Doing Homework Properly and Caring for Homework Books for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: First Term
Week: 5
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Personal Development
Curriculum Theme: Personal Development
Previous Lesson: Caring for school materials
Topic: Doing Homework Properly and Caring for Homework Books
Subject Matter: Doing My Homework. Weekly focus: Doing Homework Properly and Caring for Homework Books.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify proper ways to do their homework.
• State reasons why it is important to care for their homework books.
• Recall what not to do while doing homework.

Affective Domain

• Show willingness to do their homework properly and neatly.
• Appreciate the importance of keeping their homework books clean and safe.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate how to open and close a homework book carefully.
• Practise sitting properly at a table for homework.

Social Domain

• Participate in discussions about good homework habits.

Reference Materials

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

Instructional Materials

• A sample homework book (clean and neat)
• A sample homework book (messy/torn, for comparison)
• Charts showing children doing homework properly
• Posters illustrating caring for books
• Pencils, crayons, erasers
• A clean table and chair

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for 5-year-olds as it introduces them to personal responsibility and good study habits from an early age. Learning to do homework properly and care for books helps pupils develop independence, neatness, and respect for learning materials, which are foundational skills for future academic success and personal discipline.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with school rules, listening to their teachers, and generally handling their school bags and materials.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Doing Homework Properly and Caring for Homework Books

Homework is a small task given by the teacher to be completed at home. It helps us practise what we learned in school.

How to Do Homework Properly

• Find a quiet place: Go to a clean, quiet table at home, away from noise or distractions.
• Sit properly: Sit up straight on your chair.
• Get your tools ready: Have your pencil, eraser, and crayons ready.
• Listen to instructions: Remember what your teacher said to do.
• Do it neatly: Write clearly and colour carefully. Try your best!
• Do it on time: Do your homework when you get home or before school the next day. Don’t wait until the last minute.

How to Care for Homework Books

• Keep it clean: Don’t let your book get dirty. Wash your hands before you touch it.
• Don’t tear pages: Open and close your book gently.
• Don’t write on the cover: Keep the cover neat and clean.
• No food or drink: Don’t eat or drink near your book to avoid spills.
• Put it away safely: After doing your homework, put your book carefully into your school bag.

What NOT to Do While Doing Homework

• Don’t play with toys or watch TV.
• Don’t eat or drink.
• Don’t rush or do it carelessly.
• Don’t let someone else do it for you.

Key Words

• Homework – a task given by the teacher to do at home.
• Properly – in the correct and good way.
• Care – to look after something well.
• Neat – clean and tidy.
• Clean – free from dirt.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Demonstrate sitting properly at a table.
• Show how to gently open and close a book.
• Display a neat homework book versus a messy one.
• Show charts of children doing homework in a quiet, clean space.

Homework Habits Song

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Lyrics:

Homework time, it’s time to start,
A quiet place, a happy heart.
Sit up straight, hold pencil tight,
Do my best with all my might.
Books are clean, no tears, no mess,
Homework done, I pass the test!

Actions:

• “Homework time, it’s time to start” – point to a wrist as if checking time.
• “A quiet place, a happy heart” – put finger to lips for quiet, then hand to chest.
• “Sit up straight, hold pencil tight” – sit straight, mime holding a pencil.
• “Do my best with all my might” – make a fist and show determination.
• “Books are clean, no tears, no mess” – gently pat hands on an imaginary book.
• “Homework done, I pass the test!” – thumbs up!

How to use the rhyme: Sing the song together, performing the actions. Repeat several times to help pupils remember the steps for doing homework properly and caring for their books.

Video Demonstration: Caring for Books

The teacher will show a short video demonstrating how to care for books, reinforcing the points discussed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h9V620dE4k

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Motivation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them if they remember getting tasks to do at home. The teacher introduces the topic: “Today, we will learn how to do our homework properly and how to take very good care of our homework books.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the lesson topic and its importance.

Step 2: What is Homework?

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what homework is in simple terms (a task from school to do at home to help us learn more). The teacher asks pupils why they think homework is important.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation and offer simple ideas on why homework is important (e.g., to learn, to practise).

Learning Point: Pupils understand the meaning and purpose of homework.

Step 3: Doing Homework Properly

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses and demonstrates the proper ways to do homework: finding a quiet place, sitting properly, having tools ready, and doing it neatly. The teacher shows a chart of a child doing homework correctly.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the teacher’s demonstration and practise sitting properly at their desks. They discuss what a “quiet place” means.

Learning Point: Pupils learn and practise good habits for doing homework.

Step 4: Caring for Homework Books

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Aid/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows a clean homework book and a messy/torn one, discussing the differences. The teacher demonstrates how to open and close a book gently, keep it clean, and put it away safely. The teacher then plays the video on caring for books.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the books and the teacher’s demonstration. They watch the video and discuss what they saw about caring for books.

Learning Point: Pupils understand and observe how to care for their homework books.

Step 5: What NOT to Do

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses common mistakes or distractions to avoid while doing homework, such as playing, eating, or rushing. The teacher asks pupils to suggest things that might stop them from doing their homework well.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and contribute ideas about what they should not do when doing homework.

Learning Point: Pupils identify distractions and bad habits to avoid during homework time.

Step 6: Rhyme and Practice

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Songs and Rhymes/Role-play

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Homework Habits Song” with actions. The teacher encourages pupils to role-play a short scenario of doing homework properly and then putting their book away.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song with actions and participate in the role-play, demonstrating the good habits learned.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their learning through song and practical application.

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. Show me how you would sit to do your homework.
2. What is one thing you should NOT do when doing homework?
3. Show me how to open your homework book carefully.
4. Why is it important to keep your homework book clean?

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: Recap/Encouragement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them to always try their best to do their homework properly and care for their books. The teacher encourages them to tell their parents about the good habits they learned.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and promise to practise good homework habits.

Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to apply the learned habits at home.

Lesson Keywords

• Homework – a task given by the teacher to do at home.
• Properly – in the correct and good way.
• Care – to look after something well.
• Neat – clean and tidy.
• Clean – free from dirt.
• Distraction – something that takes your attention away.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who struggle, the teacher can provide more one-on-one demonstration, use larger pictures, or simplify instructions to one step at a time (e.g., “First, sit down. Now, open your book.”). Peer support can also be encouraged.
• Extension: For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, the teacher can ask them to explain *why* these habits are important or to identify other school materials they should care for in a similar way. They can also draw a picture of themselves doing homework properly.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, prepare a clean homework book and a deliberately messy/torn one for comparison. Ensure you have charts or posters showing good homework habits. When demonstrating, exaggerate the proper actions (e.g., gentle handling of books, sitting straight) so pupils can easily imitate. Emphasize consistency, as homework habits are formed over time. Encourage parents to create a conducive environment at home. Observe pupils during the role-play and evaluation to see if they can physically demonstrate the learned behaviours, as this is a key indicator of understanding at this age. Reinforce these habits regularly, especially when assigning new homework.