Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, ensure you have all the instructional materials ready, especially real detergent, soap, water, a basin, and a small cloth. For the kerosene and stove, have them available for visual identification only, ensuring they are cold, empty, and kept at a safe distance from pupils. The central idea is for pupils to identify soap and detergent and understand their uses for cleanliness, while also learning that some household chemicals like kerosene are dangerous and only for adult use. Pupils will show successful learning by correctly identifying soap and detergent and demonstrating washing actions.
Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: Third Term
Week: 9
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Pre-Science
Curriculum Theme: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Previous Lesson: Not specifically stated.
Topic: HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS: DETERGENT AND SOAP AND THEIR USES
Subject Matter: CHEMICALS USED AT HOME. Kerosene: for Cooking. Petrol: for Powering Generators, Vehicles, Etc. Detergent and Soap: for Washing and Bathing. Weekly focus: Household Chemicals: Detergent and Soap and Their Uses.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify detergent and soap from other household items.
- Name one use for detergent and one use for soap.
Affective Domain
- Show appreciation for clean hands and clothes.
- Understand the importance of adult supervision when handling certain household chemicals.
Psychomotor Domain
- Demonstrate simple washing actions using imaginary soap or detergent.
- Point to soap and detergent when asked.
Social Domain
- Participate actively in songs and group activities related to cleanliness.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2.
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources.
Instructional Materials
- Real detergent (e.g., in a small bowl or sachet)
- Real bar of soap
- Water in a basin or bowl
- Small cloth (e.g., handkerchief)
- Empty kerosene container (for visual identification, kept safely)
- Small, unlit stove (for visual identification, kept safely)
- Pictures of people washing clothes, bathing, or washing hands.
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 3-year-olds as it helps them recognise common household items like soap and detergent that are used daily for hygiene. Understanding their uses promotes good personal habits like handwashing and helps children differentiate safe-to-touch items from dangerous ones like kerosene, fostering early safety awareness in the home environment.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils are familiar with common items found at home and understand simple instructions like “wash” or “clean.”
Lesson Content/Board Summary
HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS: DETERGENT AND SOAP AND THEIR USES
Household chemicals are special things we use at home to help us clean or do other important jobs. Some are safe for us to touch with adult help, and some are very dangerous and only grown-ups should touch them.
Detergent
- Detergent is a special powder or liquid that helps us wash clothes, dishes, and other things.
- It makes things clean and shiny!
- Use: Washing clothes, washing dishes.
Soap
- Soap is a solid bar or liquid that helps us wash our bodies and hands.
- It helps to remove dirt and germs to keep us healthy.
- Use: Bathing, washing hands.
Other Household Chemicals (Adult Use Only!)
- Kerosene: Grown-ups use kerosene for cooking with a stove. It is very dangerous and children must NEVER touch it.
- Petrol: Grown-ups use petrol for cars and generators. It is also very dangerous and children must NEVER touch it.
Always remember: Ask a grown-up if you are not sure about something at home!
Key Words
- Detergent – a special powder or liquid for washing clothes and dishes.
- Soap – a bar or liquid for washing our bodies and hands.
- Wash – to make something clean with water and soap or detergent.
- Clean – free from dirt.
Wash Your Hands Song
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Wash, wash, wash your hands,
Wash them clean with soap!
Rub-a-dub-dub, make them shine,
Germs all go away!
Wash, wash, wash your hands,
Clean and healthy, hooray!
Actions: Mimic washing hands, rub palms together, rub backs of hands, wiggle fingers, clap hands.
Watch and Practise
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Introduce the idea of “household chemicals” simply. Show the actual detergent and soap, letting pupils touch them (if safe, e.g., a bar of soap, a sachet of detergent). Explain their uses with simple words and demonstrate. When discussing kerosene and the stove, show them from a safe distance, emphasizing that these are dangerous and only for adults. Do not light the stove or pour kerosene. Use the pictures to reinforce understanding.
What to show or demonstrate: Show a bar of soap and a sachet/container of detergent. Demonstrate washing a small cloth (handkerchief) with water and a tiny bit of detergent in a basin. Demonstrate washing hands with soap and water. Show the empty kerosene container and the cold, unlit stove, explaining their danger and adult-only use.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the “Wash Your Hands Song” together multiple times, encouraging pupils to perform the actions. Use it as a transition or a fun way to reinforce the lesson on soap.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to learn more about washing hands. Play the video once or twice. After watching, ask pupils to recall what they saw and practise the handwashing actions shown in the video.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can correctly identify soap and detergent. Watch for their participation in the washing actions. Correct any misconceptions about touching dangerous chemicals by reiterating that only adults should handle them.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Manipulation of Objects
- Repetition
- Practical Activity
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling
Teacher’s Activity: Greet pupils. Sing a familiar greeting song. Ask pupils, “What do we use to make our clothes clean?” or “What do we use to wash our hands?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings and try to answer the questions, maybe saying “water” or “soap.”
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and begin thinking about cleanliness.
Step 2: Presentation – Detergent
Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Show the detergent. Explain that it is a special powder/liquid for washing clothes and dishes. Demonstrate washing a small handkerchief in a basin with a tiny bit of detergent and water. Talk about how it makes clothes clean.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the detergent and the teacher’s demonstration. They may repeat “detergent” and “wash clothes.”
Learning Point: Pupils identify detergent and understand its use for washing clothes.
Step 3: Guided Practice – Detergent
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: Ask pupils to point to the detergent. Ask, “What do we use detergent for?” Encourage them to mimic the washing actions with their hands.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils point to the detergent, repeat its use, and mimic washing clothes with their hands.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their recognition of detergent and its function.
Step 4: Presentation – Soap
Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Show the bar of soap. Explain that soap is for washing our bodies and hands to make them clean and remove germs. Demonstrate proper handwashing with soap and water.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the soap and the teacher’s handwashing demonstration. They may repeat “soap” and “wash hands.”
Learning Point: Pupils identify soap and understand its use for personal hygiene.
Step 5: Guided Practice – Soap
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: Ask pupils to point to the soap. Ask, “What do we use soap for?” Encourage them to mimic handwashing actions. Sing the “Wash Your Hands Song.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils point to the soap, repeat its use, mimic handwashing, and sing along with actions.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their recognition of soap and its function, and practise handwashing actions.
Step 6: Reinforcement – Other Chemicals & Safety
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Safety Awareness/Consolidation
Teacher’s Activity: Briefly show the empty kerosene container and the unlit stove (from a safe distance). Explain that these are also household chemicals but are very dangerous and only grown-ups should touch them. Recap that detergent and soap help us stay clean. Play the “Wash Your Hands Song” video.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the dangerous items from a distance, listen to the safety message, and watch the video, singing along.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that some household chemicals are dangerous and learn to differentiate safe-to-use items (with supervision) from dangerous ones.
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 the detergent.”
- “Point to the soap.”
- “Show me how you wash your hands with soap.”
- “What do we use detergent for?” (Show a picture of dirty clothes).
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: Summarizing/Encouraging
Teacher’s Activity: Remind pupils that soap and detergent help us keep clean and healthy. Emphasize always asking a grown-up for help with anything they are not sure about. End with a “Goodbye” song.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and participate in the goodbye song.
Learning Point: Pupils leave with a reinforced message of cleanliness and safety.
Lesson Keywords
- Detergent – a special powder or liquid for washing clothes and dishes.
- Soap – a bar or liquid for washing our bodies and hands.
- Wash – to make something clean with water and soap or detergent.
- Clean – free from dirt.
- Kerosene – a dangerous liquid grown-ups use for cooking.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who are struggling, provide more one-on-one repetition of the names “soap” and “detergent.” Use hand-over-hand guidance for demonstrating washing actions. Use larger pictures of soap and detergent for easier identification.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, ask them to name other things they use soap or detergent for at home (e.g., washing toys, washing fruits with soap if appropriate for the family, though emphasize rinsing). Ask them to identify the colours or shapes of the soap and detergent.
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