Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, please gather a variety of real plants (e.g., a potted flower, some leaves, a small fruit like an orange or garden egg) and pictures of different plants (trees, vegetables, flowers). The central idea for pupils is that plants are living things around us that grow and give us food. Observe pupils as they point to and name plants, showing they understand this concept.
Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Pre-Science
Curriculum Theme: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Previous Lesson: Simple identification of living and non-living things in their environment.
Topic: PLANTS AROUND US: EXAMPLES, LIVING THINGS AND FOOD
Subject Matter: LIVING THINGS: PLANTS. Meaning of Plants. Identification of Plants. Examples of Plants E.g. Flower.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Explain in simple terms what a plant is.
- Identify various plants around them using real objects and pictures.
- State that plants are living things.
- Name some food items that come from plants.
Affective Domain
- Show interest in observing different types of plants.
- Appreciate plants as an important part of their environment and source of food.
Psychomotor Domain
- Point to different plants when asked.
- Attempt to draw and colour a simple plant shape like a flower or tree.
Social Domain
- Participate actively in discussions and group activities about plants.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2
- Early Childhood Care and Education resources
- Suitable early-years Pre-Science workbook
Instructional Materials
- Real examples of plants (e.g., potted flower, leaves, small fruit like garden egg or orange)
- Picture charts and posters showing various plants (trees, flowers, vegetables, fruits)
- MP4 player with relevant educational video
- Crayons and drawing paper
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson helps 3-year-old pupils understand the natural world around them by introducing them to plants. Learning about plants helps them recognise that plants are living things, identify different types, and understand that many foods they eat come from plants. This knowledge builds a foundation for appreciating nature and healthy eating habits.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils have seen different objects in their environment and may have a basic idea that some things grow while others do not. They can identify some common fruits and vegetables.Lesson Content/Board Summary
PLANTS AROUND US: EXAMPLES, LIVING THINGS AND FOOD
What are Plants?
Plants are living things that grow from the ground. They need water, sunlight, and air to grow big and strong. Just like us, plants are alive!
Plants are Living Things
We know plants are living things because:
- They grow bigger.
- They need water and sunlight to live.
- They can make new plants (like seeds).
Examples of Plants
There are many kinds of plants around us:
- Flowers: Like hibiscus, rose, sunflower. (Show real flowers or pictures)
- Trees: Like mango tree, orange tree, iroko tree. (Show pictures)
- Grass: The green carpet on the ground.
- Vegetables: Like spinach (efo), fluted pumpkin (ugu), garden egg. (Show real examples or pictures)
- Fruits: Like mango, orange, banana, pawpaw. (Show real examples or pictures)
Plants Provide Food for Us
Many of the foods we eat come from plants:
- Fruits: Apples, bananas, oranges, mangoes.
- Vegetables: Carrots, spinach, tomatoes, garden eggs.
- Grains: Rice, maize (corn).
- Tubers: Yam, cassava.
Key Words
- Plant – A living thing that grows from the ground.
- Living – Something that grows, breathes, and needs food/water.
- Flower – The colourful part of a plant.
- Food – What we eat to get energy.
- Tree – A very tall plant with a thick stem.
Our Plant Song
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Green, green plants all around,
Growing tall up from the ground.
They give us fruits and veggies too,
Healthy food for me and you.
Green, green plants, oh what a sight,
Making our world so bright!
Actions:
- “Green, green plants all around” – Wave hands in a circle.
- “Growing tall up from the ground” – Slowly raise hands from floor to sky.
- “They give us fruits and veggies too” – Pretend to pick fruits and eat.
- “Healthy food for me and you” – Point to self and then to others.
- “Green, green plants, oh what a sight” – Open hands wide.
- “Making our world so bright!” – Clap hands.
Watch and Learn About Plants
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Begin by showing real plants and pictures. Explain the meaning of plants using simple words like “they grow” and “they need water.” Emphasise that plants are living things by comparing their growth to the pupils’ growth. Show examples of different plants and then link them to the food we eat. Keep explanations very short and concrete.
What to show or demonstrate: Display a potted plant, some leaves, a fruit, and a vegetable. Point to different parts. Show charts and posters of various plants. Demonstrate the actions for the song.
How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce the “Our Plant Song” after discussing examples of plants and their food. Sing it slowly first with actions, then encourage pupils to join in. Repeat it 2-3 times to help them remember the words and actions.
How to use the video: Introduce the video by saying, “We are going to watch a short video about plants, just like the ones we’ve been talking about.” Play the video, pausing if necessary to point out familiar plants or actions. After watching, ask pupils what new thing they learned or what plant they saw in the video.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can point to plants, name at least one example, and understand that plants give us food. Watch for engagement during the song and video.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Manipulation of Objects, Outdoor Observation.Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to sing a familiar welcome song. The teacher then asks, “What are some green things we see outside our classroom?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the welcome song and mention green things like “grass” or “trees.”
Learning Point: Pupils are settled and thinking about their environment.
Step 2: Meaning of Plants
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining/Demonstrating
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows a real potted plant and explains in simple terms, “This is a plant. Plants are living things that grow. They need water and sunlight, just like you need food to grow.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the real plant, touch its leaves gently, and repeat, “Plants are living things.”
Learning Point: Pupils understand the basic meaning of a plant and that it is a living thing.
Step 3: Plants as Living Things
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Comparing/Reinforcing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks, “How do we know this plant is alive?” and guides pupils to remember that living things grow. “Plants grow bigger, just like you grow bigger!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond, “It grows!” and nod their heads, understanding that plants are living.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding that plants are living things because they grow.
Step 4: Examples of Plants
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Identifying/Naming
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows charts and pictures of different plants (flowers, trees, grass, vegetables like ugu, fruits like mango). The teacher names each plant clearly and asks pupils to repeat the names.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils point to the pictures, repeat the names of plants, and identify familiar ones.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify and name various examples of plants.
Step 5: Plants Provide Food
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Connecting/Illustrating
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows a real fruit (e.g., orange) and a vegetable (e.g., garden egg) and asks, “Where do we get this food from?” The teacher explains that many foods we eat come from plants, showing pictures of rice, yam, and other plant-based foods.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils name the fruit/vegetable and say, “From plants!” They identify other food items from pictures.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that plants are a source of food for humans.
Step 6: Reinforcement Activity (Song & Observation)
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Singing/Observing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing “Our Plant Song” with actions. Afterwards, the teacher takes pupils for a very short walk around the school compound to point out and identify plants they see (grass, trees, flowers).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song with actions and actively point to plants around the school compound, naming them.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce learning through song and direct observation in their environment.
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.
- “Show me a plant.” (Teacher points to a picture or real plant).
- “Are plants living things or non-living things?”
- “Name one food we get from a plant.”
- “What do plants need to grow?”
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 praises the pupils for their participation and summarises, “Today we learned that plants are living things all around us, and they give us yummy food!” The teacher encourages them to look for plants at home. Pupils are asked to draw and colour a plant (e.g., a flower or tree) in their books.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, say “Thank you,” and prepare for their drawing activity.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and are given a practical task.
Lesson Keywords
- Plant – A living thing that grows from the ground, like a tree or flower.
- Living – Something that grows, breathes, and needs food or water to stay alive.
- Flower – The colourful and often sweet-smelling part of a plant.
- Food – Things we eat to get energy and stay healthy, like fruits and vegetables.
- Tree – A tall plant with a hard, woody stem and branches.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who struggle, use larger pictures and fewer examples. Provide hand-over-hand guidance for drawing. Repeat key phrases like “Plants are living” and “Plants give us food” frequently.
- Extension: Encourage advanced pupils to name more types of plants or identify specific parts of a plant (leaf, stem). Ask them to name two or three foods that come from plants.
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