Gender in Games and Play, Boys and Girls Playing Together for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Civic Education
Curriculum Theme: Civic Education
Previous Lesson: Sharing Toys and Being Kind to Friends
Topic: GENDER IN GAMES AND PLAY: BOYS AND GIRLS PLAYING TOGETHER
Subject Matter: GENDER ISSUES IN GAMES AND PLAYS – Male and female children playing together. Weekly focus: Gender in Games and Play: Boys and Girls Playing Together.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify boys and girls in the classroom.
• Name different games that both boys and girls can play together.

Affective Domain

• Show willingness to play with all classmates, regardless of whether they are boys or girls.
• Appreciate the fun and benefits of playing together with everyone.

Psychomotor Domain

• Participate actively in games and play activities with mixed groups of boys and girls.
• Demonstrate sharing and taking turns during play.

Social Domain

• Interact positively and respectfully with all friends during playtime.
• Cooperate with others in group play.

Reference Materials

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

Instructional Materials

• Charts showing boys and girls playing various games (e.g., football, building blocks, playing with dolls, drawing)
• Rhyme book
• Various toys: balls, building blocks, toy cars, dolls, skipping ropes, drawing materials
• Pictures of children playing together

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for 5-year-olds as it teaches them about fairness and inclusion in play. Understanding that boys and girls can play all types of games together helps to build respect, cooperation, and strong friendships, preparing them for positive social interactions in school and beyond.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can identify boys and girls, know how to play simple games, and have some understanding of sharing.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

GENDER IN GAMES AND PLAY: BOYS AND GIRLS PLAYING TOGETHER

In our class, we have boys and we have girls. Everyone is special! When we play, it’s fun to play together with all our friends.

Gender means being a boy or a girl. Boys are male children, and girls are female children.

Playing Together means that boys and girls can play all kinds of games with each other. There are no “boy games” or “girl games.” All games are for everyone!

• Boys can play with dolls and building blocks.
• Girls can play with toy cars and football.
• Everyone can run, jump, draw, sing, and dance together.
• When we play together, we learn to share our toys and take turns.

Playing together makes us happy and helps us make many friends!

Key Words

• Gender – Being a boy or a girl.
• Play – Having fun with games and toys.
• Together – Doing things with other people.
• Share – Letting others use your things.
• Friends – People we like to play and spend time with.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Display charts and pictures showing boys and girls happily playing together with a variety of toys (e.g., a boy playing with a doll, a girl playing with a toy car, mixed groups building blocks).
• Point to different boys and girls in the class.

Playing Together Rhyme

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Lyrics:

Boys and girls, big and small,
Let’s play together, one and all!
With our toys, we’ll share and see,
Happy friends, you and me!
Run and jump and sing a song,
Playing together, all day long!

Actions:

• “Boys and girls”: Point to boys, then to girls.
• “Big and small”: Show hands high, then low.
• “Let’s play together”: Bring hands together.
• “Share our toys”: Make a sharing motion.
• “Happy friends”: Smile and hug self.
• “Run and jump”: Pretend to run and jump.
• “Sing a song”: Cup hands around mouth.
• “All day long”: Circle hands.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the rhyme together with actions to reinforce the idea of inclusive play. Repeat it a few times to help pupils remember the message.

Watch and Play Together

The teacher will show a short video about children playing together and sharing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYJ4h4qJbC8

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Greeting

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and leads them in a short welcome song. The teacher then asks pupils about their favourite games and who they like to play with.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, sing along, and share their favourite games and friends.

Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and ready to learn about playing together.

Step 2: Identifying Boys and Girls

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Observation/Identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher uses pictures of children or points to pupils in the class to help them identify “boys” and “girls.” The teacher explains that everyone is special whether they are a boy or a girl.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils point to boys and girls, and repeat the words “boy” and “girl.”

Learning Point: Pupils can correctly identify boys and girls.

Step 3: Discussing Games for Everyone

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays charts showing boys and girls playing different games. The teacher asks, “Can boys play with dolls?” “Can girls play football?” and explains that all games are for everyone, regardless of gender. The teacher introduces the “Playing Together Rhyme.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the charts, answer questions, and listen to the teacher’s explanation. They listen to the rhyme.

Learning Point: Pupils understand that all games can be played by both boys and girls.

Step 4: Teacher Demonstration/Guided Play

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Modelling/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher brings out a variety of toys (e.g., a doll, a toy car, building blocks, a ball). The teacher models playing with these toys, inviting both boys and girls to join in. For example, the teacher might pretend to drive a car with a girl, or build a tower with a boy, emphasizing sharing.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the teacher’s demonstration and are encouraged to join the teacher in playing with the toys, practicing sharing.

Learning Point: Pupils see practical examples of mixed-gender play and begin to participate.

Step 5: Rhyme and Inclusive Game Reinforcement

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Activity

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Playing Together Rhyme” with actions. Then, the teacher organises a simple, inclusive game like “Ring Around the Rosie” or “Follow the Leader,” ensuring that boys and girls are mixed in the group.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme with actions and participate in the group game, playing with all their friends.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce the lesson through song and active, inclusive play.

Step 6: Pupil Application/Free Play

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Supervised Practice/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides a selection of toys and encourages pupils to play freely in mixed groups. The teacher observes, facilitates sharing, and gently guides pupils to include everyone, praising inclusive behaviour.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils engage in free play, choosing toys and playing with different classmates, including both boys and girls.

Learning Point: Pupils apply the concept of playing together in a less structured 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.

1. Who can tell me one game that both boys and girls can play?
2. Show me how you would share a toy with your friend (boy or girl).
3. Point to a boy playing with a doll in our picture.
4. Point to a girl playing with a car in our picture.

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: Summary/Closure

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises pupils for playing nicely together and reminds them that everyone is a friend and can play any game. The teacher leads a tidy-up song.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, respond to praise, and help to tidy up the toys.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the importance of playing together and are ready for the next activity.

Lesson Keywords

• Gender – Being a boy or a girl.
• Play – Having fun with games and toys.
• Together – Doing things with other people.
• Share – Letting others use your things.
• Friends – People we like to play and spend time with.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who are shy or hesitant to play with the opposite gender, the teacher can gently pair them with a friendly classmate and provide more direct guidance during play. Use larger pictures or real objects for clearer identification.
• Extension: For pupils who quickly grasp the concept, encourage them to initiate new games that involve both boys and girls, or ask them to explain why it’s good to play with everyone.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Prepare the play area beforehand with a variety of toys that appeal to different interests (e.g., building blocks, dolls, toy cars, art supplies, balls). The key message is that all toys and games are for everyone, regardless of gender. Observe pupils during free play to identify any instances of gender-based segregation and gently intervene by suggesting mixed-group play or modelling inclusive behaviour. Encourage sharing and taking turns consistently. Reinforce the rhyme and the idea of “playing together” throughout the day and week. Understanding is best judged by observing pupils’ willingness to interact and play with all classmates.