Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before the lesson, prepare five actual balloons, a number card for ‘5’, and a chart with the rhyme lyrics. The central idea is for pupils to connect the quantity ‘five’ with the numeral ‘5’ through the engaging “Five Balloons” rhyme. Observe pupils’ ability to count to five, identify the number 5, and sing along with actions, which will show successful learning.
Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Second Term
Week: 7
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Songs and Rhymes
Curriculum Theme: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Previous Lesson: Counting and identifying numbers 1-4.
Topic: FIVE BALLOONS: NUMBER 5 AND SINGING THE RHYME
Subject Matter: FIVE BALLOONS. Weekly focus: Five Balloons: Number 5 and Singing the Rhyme.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify the number 5.
- Count five objects (balloons).
- Recite the “Five Little Balloons” rhyme.
- State one simple safety rule about balloons.
Affective Domain
- Participate enthusiastically in singing the rhyme.
- Show enjoyment in learning about numbers through songs.
Psychomotor Domain
- Perform actions associated with the “Five Little Balloons” rhyme.
- Point to the number 5 when shown.
Social Domain
- Take turns when counting or identifying objects.
- Share materials like balloons (if applicable for activity).
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4.
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources.
Instructional Materials
- Five actual balloons (of different colours if possible).
- Number card showing the numeral ‘5’.
- Chart with the “Five Little Balloons” rhyme lyrics.
- Picture cards showing five objects.
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson helps young children connect abstract numbers to concrete quantities through a fun and memorable song. Learning to count and recognise number 5 is a foundational numeracy skill, while the rhyme enhances language development, memory, and coordination. Discussing balloon safety also introduces important practical life skills.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can already count small numbers of objects (1-4) and have participated in singing simple rhymes. They can recognise some basic colours.Lesson Content/Board Summary
FIVE BALLOONS: NUMBER 5 AND SINGING THE RHYME
Today, we are learning about the number FIVE! We will count five balloons and sing a fun rhyme about them.
What is Number 5?
Number 5 is a numeral that represents a quantity of five things. When we see the number 5, it means there are five items.
- Count with me: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!
- We have five balloons.
- Show me five fingers.
Five Little Balloons Rhyme
Tune: “Five Little Ducks” (or any simple, repetitive tune)
Lyrics:
Five little balloons, floating high,
One is red, one is blue, in the sky.
One is yellow, one is green, one is pink and bright,
Five little balloons, what a lovely sight!
Actions: Hold up five fingers, point to different colours (imaginary or real), wave hands like balloons floating, clap.
Watch and Sing Along
Balloon Safety Rules
Balloons are fun, but we must be safe:
- Do not put balloons in your mouth.
- Do not chew on balloons.
- If a balloon breaks, tell an adult to pick up the pieces.
Key Words
- Five – The number after four.
- Balloons – Colourful, inflatable objects.
- Sing – To make musical sounds with your voice.
- Rhyme – A short poem or song with repeating sounds.
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Begin by holding up five actual balloons and asking pupils to count them with you. Introduce the number card ‘5’ and show how it represents the five balloons. Encourage pupils to show five fingers and count other groups of five objects in the classroom.
What to show or demonstrate: Display the five balloons and the number card ‘5’ prominently. Point to each balloon as you count. Demonstrate the actions for the rhyme clearly and slowly, encouraging pupils to imitate you.
How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce the “Five Little Balloons” rhyme by showing the chart. Read it aloud several times, then sing it with the suggested actions. Repeat the rhyme multiple times, encouraging pupils to join in and perform the actions. You can sing it faster or slower for variety.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to see and count five balloons. Play the video and encourage pupils to sing along and do the actions they see. After watching, discuss what they saw and reinforce the counting of five balloons.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can correctly count to five, identify the numeral ‘5’, and participate in the rhyme. Watch for any pupils who struggle with counting or identifying the number and provide extra support.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Repetition
- Manipulation of Objects
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Motivation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and shows them a colourful bunch of five balloons. “Good morning, children! Look what I have today! What are these?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greeting and identify the balloons. They show excitement.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and ready to learn about balloons and numbers.
Step 2: Counting the Balloons
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Counting/Observation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher holds up the five balloons one by one, asking pupils to count along. “Let’s count them together! One, two, three, four, FIVE!” The teacher then asks, “How many balloons do we have?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils count the balloons with the teacher and respond, “Five!”
Learning Point: Pupils practise counting objects up to five.
Step 3: Introducing Number 5
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Number Recognition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows the number card ‘5’. “This is the number FIVE! It tells us we have five balloons. Can you show me five fingers?” The teacher guides pupils to trace the number 5 in the air.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the number 5, show five fingers, and trace the number in the air.
Learning Point: Pupils recognise the numeral ‘5’ and associate it with the quantity five.
Step 4: Teaching the “Five Little Balloons” Rhyme
Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Rhyme/Song Instruction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the “Five Little Balloons” rhyme using the chart. The teacher recites and sings the rhyme with actions, then encourages pupils to join in. “Let’s sing a song about our five balloons!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, watch the actions, and try to sing along and perform the actions.
Learning Point: Pupils learn the lyrics and actions of the rhyme, reinforcing counting to five.
Step 5: Reinforcement with Video
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Audio-Visual Learning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces a short educational video about five balloons or number 5. “Now, let’s watch a fun video about five balloons and sing along!” The teacher plays the video and encourages participation.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video, sing along, and perform any actions shown.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of number 5 and the rhyme through visual and auditory input.
Step 6: Discussing Balloon Safety
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Practical Life Skills/Safety
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly discusses simple safety rules for handling balloons. “Balloons are fun, but we must be careful. What should we not do with balloons?” The teacher guides pupils to state simple rules like “Don’t put them in your mouth.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and state one or two simple safety rules.
Learning Point: Pupils learn basic safety precautions related to balloons.
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.
- “How many balloons did we count today?” (Teacher holds up the five balloons).
- “Can you point to the number 5 on this card?” (Teacher shows number card 5 and other numbers).
- “Let’s sing the ‘Five Little Balloons’ rhyme one more time!”
- “What is one thing we should remember to be safe with balloons?”
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: Summarisation/Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and learning. “You all did a great job counting to five and singing our rhyme! Keep practising!” The teacher leads a final quick sing-through of the rhyme.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to praise and sing the rhyme one last time.
Learning Point: Pupils feel accomplished and reinforce their learning through a final repetition.
Lesson Keywords
- Five – The number that comes after four.
- Balloons – Light, colourful bags filled with air.
- Rhyme – A short song or poem with rhyming words.
- Count – To say numbers in order.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils struggling with counting or number recognition, the teacher can provide more one-on-one guidance, use hand-over-hand counting, or offer larger, more distinct balloons/objects to count. Repeat the rhyme and actions more frequently.
- Extension: For pupils who quickly grasp the concept, encourage them to count other groups of five objects in the classroom (e.g., five pencils, five books). They can also be asked to draw five balloons or show five fingers in different ways.
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