Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have an MP3 player ready with the “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” song, or be prepared to sing it clearly yourself. Gather picture cards of body parts like head, shoulders, knees, toes, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. The central idea is for pupils to learn the song, perform the actions, and identify these body parts on themselves. Successful learning will be observed when pupils can sing along, touch the correct body parts, and respond to prompts like “Touch your head.”

Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: First Term
Week: 10
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Songs and Rhymes
Curriculum Theme: Songs and Rhymes
Previous Lesson: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Topic: HEAD SHOULDERS KNEES AND TOES
Subject Matter: HEAD SHOULDERS KNEES AND TOES.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

Identify the body parts: head, shoulders, knees, toes, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.
Recite the lyrics of the “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” song.

Affective Domain

Show enthusiasm while singing the song.
Participate actively in the song’s actions and role-play.

Psychomotor Domain

Touch the correct body parts as they are mentioned in the song.
Perform the actions associated with the “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” song.

Take turns and follow instructions during group activities.

Reference Materials

NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3.
Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources.
A suitable early-years workbook/textbook.

Instructional Materials

MP3 player with the “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” song.
Rhyme book with song lyrics.
Large picture cards of body parts (head, shoulders, knees, toes, eyes, ears, mouth, nose).
Chart with the song lyrics.

Rationale for the Lesson

Learning the “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” song is important for 4-year-olds as it helps them develop body awareness and vocabulary in a fun, active way. It connects words with physical actions, enhancing their cognitive and motor skills while promoting listening and following instructions, which are vital for early learning and daily interactions.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can follow simple instructions, enjoy listening to music, and are familiar with some basic body movements.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

HEAD SHOULDERS KNEES AND TOES

This popular children’s song helps pupils learn and identify major body parts through singing and movement.

Song Lyrics and Actions

Tune: Traditional Children’s Song

Lyrics:

Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

Actions:

Head: Touch your head.
Shoulders: Touch your shoulders.
Knees: Touch your knees.
Toes: Touch your toes.
Eyes: Point to your eyes.
Ears: Point to your ears.
Mouth: Point to your mouth.
Nose: Point to your nose.

Body Parts in the Song

Head
Shoulders
Knees
Toes
Eyes
Ears
Mouth
Nose

Key Words

Head – The top part of your body.
Shoulders – The parts of your body where your arms join your neck.
Knees – The middle parts of your legs that bend.
Toes – The small parts at the end of your feet.
Eyes – What you use to see.
Ears – What you use to hear.
Mouth – What you use to eat and talk.
Nose – What you use to smell and breathe.

Watch and Sing Along

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4y_2z_lYgU

💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary

How to teach the content: Introduce the song by pointing to each body part on yourself as you say its name. Use the picture cards to reinforce recognition. Explain what each body part does in simple terms (e.g., “We see with our eyes”).

What to show or demonstrate: Clearly demonstrate each action for “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” slowly at first, then at normal speed. Use the chart with lyrics to help pupils follow along, pointing to words as you sing.

How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the song multiple times, gradually increasing speed. Encourage pupils to copy your actions. Start slowly, then speed up, and sometimes slow down again to keep it fun and engaging. Use the MP3 player to play the song for variety and to help with rhythm.

How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to sing along and see other children doing the actions. Play the video, encouraging pupils to sing and perform actions with the characters. After watching, discuss which body parts were shown and what actions they did.

What to watch for: Observe if pupils are touching the correct body parts and attempting to sing along. Watch for any confusion between similar-sounding words or actions. Provide individual support by gently guiding hands to the correct body parts.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning
Demonstration
Guided Practice
Songs and Rhymes
Picture Talk
Imitation
Repetition
Practical Activity

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Greeting/Engagement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and starts a simple warm-up activity like stretching or wiggling fingers and toes to get them ready for movement.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings and participate in the warm-up stretches.

Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and ready for the lesson.

Step 2: Presentation (Introducing Body Parts)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Naming/Identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the topic “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes.” The teacher points to their own head, shoulders, knees, and toes, saying each name clearly. The teacher also shows picture cards of these body parts.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, watch, and point to their own head, shoulders, knees, and toes as the teacher names them.

Learning Point: Pupils begin to recognise and name key body parts.

Step 3: Demonstration (Teacher Sings and Acts)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Modelling/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher sings the “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” song slowly, performing all the actions clearly. The teacher repeats this a few times, encouraging pupils to watch closely.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the teacher sing and perform the actions, trying to follow along silently or with small movements.

Learning Point: Pupils observe the song’s rhythm, lyrics, and associated actions.

Step 4: Guided Practice (Pupils Join In)

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Repetition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher invites pupils to sing and perform the actions together. The teacher sings slowly at first, providing verbal cues and physical guidance where needed. The teacher repeats the song several times, gradually increasing the speed.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along with the teacher and perform the actions, touching their head, shoulders, knees, toes, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

Learning Point: Pupils practise singing the song and coordinating actions with lyrics.

Step 5: Reinforcement (MP3/Video Playback)

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Auditory/Visual Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” song using the MP3 player or shows the video. The teacher encourages pupils to sing and dance along to the music.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing, dance, and perform the actions with the song playing from the MP3 player or video.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their learning through auditory and visual aids, enjoying the song independently.

Step 6: Application (Body Part Identification Game)

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application/Game-based Learning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher calls out a body part (e.g., “Touch your nose!”) and pupils quickly touch the correct part. The teacher can also use picture cards and ask, “What body part is this?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils quickly touch the named body part or identify the body part on the picture card.

Learning Point: Pupils apply their knowledge to identify body parts on command.

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.

“Can you sing the first line of the song?”
“Touch your ears and toes.”
“Show me your mouth.”
“What do we use our eyes for?”

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: Recap/Praise

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their active participation and good singing. The teacher reminds them to keep singing the song at home.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to praise and listen to the teacher’s concluding remarks.

Learning Point: Pupils feel encouraged and remember to practise what they have learned.

Lesson Keywords

Head – The top part of your body.
Shoulders – The parts of your body where your arms join your neck.
Knees – The middle parts of your legs that bend.
Toes – The small parts at the end of your feet.
Eyes – What you use to see.
Ears – What you use to hear.
Mouth – What you use to eat and talk.
Nose – What you use to smell and breathe.

Differentiation

Support: For pupils struggling with actions, provide hand-over-hand guidance to touch the correct body parts. Sing the song very slowly and repeat specific lines. Use larger picture cards for clearer identification.
Extension: Encourage pupils who have mastered the song to lead the actions for the class. Ask them to name other body parts not in the song (e.g., “Where is your hand?”). Challenge them to sing the song faster or slower.