Examples and Importance of Responsibilities in School for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Second Term
Week: 3
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Civic Education
Curriculum Theme: Civic Education
Previous Lesson: Good manners in school
Topic: Responsibilities in School
Subject Matter: Examples and importance of responsibilities in school.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify at least three examples of their responsibilities in school.
• State one reason why it is important to perform their responsibilities.

Affective Domain

• Show willingness to perform their duties in the classroom.
• Appreciate the importance of helping others in school.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate simple responsibilities like picking up litter or arranging chairs.

Social Domain

• Cooperate with classmates in fulfilling shared responsibilities.

Reference Materials

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

Instructional Materials

• Charts showing children performing various school duties (e.g., sweeping, arranging books, helping a friend)
• Posters with simple rules and responsibilities
• MP4 Player (for video)
• Real classroom objects: small broom, dustpan, books, toys, chairs

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for 5-year-olds as it introduces them to the concept of personal responsibility within the school environment. Understanding and performing their duties helps children develop good habits, fosters a sense of belonging, promotes a tidy and safe learning space, and prepares them for active participation in their community.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils know what school is, can follow simple instructions, and may have some experience helping with chores at home.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

RESPONSIBILITIES IN SCHOOL

Responsibilities are duties or tasks that we are expected to do. They are things we *should* do to help ourselves and others.

Examples of Responsibilities in School:

• Keeping the classroom neat and tidy: This means picking up litter, arranging our chairs, and putting toys and books back in their places after use.
• Returning lost items: If we find something that doesn’t belong to us, we should give it to the teacher.
• Caring for junior pupils: Being kind to younger children, helping them if they need it, and not pushing or hurting them.
• Listening to the teacher: Paying attention when the teacher is speaking or giving instructions.
• Sharing school materials: Sharing crayons, blocks, or other items with our friends.
• Taking turns: Waiting for our turn when playing games or using equipment.
• Being polite: Using “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me.”

Importance of Responsibilities in School:

• Makes school a happy place: When everyone does their part, school is more fun for everyone.
• Keeps the classroom clean and tidy: A clean classroom is a healthy place to learn.
• Helps everyone learn better: When things are organised, it’s easier to find what we need and focus.
• Shows respect: Performing our duties shows respect for our teachers, classmates, and school.
• Keeps us safe: A tidy classroom means fewer accidents.

Key Words

• Responsibility – a duty or task we should do.
• Neat – clean and tidy.
• Tidy – arranged well, not messy.
• Help – to assist someone.
• Share – to let others use or have something with you.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

Display charts and posters showing children actively involved in school duties. Demonstrate how to pick up litter and put it in a bin, or how to arrange chairs neatly. Use real classroom objects to show how to put them away.

My School Duties Song

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

My school duties, I will do,
Help my friends and teachers too.
Pick up litter, keep things neat,
Make our classroom clean and sweet.
My school duties, I will do,
Happy learning, me and you!

Actions:

• “My school duties, I will do” – Point to self and nod.
• “Help my friends and teachers too” – Make a helping gesture.
• “Pick up litter, keep things neat” – Pretend to pick something up and put it away.
• “Make our classroom clean and sweet” – Sweep hands in a cleaning motion.
• “My school duties, I will do” – Point to self and nod.
• “Happy learning, me and you!” – Smile and point to friends.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the song together with actions to reinforce the idea of performing responsibilities happily. Repeat several times for memorisation.

Watch and Practise

Let’s watch a short video about children’s responsibilities at school and see how they help make school a better place.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them if they help their parents at home. “What are some things you do to help at home?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by mentioning simple chores they do at home (e.g., “I help wash plates,” “I sweep the floor,” “I put my toys away”).

Learning Point: Connecting home responsibilities to the idea of helping and having duties.

Step 2: Explanation of Responsibilities

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Visual Aids

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains simply what “responsibilities” are – things we *should* do to help. The teacher shows pictures/charts of children performing duties in school.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and observe the pictures, pointing to actions they recognise.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the basic meaning of responsibility.

Step 3: Examples of School Responsibilities

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstrating/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher lists examples of responsibilities in school (e.g., keeping the classroom neat, listening to the teacher, sharing). The teacher demonstrates some simple actions like picking up litter and putting it in the bin, or arranging chairs. The teacher asks pupils, “What else can you do to help in our classroom?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, name some responsibilities, and imitate the demonstrated actions. They may offer their own ideas.

Learning Point: Pupils identify specific duties they have in school.

Step 4: Importance of Responsibilities

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussing/Facilitating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses why these duties are important. “Why do we need to keep our classroom neat?” “What happens if we don’t listen to the teacher?” The teacher explains that responsibilities make school a happy, clean, and safe place.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and give simple reasons for why responsibilities are important (e.g., “so it’s not dirty,” “so we can learn”).

Learning Point: Pupils understand the benefits of fulfilling their responsibilities.

Step 5: Rhyme/Song Reinforcement

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Singing/Action-based Learning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces and leads the “My School Duties” song with actions. The teacher encourages pupils to sing along and perform the actions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song together with the teacher, performing the actions.

Learning Point: Reinforcing the concept of school responsibilities through a catchy song and movement.

Step 6: Practical Application/Role-play

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guiding/Observing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher assigns small groups of pupils to demonstrate a responsibility (e.g., one group tidies a corner with books, another picks up pretend litter, another demonstrates sharing toys). The teacher provides materials like a small broom, dustpan, books, and toys.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils work in their assigned groups, role-playing and demonstrating the responsibilities.

Learning Point: Pupils actively practice performing their responsibilities.

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. “Name one responsibility you have in school.”
2. “Show me how you would keep our classroom neat.” (e.g., pick up a piece of paper)
3. “Why is it important to listen to your teacher?”
4. “What should you do if you find a lost pencil?”

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/Encouraging

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the lesson, praising pupils for their participation and encouraging them to always perform their responsibilities in school. “Remember, when we all do our part, our school is a wonderful place!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and promise to be responsible.

Learning Point: Reinforce the commitment to fulfilling responsibilities.

Lesson Keywords

• Responsibility – a duty or task we should do.
• Duty – a task or action that someone is required to perform.
• Neat – clean and tidy.
• Help – to assist someone.
• Share – to let others use or have something with you.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who struggle, the teacher can provide larger picture cards, repeat instructions slowly, model the actions more frequently, or pair them with a more capable peer for practical activities.
• Extension: For quicker learners, the teacher can ask them to name more responsibilities, discuss responsibilities they have at home, or draw a picture of themselves performing a school duty.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have prepared all instructional materials, especially charts, posters, and real classroom objects for demonstration. The key to this lesson is practical application and positive reinforcement. Encourage pupils to actively participate in demonstrating responsibilities. Make sure to connect the concept of responsibility to their daily actions in the classroom. Observe pupils during free play and routine activities to see if they are applying what they learned. Praise efforts, no matter how small, to build confidence and reinforce good habits. Ensure the MP4 player is charged and the video link is working before class.