Good Eating Habits and Table Manners for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Second Term
Week: 2
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Health Habits
Curriculum Theme: Health Habits
Previous Lesson: Personal hygiene practices like bathing and brushing teeth.
Topic: Good Eating Habits and Table Manners
Subject Matter: Good Eating Habits. Weekly focus: Good Eating Habits and Table Manners.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify at least three good eating habits.
• State at least two simple table manners.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of clean hands and dishes before eating.
• Show willingness to practice good table manners.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate washing hands before and after eating.
• Demonstrate taking small bites of food.

Social Domain

• Participate in discussions about good eating habits and table manners.
• Practice polite behaviour during a pretend mealtime.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4.
• Early Childhood Care and Education resources on health and hygiene.
• Relevant early-years health habits workbook.

Instructional Materials

• Charts showing children practicing good eating habits (e.g., washing hands, eating neatly).
• Posters illustrating good table manners (e.g., sitting properly, not talking with mouth full).
• Pictures of various foods, clean plates, spoons, and cups.
• Real or toy plates, spoons, cups, and napkins for demonstration.
• Soap and water for handwashing demonstration.
• A small table and chairs for role-play.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for 5-year-olds as it teaches them essential life skills for healthy living and social interaction. Practicing good eating habits and table manners helps children stay healthy, prevents the spread of germs, and promotes respectful behaviour when eating with others.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with different types of food and have some basic understanding of personal hygiene, such as washing hands after using the toilet.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Good Eating Habits and Table Manners

Good eating habits are the healthy ways we eat our food to stay strong and clean. Table manners are the polite ways we behave when we are eating with others.

Good Eating Habits

• Wash hands before eating: This removes germs that can make us sick.
• Use clean dishes and cutlery: Eating from dirty plates can also make us sick.
• Eat with water served along with the food: Water helps us swallow and digest our food.
• Put only what one can chew easily at once into the mouth: Taking small bites helps us chew properly and avoids choking.
• Chew with mouth closed: It is polite and prevents food from falling out.
• Wash hands after eating: To clean off any food residue.

Table Manners

• Sit properly at the table: Do not slouch or put elbows on the table.
• Do not talk with food in your mouth: It is impolite and messy.
• Say “Please” and “Thank you”: When asking for food or receiving it.
• Wait for everyone to be served: Before starting to eat, especially when eating with others.
• Use a napkin: To wipe your mouth, not your hands.

Key Words

• Habits – things we do regularly.
• Manners – polite ways of behaving.
• Germs – tiny things that can make us sick.
• Clean – free from dirt.
• Polite – showing good behaviour and respect.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Pictures of children washing hands, eating neatly, and sitting properly at a table.
• A simple drawing of a clean plate and cutlery.
• Demonstrate how to take a small bite and chew with a closed mouth.
• Demonstrate how to use a napkin.

Good Habits Song

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Wash your hands before you eat,
Make sure everything is neat.
Small bites take, and chew them slow,
Good manners always show.
Thank you, please, and sit up tall,
Good habits for one and all!

Actions: Mimic washing hands, taking small bites, chewing, sitting up straight, and saying “thank you” with hands together.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the song together, encouraging pupils to do the actions. Repeat several times to help them remember the habits.

Watch and Practise

The teacher will show a short video on good table manners and eating habits to reinforce the lesson.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them what they ate for breakfast. The teacher then asks, “What do we do before we eat?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greeting and share what they ate. Some may mention washing hands.

Learning Point: Pupils recall prior knowledge about food and hygiene.

Step 2: Presentation (Good Eating Habits)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the topic “Good Eating Habits.” Using charts and pictures, the teacher discusses the importance of washing hands before eating and using clean dishes. The teacher demonstrates a pretend handwash.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the charts and pictures, listen to the teacher, and mimic washing their hands.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the first two good eating habits.

Step 3: Guided Practice (Eating Habits)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Practical Demonstration/Guidance

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher continues discussing other habits like taking small bites, chewing with a closed mouth, and eating with water. Using toy food and plates, the teacher demonstrates taking a small bite and chewing neatly. Pupils are encouraged to practice taking small pretend bites.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the demonstration and practice taking small pretend bites and chewing with their mouths closed.

Learning Point: Pupils learn and practice taking small bites and chewing neatly.

Step 4: Reinforcement (Rhyme/Song)

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Repetition/Musical Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Good Habits Song” with actions, reinforcing the eating habits discussed so far.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song along with the teacher and perform the actions.

Learning Point: Pupils remember good eating habits through song and movement.

Step 5: Presentation (Table Manners)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Role-play

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces “Table Manners.” Using posters and role-play, the teacher discusses sitting properly, not talking with food in the mouth, and saying “Please” and “Thank you.” The teacher demonstrates polite requests.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the posters and participate in simple role-play, practicing polite words and sitting properly.

Learning Point: Pupils learn about polite behaviour at the table.

Step 6: Application (Demonstration and Video)

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Pupil Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks a few pupils to demonstrate one good eating habit or table manner they learned. The teacher then shows the short video on good table manners to further reinforce the lesson.

Pupils’ Activity: Selected pupils demonstrate a habit or manner. All pupils watch the video attentively.

Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning through demonstration and visual reinforcement.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.

1. “What is the first thing we do before eating?” (Pupils respond: Wash hands).
2. “Show me how you take a small bite.” (Pupils demonstrate).
3. “What should you say when someone gives you food?” (Pupils respond: Thank you).
4. “Why is it good to chew with your mouth closed?” (Pupils respond: It’s polite/food doesn’t fall out).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Summarization/Encouragement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them to practice good eating habits and table manners at home and at school. “Always remember to be neat and polite when you eat!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and affirm their commitment to practice.

Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to apply what they have learned in their daily lives.

Lesson Keywords

• Habits – things we do regularly.
• Manners – polite ways of behaving.
• Clean – free from dirt.
• Polite – showing good behaviour and respect.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who struggle, the teacher can use larger, clearer pictures, provide hand-over-hand guidance for demonstrating actions, and repeat instructions slowly and clearly. Focus on just one or two key habits/manners.
• Extension: For quicker learners, the teacher can ask them to name another good habit or manner not explicitly discussed, or to explain why a particular habit is important (e.g., “Why do we wash our hands?”). They can also lead a small role-play.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have all charts, pictures, and demonstration items ready. Real objects like a bar of soap, a small towel, a clean plate, and a spoon can make the demonstration more concrete. Emphasize that these habits are not just for school but also for home. Encourage pupils to practice these habits daily. Observe pupils during snack time or lunch to see if they are applying what they learned. Praise good behaviour consistently. The main idea children must understand is that eating neatly and politely keeps them healthy and shows respect for others.