Disposal of Refuse, Safe and Unsafe Methods for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Health Habits
Curriculum Theme: Health Habits
Previous Lesson: Keeping our school environment clean.
Topic: DISPOSAL OF REFUSE: SAFE AND UNSAFE METHODS
Subject Matter: DISPOSAL OF REFUSE – Safe or clean ways of disposing refuse. – Unsafe or dirty ways of disposing refuse.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Define refuse in simple terms.
• Identify safe methods of refuse disposal.
• Identify unsafe methods of refuse disposal.

Affective Domain

• Listen attentively to explanations about refuse disposal.
• Appreciate the importance of disposing refuse safely.
• Participate actively in class discussions about keeping the environment clean.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate how to dispose of refuse safely using a dustbin.
• Point to pictures showing safe and unsafe refuse disposal methods.

Social Domain

• Cooperate with classmates in keeping the classroom tidy.

Reference Materials

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

Instructional Materials

• Charts showing pictures of safe refuse disposal (e.g., dustbin, waste collector) and unsafe disposal (e.g., littering, dumping).
• A small dustbin with a lid.
• Examples of refuse: biscuit wrappers, sweet wrappers, empty water sachets, small empty plastic bottles.
• Picture cards of different refuse items.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for 5-year-olds as it teaches them practical skills for maintaining a clean and healthy environment. Understanding safe refuse disposal helps prevent the spread of germs and diseases, fostering good hygiene habits from an early age and promoting a sense of responsibility towards their surroundings.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can identify common items found at home and school. They also have a basic understanding of what it means to keep things clean.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

DISPOSAL OF REFUSE: SAFE AND UNSAFE METHODS

What is Refuse?

Refuse means unwanted things or waste materials that we throw away. These are things we don’t need anymore, like empty wrappers, broken toys, or leftover food.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

Display actual examples of refuse like biscuit wrappers, sweet wrappers, empty water sachets, and small empty plastic bottles. Show charts with pictures of different types of refuse.

Disposal of Refuse

Disposal means throwing away or getting rid of refuse properly.

1. Safe or Clean Ways of Disposing Refuse:

• Using a Dustbin: This is the best way. We should always put our refuse in a dustbin with a lid.
• Covered Bins: Make sure the dustbin has a lid to keep flies and pests away.
• Waste Collection: When the dustbin is full, a waste collector comes to take it away to a special place.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

Demonstrate how to put a biscuit wrapper into a dustbin with a lid. Show charts illustrating a dustbin, a covered bin, and a waste collection truck.

2. Unsafe or Dirty Ways of Disposing Refuse:

• Littering: Throwing refuse on the ground, in the street, or anywhere that is not a dustbin. This makes our environment dirty and ugly.
• Dumping in Gutters/Drains: Throwing refuse into gutters or drains can block them and cause flooding.
• Burning Refuse: Burning refuse can make the air dirty and is not good for our health.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

Show charts illustrating littering (e.g., someone throwing a wrapper on the ground), refuse dumped in a gutter, and smoke from burning refuse.

Clean Up Song

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Wrapper, wrapper, on the floor,
Pick it up, don’t want it more.
Find the dustbin, open wide,
Put the rubbish deep inside.
Clean our school and home so neat,
Healthy places, oh so sweet!

Actions:
Line 1: Point to the floor.
Line 2: Bend down and pretend to pick something up.
Line 3: Pretend to look for a bin, then make an opening motion.
Line 4: Pretend to put something into the bin.
Line 5: Sweep hands across the body to show cleaning.
Line 6: Smile and make a happy face.

How to use the rhyme: Sing this song with actions to reinforce the importance of putting refuse in the dustbin and keeping the environment clean. Repeat it several times for memorization.

Watch and Learn About Littering

The teacher can show a short educational video about why we should not litter and how to dispose of waste properly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F01zL931034

Key Words

• Refuse – unwanted things or waste.
• Dustbin – a container for putting refuse.
• Littering – throwing refuse on the ground.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Greeting/Engagement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them what they do to keep their classroom and homes clean. The teacher introduces the topic by showing a piece of refuse (e.g., a sweet wrapper) and asking what it is and what we should do with it.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s greetings and questions, sharing their ideas about cleanliness. They identify the sweet wrapper as refuse.

Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and introduced to the concept of refuse.

Step 2: Meaning of Refuse

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what refuse means using the actual examples (biscuit wrappers, water sachets, etc.). The teacher asks pupils to name other things that are refuse.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively, touch and identify the examples of refuse, and name other refuse items they know.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the meaning of refuse and can identify common examples.

Step 3: Safe Ways of Disposing Refuse

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows a dustbin with a lid and demonstrates how to put refuse inside it. The teacher explains why using a dustbin is a safe and clean way to dispose of refuse (e.g., keeps environment clean, prevents germs). The teacher asks pupils to practice.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the demonstration, discuss why it is safe, and take turns practicing putting a piece of refuse into the dustbin.

Learning Point: Pupils learn and demonstrate safe refuse disposal methods.

Step 4: Unsafe Ways of Disposing Refuse

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Picture Talk/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows charts depicting unsafe methods like littering, dumping in gutters, and burning refuse. The teacher discusses with pupils why these methods are bad for our health and environment.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the charts, identify the unsafe actions, and explain in simple words why they are bad (e.g., “makes ground dirty,” “blocks water,” “bad smoke”).

Learning Point: Pupils identify and understand the negative impact of unsafe refuse disposal methods.

Step 5: Rhyme Reinforcement

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Singing/Movement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Clean Up Song” with actions. The teacher encourages energetic participation and repeats the song a few times.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along with the teacher, performing the actions and enjoying the rhyme.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce learning about safe disposal through a fun and memorable song.

Step 6: Practical Application

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher places a few pieces of pretend refuse on the floor and asks pupils to pick them up and put them in the dustbin correctly. The teacher observes and guides them.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate by picking up the refuse and disposing of it safely in the dustbin.

Learning Point: Pupils apply their knowledge practically in a simulated environment.

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 is refuse? (Show a wrapper)
2. Show me the safe way to put this wrapper away. (Point to a dustbin)
3. Is it good to throw refuse on the ground? (Show a picture of littering)
4. Name one safe way to dispose of refuse.

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: Summarizing/Encouragement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them to always dispose of refuse safely to keep their homes, school, and community clean and healthy. The teacher encourages them to tell their family members about safe disposal.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and promise to practice safe refuse disposal.

Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to adopt good hygiene habits.

Lesson Keywords

• Refuse – unwanted things or waste materials that we throw away.
• Dustbin – a container with a lid where we put refuse.
• Littering – throwing refuse on the ground or anywhere it shouldn’t be.
• Disposal – the act of getting rid of something, especially waste.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who need extra help, the teacher can provide more one-on-one guidance during the demonstration. Use larger pictures for identifying safe/unsafe methods and allow them to simply point or say “good” or “bad” for methods.
• Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, the teacher can ask them to identify other types of refuse not discussed or explain why a clean environment is important for their health.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have all the instructional materials ready, especially the real examples of refuse and a clean dustbin. The practical demonstration of putting refuse in a bin is crucial for this age group, so allow every child to have a turn if possible. Emphasize the “why” behind safe disposal (e.g., “to keep away flies,” “to prevent sickness”). Repeat the rhyme often to help pupils internalize the message. Observe pupils closely during the practical activity to ensure they understand the correct procedure. Encourage pupils to be “cleanliness champions” at home and school. Understanding should be judged by their ability to identify and demonstrate safe disposal, not just by verbal recall.