!”: Smile and gesture proudly.

How to use the rhyme: Sing this rhyme after the teacher has demonstrated the folding and gluing steps, to reinforce the process before pupils start their own hats. Repeat as pupils work.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Practical Activity, Songs and Rhymes, Question and Answer, Manipulation of Objects.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and starts with a familiar song. The teacher then asks pupils if they know what a hat is and if they have seen different types of hats.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings and sing along. They share their ideas about hats.

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

Step 2: Introduction to Cone Shape

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual identification/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows real-life examples of cone shapes (e.g., a party hat, an ice cream cone) and asks pupils to identify their shape. The teacher introduces the term “cone.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the objects and try to name the shape. They repeat the word “cone.”

Learning Point: Pupils identify and recognise the cone shape.

Step 3: Introduce Materials and Safety

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Material handling/Safety instruction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays all the materials needed for the activity (cardboard, scissors, glue, colours). The teacher explains how to use each item safely, especially the scissors and glue.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the materials and listen to the safety instructions. They practice holding the scissors correctly (without cutting).

Learning Point: Pupils know the materials and understand safety rules for craft activities.

Step 4: Teacher Demonstration – Cutting the Triangle

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to draw a large triangle on cardboard (or uses pre-drawn ones) and carefully cuts it out, explaining each step. The teacher then distributes pre-drawn triangles on cardboard to each pupil.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the teacher’s demonstration. They then carefully cut along the lines of their pre-drawn triangles, with teacher supervision and assistance.

Learning Point: Pupils learn how to cut a triangular shape.

Step 5: Teacher Demonstration – Folding and Gluing the Cone

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Step-by-step guidance

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to take the cut triangle, fold it to form a cone, and apply glue to secure the edges. The teacher sings the “Our Cone Hat Song” to reinforce the steps.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the teacher’s demonstration carefully. They sing along with the teacher and try to mimic the folding action with their hands.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the process of folding and gluing to create a cone shape.

Step 6: Pupil Activity – Making and Designing the Cone Hat

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided practice/Facilitation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to fold their cut triangles into cone shapes and helps them apply glue to secure the edges. Once the cones are formed, the teacher encourages pupils to decorate their hats using crayons, markers, stickers, or other available materials.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils fold their triangles into cones, glue them with assistance, and then creatively decorate their hats.

Learning Point: Pupils apply their knowledge to create and design their own cone hats.

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 shape did we make today?”
2. “Show me your beautiful cone hat.”
3. “What did we use to stick the hat together?”
4. “What materials did you use to decorate your hat?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate, showing their hats and pointing to materials.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson by identifying the cone shape and showing their completed hats.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarising/Praising

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their hard work and creativity. The teacher reminds them that they can see cone shapes all around them. The teacher leads a clean-up activity.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils proudly show their hats, help to clean up their workspace, and prepare for the next activity.

Learning Point: Pupils feel a sense of accomplishment and learn the importance of tidiness.

Lesson Keywords

• Cone – A solid shape with a circular base and a pointed top, like a party hat.
• Hat – A covering for the head.
• Design – To create a pattern or look for something.
• Fold – To bend paper or fabric over on itself.
• Cut – To make an opening or divide something with scissors.
• Glue – A sticky substance used to join things together.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who struggle with cutting, provide pre-cut triangles. Offer hand-over-hand guidance for folding and gluing. Suggest simpler decoration options like large stickers or pre-cut shapes to glue on.
• Extension: Encourage quicker pupils to draw their own triangles before cutting. Challenge them to add more intricate designs or to make a smaller cone hat from a different material. They could also try to identify other cone-shaped objects in the classroom.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Prepare all materials in advance, especially ensuring enough cardboard and working scissors for each child. Pre-drawing triangles on the cardboard for each pupil will save time and reduce frustration, allowing them to focus on cutting. Emphasize scissor safety throughout the activity. Supervise closely during cutting and gluing. Encourage pupils to be creative with their decorations, reminding them that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to design their hat. Observe pupils’ ability to follow multi-step instructions and their fine motor control. Their ability to identify the cone shape and proudly display their decorated hat will indicate understanding.