Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, prepare clear pictures or actual examples of healthy breakfast foods like pap, bread, eggs, and fruits, along with a clean cup and a bottle of water. The central idea for pupils is to identify these healthy choices and understand that drinking water keeps them strong and energetic. Observe if pupils can point to healthy foods and pretend to drink water, showing they grasp the core concepts.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: Third Term
Week: 10
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Health Habits
Curriculum Theme: Health Habits
Previous Lesson: Good Food for Growth
Topic: FOOD: BREAKFAST
Subject Matter: Healthy breakfast foods and importance of drinking water.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify at least three healthy breakfast foods.
- State two reasons why drinking water is important.
Affective Domain
- Show willingness to choose healthy foods for breakfast.
- Appreciate the importance of drinking clean water daily.
Psychomotor Domain
- Point to pictures of healthy breakfast items.
- Demonstrate the action of drinking water.
Social Domain
- Participate in discussions about healthy eating habits.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
- Early Childhood Care and Education curriculum resources
Instructional Materials
- Charts and posters showing various breakfast foods (healthy and unhealthy)
- Pictures of fruits, eggs, bread, pap, milk
- A clean cup and a bottle of water
- Video display (if available)
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 4-year-olds as it teaches them about making good food choices right from the start of their day. Understanding healthy breakfast and the role of water helps build a foundation for lifelong healthy eating habits, providing the energy needed for growth, play, and learning.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils know that food gives them energy and have seen different types of food at home and school. They also know that they drink water when they are thirsty.
Lesson Content/Board Summary
Healthy Breakfast Foods and Importance of Drinking Water
What is Breakfast?
Breakfast is the very first meal we eat in the morning after waking up. It gives our body energy to start the day, to play, and to learn at school.
Healthy Breakfast Foods:
These are foods that are good for our body and give us lots of energy and strength. Examples include:
- Pap (Akamu/Ogi) with milk and a little sugar
- Bread with egg or butter
- Boiled yam with egg sauce
- Fruits like banana, orange, apple
- Oats porridge
- Milk
Eating healthy breakfast foods helps us to:
- Have energy to play and run.
- Think well in class.
- Grow big and strong.
- Stay healthy and not get sick easily.
Importance of Drinking Water:
Water is very important for our body. We should drink clean water every day, not just when we are thirsty.
Why water is good for us:
- It keeps our body working well.
- It helps us digest the food we eat.
- It makes our skin soft.
- It helps us stay active and full of energy.
- It stops us from feeling thirsty and tired.
Key Words
- Breakfast – The first meal of the day.
- Healthy – Good for your body.
- Water – A clear liquid we drink to stay healthy.
- Energy – Strength to play and work.
- Strong – Having power and not easily broken.
My Healthy Breakfast Song
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Lyrics:
Breakfast time, oh what a treat,
Healthy food for me to eat!
Pap and egg, and fruit so sweet,
Makes my body strong and neat!
Drink my water, clear and bright,
Keeps me healthy, day and night!
Actions: Pretend to eat, show strong muscles, pretend to drink from a cup, point to self.
Watch and Learn About Water
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Begin by asking pupils what they ate for breakfast. Introduce the concept of “breakfast” as the first meal. Use the charts/pictures to show various healthy breakfast foods, naming each one clearly. Discuss why these foods are good for them (energy, growth). Then, introduce water, showing a real cup of water. Explain its importance using simple language. Encourage pupils to repeat key phrases like “Breakfast gives me energy” and “Water keeps me healthy.”
What to show or demonstrate: Display pictures of healthy breakfast items and some unhealthy ones (e.g., too much sweets) for comparison. Show a real cup of water and demonstrate drinking it. Point to different parts of the body while explaining how water helps.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing “My Healthy Breakfast Song” together, demonstrating the actions. Repeat it 2-3 times to help pupils learn the words and actions. Encourage energetic participation.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to learn more about drinking water. Play the video, asking pupils to watch and listen carefully. After the video, ask simple questions like “What did the children in the video drink?” or “Why should we drink water?” Encourage them to sing along to parts of the song if they remember it.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can correctly identify healthy breakfast foods from the pictures. Watch for their participation in the song and their ability to recall simple reasons for drinking water. Correct any misconceptions about unhealthy foods being good for breakfast.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Picture Talk
- Songs and Rhymes
- Question and Answer
- 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 this morning. The teacher then explains that breakfast is the first meal of the day and very important.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by sharing what they ate for breakfast. They listen attentively.
Learning Point: Pupils recall their breakfast and understand that breakfast is the first meal.
Step 2: Identifying Healthy Breakfast Foods
Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Identification/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays charts/pictures of various breakfast foods (e.g., pap, bread, egg, fruits, yam, milk) and guides pupils to identify the healthy ones. The teacher names each healthy food clearly.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils point to and name the healthy breakfast foods as guided by the teacher. They repeat the names of the foods.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and name common healthy breakfast foods.
Step 3: Discussing Why Healthy Breakfast is Important
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils why they think these foods are good for them. The teacher explains that healthy breakfast foods give them energy to play and learn, and help them grow strong.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils offer simple ideas. They listen and repeat the reasons for eating healthy breakfast.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that healthy breakfast provides energy and helps them grow.
Step 4: Introducing the Importance of Drinking Water
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows a clean cup and a bottle of water. The teacher explains that water is very important for our bodies and we should drink it every day. The teacher demonstrates drinking water.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the water and the teacher’s demonstration. They pretend to drink water and repeat “Water is good for me.”
Learning Point: Pupils recognise water and understand it is important for health.
Step 5: Singing “My Healthy Breakfast Song”
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Song/Movement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing “My Healthy Breakfast Song” with actions, reinforcing the importance of healthy food and water.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song along with the teacher, performing the actions.
Learning Point: Pupils use song and movement to reinforce learning about healthy breakfast and water.
Step 6: Video on Drinking Water
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the short educational video about drinking water. After the video, the teacher asks pupils what they learned about water from the video.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video attentively. They share simple observations or repeat phrases from the video about water.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of water’s importance through visual and auditory input.
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.
- “Point to a healthy breakfast food on the chart.”
- “What is the first meal we eat in the morning?”
- “Why should we drink water?” (Accept simple answers like “to be strong” or “not to be thirsty”)
- “Show me how you drink water.”
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/Encouragement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them to always eat a healthy breakfast and drink plenty of water to stay strong and healthy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and say “Yes, teacher!” showing their understanding and commitment.
Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to practice healthy habits daily.
Lesson Keywords
- Breakfast – The first meal you eat in the morning.
- Healthy – Good for your body and makes you strong.
- Water – A clear drink that keeps your body working well.
- Energy – The strength you have to play and learn.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils struggling to identify foods, use fewer options on the chart, point to the correct foods, and use hand-over-hand guidance to help them point. Repeat the names of the foods and reasons for drinking water multiple times.
- Extension: For pupils who quickly grasp the concepts, ask them to name another healthy food they eat at home for breakfast, or ask them to explain in their own words why water is so important.
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