Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, gather real examples or clear pictures of a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, healthy foods, and shoes. The central idea is for pupils to identify and begin to practise simple daily habits that keep their bodies healthy. Observe pupils actively demonstrating actions like handwashing or brushing to confirm their understanding.
Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: First Term
Week: 9
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Health Habits
Curriculum Theme: Health Habits
Previous Lesson: Learning about different parts of the body.
Topic: HOW TO STAY HEALTHY AND CARE FOR THE BODY
Subject Matter: HOW TO STAY HEALTHY
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify at least two ways to stay healthy.
- Name some healthy foods.
Affective Domain
- Show willingness to practise healthy habits.
- Appreciate the importance of keeping their bodies clean.
Psychomotor Domain
- Demonstrate how to wash their hands properly.
- Pretend to brush their teeth.
Social Domain
- Participate in group discussions about healthy habits.
- Share ideas about what makes them feel healthy.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2
- Early Childhood Care and Education resources on health and hygiene
Instructional Materials
- Picture charts showing children brushing teeth, washing hands, eating healthy food, and wearing shoes.
- Real toothbrush and toothpaste (new, for demonstration).
- A bar of soap and a small basin with water (for handwashing demonstration).
- Pictures of various foods (healthy and unhealthy).
- Learning Stamps, Story Book, Picture Book, Chart Posters, Video, Flash Cards, Jigsaw Puzzles (as listed in seed).
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 3-year-olds because it introduces fundamental habits for personal hygiene and well-being. Learning these practices early helps children understand how to keep themselves clean and strong, preventing common illnesses and promoting a healthy lifestyle from a young age.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify some parts of their body and have daily routines at home like eating and bathing.Lesson Content/Board Summary
HOW TO STAY HEALTHY AND CARE FOR THE BODY
To stay healthy and strong, we need to take good care of our bodies every day.Ways to Stay Healthy:
- Avoid walking bare-footed: We should always wear shoes or slippers when we go outside to protect our feet from dirt, germs, and injuries.
- Brush your teeth regularly: Brush your teeth in the morning and before bed to keep them clean and strong, and to chase away germs that cause toothache.
- Eat balanced diet: Eat different kinds of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, and fish. These foods give our bodies energy and help us grow big and strong.
- Always wash your hands: Wash your hands with soap and water especially before eating, after using the toilet, and after playing outside. This washes away germs that can make us sick.
Key Words
- Healthy – feeling strong and well.
- Brush – to clean with a brush, like our teeth.
- Wash – to clean with water and soap.
- Food – what we eat to get energy.
- Shoes – what we wear on our feet.
Healthy Habits Song
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Lyrics:
Brush, brush, brush your teeth,
Morning, night, and in between.
Wash, wash, wash your hands,
Clean and shiny, free from germs.
Eat good food, grow so tall,
Wear your shoes, don’t ever fall.
Healthy body, happy me,
That’s the way to be!
Actions: Pretend to brush teeth, rub hands together like washing, point to mouth, point to hands, make eating motion, point to feet, clap hands.
Watch and Learn About Healthy Habits
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Introduce each healthy habit one by one using the picture charts. Explain simply why each habit is important. Use questions like “Why do we brush our teeth?” or “What happens if we don’t wash our hands?”
What to show or demonstrate: Use the real toothbrush/toothpaste to demonstrate brushing motions. Use soap and water to demonstrate proper handwashing. Show pictures of healthy foods and a child wearing shoes. Emphasize the ‘before and after’ effect of cleaning.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the “Healthy Habits Song” together, demonstrating the actions. Repeat it several 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 keeping healthy. After watching, discuss what they saw in the video, linking it back to the habits discussed earlier. Ask pupils to name one healthy habit they saw in the video.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can identify the key habits from the pictures and if they attempt to perform the actions during demonstrations. Correct any misconceptions gently, e.g., brushing too hard or not washing hands thoroughly.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Practical Activity
- Repetition
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engaging/Motivation
Teacher’s Activity: Greet pupils and ask them how they are feeling today. Ask, “Who wants to be strong and healthy like a superhero?” Introduce the topic by saying, “Today, we will learn how to keep our bodies healthy and strong!”
Pupils’ Activity: Respond to greetings and show enthusiasm for being strong and healthy.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of staying healthy and motivated for the lesson.
Step 2: Discussing “Avoid Walking Bare-footed”
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Visual Aid
Teacher’s Activity: Show a picture of a child wearing shoes and another walking barefoot. Ask, “Which child is protecting their feet?” Explain why it’s important to wear shoes outside (to avoid germs and injuries). Demonstrate putting on shoes.
Pupils’ Activity: Observe the pictures, respond to questions, and pretend to put on shoes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the importance of wearing shoes for foot protection.
Step 3: Demonstrating “Brush Your Teeth Regularly”
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: Show a toothbrush and toothpaste. Explain that we brush our teeth in the morning and at night. Demonstrate the correct brushing motion on a model or with gestures. Guide pupils to pretend to brush their teeth.
Pupils’ Activity: Watch the demonstration, repeat the words “brush teeth,” and pretend to brush their teeth using their fingers.
Learning Point: Pupils learn when and how to brush their teeth.
Step 4: Discussing “Eat Balanced Diet”
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Picture Talk/Categorization
Teacher’s Activity: Show pictures of various foods (fruits, vegetables, rice, sweets). Ask, “Which foods make us strong?” Help pupils identify healthy foods and explain that eating different healthy foods helps us grow. Briefly mention that sweets are for sometimes, not all the time.
Pupils’ Activity: Point to healthy foods in the pictures and name some they like.
Learning Point: Pupils identify healthy foods that help them grow.
Step 5: Practising “Always Wash Your Hands”
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Practical Demonstration/Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: Show soap and water. Explain that we wash our hands before eating and after playing or using the toilet. Demonstrate the steps of handwashing (wet, soap, rub, rinse, dry). Lead pupils in a handwashing action song or chant.
Pupils’ Activity: Watch the demonstration, repeat the steps, and mimic handwashing actions.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the importance of handwashing and practise the steps.
Step 6: Song and Video Reinforcement
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Creative Expression/Audio-Visual
Teacher’s Activity: Lead pupils in singing the “Healthy Habits Song” with actions. Then, play the short video on healthy habits. After the video, ask pupils to name one new thing they learned or saw about staying healthy.
Pupils’ Activity: Sing the song with actions, watch the video, and respond to questions about the video content.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of healthy habits through song and video.
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.
- Name one thing we do to stay healthy.
- Show me how you wash your hands.
- What should you wear on your feet when you go outside?
- Point to a picture of healthy food.
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: Summarizing/Encouragement
Teacher’s Activity: Summarize the lesson by reminding pupils that taking care of their bodies helps them stay strong, happy, and able to play. Encourage them to practise these habits every day. “Let’s all be healthy children!”
Pupils’ Activity: Listen attentively and respond with enthusiasm.
Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to apply the learned habits daily.
Lesson Keywords
- Healthy – feeling strong and well.
- Brush – to clean with a brush, like our teeth.
- Wash – to clean with water and soap.
- Food – what we eat to get energy.
- Shoes – what we wear on our feet.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who struggle, provide larger picture cards for easier identification, use hand-over-hand guidance for demonstrating actions like handwashing, and repeat instructions slowly and clearly. Focus on identifying just one or two key habits.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, ask them to name an additional healthy habit they practice at home or to identify why a particular habit (e.g., handwashing) is important in their own words.
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