Feather for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Third Term
Week: 10
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Creativity
Curriculum Theme: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Previous Lesson: Third Term Colour Splash Activity
Topic: Feather
Subject Matter: Feather.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify feathers when shown.
• Recognise a chicken from a picture or real object.
• State one characteristic of a feather (e.g., soft, light).

Affective Domain

• Show interest in handling feathers and creating art.
• Participate actively in the pasting activity.
• Appreciate the beauty of natural materials like feathers.

Psychomotor Domain

• Carefully apply gum to paper.
• Paste feathers onto a chicken outline with some precision.
• Handle craft materials safely.

Social Domain

• Share craft materials with classmates when guided.
• Take turns during the 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

• Real feathers (various colours if available)
• Picture of a chicken
• A real chicken (if safe and feasible for demonstration, otherwise a clear picture)
• Pre-drawn outlines of a chicken on drawing paper or cardboard for each pupil
• Bond gum or child-safe glue
• Small plates or containers for gum
• Wipes or damp cloths for cleaning hands

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson introduces pupils to feathers and chickens, fostering their observation skills and knowledge of animals. The practical activity of pasting feathers helps develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity, which are essential for early writing and artistic expression.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with some common farm animals and have engaged in simple craft activities like drawing or colouring.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Feather

A feather is a light, soft covering found on the body of a bird. Feathers help birds to fly and keep them warm. Chickens are birds that have many feathers.

Today, we will learn about feathers and use them to make a beautiful chicken craft!

Key Words

• Feather – The soft, light covering on a bird.
• Chicken – A common bird found on farms, known for its feathers and eggs.
• Paste – To stick something onto another surface using glue or gum.
• Soft – Gentle to touch, not hard.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Show real feathers to the pupils. Let them touch and feel how soft and light they are.
• Display a clear picture of a chicken, pointing out its feathers.
• Show a pre-drawn outline of a chicken on paper.
• Demonstrate how to apply a small amount of gum and gently press a feather onto the paper.

Feather and Chicken Song

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Lyrics:

Little feather, soft and light,
Helps the birds to take their flight.
Chicken wears them, brown and white,
Keeps her warm both day and night.
Feather, feather, soft and neat,
Makes our chicken look so sweet!

Actions:

• “Little feather, soft and light” – Wiggle fingers gently like a falling feather.
• “Helps the birds to take their flight” – Flap arms like a bird flying.
• “Chicken wears them, brown and white” – Point to a picture of a chicken.
• “Keeps her warm both day and night” – Hug self.
• “Feather, feather, soft and neat” – Gently touch a feather.
• “Makes our chicken look so sweet!” – Make a happy face.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the song together to introduce feathers and chickens. Repeat it during the activity to keep pupils engaged and reinforce the concepts.

Watch and Learn About Feathers

Let’s watch a short video to see more about feathers and how they help birds!

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and leads them in a familiar song. The teacher then shows a real feather and asks, “What do I have in my hand? Have you seen this before? Where do you think it comes from?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, sing along, and try to identify the feather and guess its origin.

Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and their prior knowledge about feathers is activated.

Step 2: Presentation – Introducing Feather and Chicken

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Observation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows the real feathers and a clear picture of a chicken. “This is a feather! And this is a chicken! Chickens are birds, and they have many feathers all over their bodies.” The teacher allows pupils to gently touch the feathers.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the feathers and the chicken picture. They gently touch the feathers and repeat “feather” and “chicken” after the teacher.

Learning Point: Pupils identify feathers and chickens, connecting the two concepts.

Step 3: Discussion – Characteristics of Feathers

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Description/Sensory Exploration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks, “How does the feather feel? Is it hard or soft? Is it heavy or light?” The teacher explains that feathers help birds fly and keep them warm. The teacher then leads the pupils in singing the “Feather and Chicken Song.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils describe the feather’s texture (soft) and weight (light). They sing along with the teacher, performing the actions.

Learning Point: Pupils learn key characteristics of feathers and reinforce learning through song.

Step 4: Demonstration – How to Paste Feathers

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Modelling/Instruction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows a pre-drawn chicken outline on paper. The teacher demonstrates how to apply a small amount of bond gum onto the chicken outline and then gently place a feather on the gum, pressing it lightly. “We will make our own feather chicken!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch carefully as the teacher demonstrates the pasting process. They observe how to handle the gum and feathers.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the steps involved in the craft activity.

Step 5: Guided Practice – Preparing for the Activity

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Organisation/Assistance

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes pre-drawn chicken outlines, feathers, and small amounts of gum to each pupil or small groups. The teacher reminds pupils to use only a little gum and to be gentle with the feathers. “Remember to share the gum and feathers nicely.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils collect their materials, ensuring they have everything needed for the activity. They prepare their workspace.

Learning Point: Pupils are ready with their materials and understand classroom expectations for sharing.

Step 6: Pupil Application – Pasting Feathers

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Supervision/Support

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides and supervises pupils as they apply gum and paste feathers onto their chicken outlines. The teacher offers individual assistance and encouragement, ensuring pupils are working safely and correctly. The teacher can sing the “Feather and Chicken Song” again.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively engage in pasting feathers onto their chicken outlines, creating their own feather chicken craft. They may sing along with the teacher.

Learning Point: Pupils apply their fine motor skills and creativity to complete the craft, reinforcing the concept of feathers on a chicken.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and by observing their completed craft. The teacher asks:

1. “What did we use to decorate our chicken today?” (Show a feather)
2. “What animal did we make?” (Show a picture of a chicken)
3. “How does a feather feel?”
4. The teacher observes each pupil’s finished craft.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally by pointing to or naming feathers and chickens. They show their completed feather chicken crafts.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson by identifying feathers and chickens and showing their completed craft.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Recap/Closure

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their beautiful work and reminds them that feathers come from birds like chickens. The teacher encourages them to look for feathers outside. The teacher leads a tidy-up song.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to praise, participate in the tidy-up activity, and put away their materials.

Learning Point: Pupils feel accomplished and understand the importance of tidiness after an activity.

Lesson Keywords

• Feather – The soft, light covering on a bird.
• Chicken – A common bird with feathers.
• Paste – To stick with glue.
• Soft – Gentle to touch.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who struggle with fine motor skills, the teacher can pre-apply small dots of gum on the chicken outline or provide larger feathers that are easier to handle. Offer hand-over-hand guidance for pasting.
• Extension: For pupils who finish quickly, encourage them to draw some details on their chicken (e.g., eyes, beak, legs) with crayons before or after pasting the feathers. They could also count how many feathers they used.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have enough feathers for each pupil (at least 5-10 per child) and pre-draw chicken outlines on paper or cardstock. Prepare small containers with bond gum for easy access and less mess. Emphasize using only a small amount of gum to prevent the paper from becoming too wet and tearing. Supervise closely during the pasting activity to ensure safe handling of materials and to assist children who may struggle with the task. Observe pupils’ ability to identify the feather and chicken and their dexterity in pasting as key indicators of understanding. Encourage pupils to describe the feather’s texture and weight to reinforce sensory learning.