Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, prepare clear charts or posters showing the lips and tongue, or use pictures of children smiling and showing their tongue. The central idea for pupils is to identify these body parts and state one or two simple uses for each. Observe pupils as they point to their own lips and tongue, and try to mimic actions like smiling or licking.
Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: First Term
Week: 10
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Pre-Science
Curriculum Theme: Pre-Science
Previous Lesson: Identification and Uses of The Mouth and Teeth
Topic: The Lips and Tongue: Identification and Uses
Subject Matter: Parts of the Body – The Lips and the Tongue. Identification of the Lips. Identification of the Tongue. Uses of the Lips and the Tongue.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify their lips and tongue when asked.
- Name their lips and tongue.
- State at least one use for their lips.
- State at least one use for their tongue.
Affective Domain
- Listen attentively to the teacher’s explanations.
- Show interest in learning about their body parts.
- Participate happily in songs and activities.
Psychomotor Domain
- Touch their lips and show their tongue.
- Mime actions related to the uses of lips (e.g., smiling, speaking).
- Mime actions related to the uses of the tongue (e.g., tasting, licking).
- Colour pictures of lips and tongue.
Social Domain
- Take turns when speaking or demonstrating.
- Participate in group activities.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2.
- Early Childhood Care and Education resources.
- Relevant Pre-Science charts and picture books for early years.
Instructional Materials
- Charts showing pictures of lips and tongue.
- Posters of children smiling, talking, and showing their tongue.
- Small mirrors (optional, for individual observation).
- Crayons.
- Printed pictures of lips and tongue for colouring.
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 3-year-olds as it helps them develop body awareness and understand the basic functions of two essential parts of their face – the lips and the tongue. Learning about these parts connects directly to their daily experiences of eating, speaking, and expressing emotions, fostering a sense of self-awareness and promoting healthy habits.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify some other parts of their body like eyes, nose, and ears. They can also point to their mouth.Lesson Content/Board Summary
The Lips and Tongue: Identification and Uses
What are Lips?
Our lips are the soft, fleshy parts around our mouth. We have an upper lip and a lower lip. They help us to open and close our mouth.
- Uses of the Lips:
- Speaking: Our lips help us to make sounds and talk (e.g., “Mummy,” “Ball”).
- Eating: They help us keep food in our mouth when we chew.
- Smiling: We use our lips to show when we are happy.
- Drinking: They help us sip water or juice from a cup.
- Kissing: We use our lips to give kisses to people we love.
What is the Tongue?
Our tongue is a soft, muscular part inside our mouth. It is usually pink and wet, and we can move it around easily.
- Uses of the Tongue:
- Tasting: Our tongue helps us know if food is sweet, sour, bitter, or salty.
- Speaking: It helps us form words clearly when we talk (e.g., “Lick,” “Tongue”).
- Swallowing: It pushes food down our throat when we eat.
- Licking: We use our tongue to lick things like ice cream or lollipops.
Key Words
- Lips – The soft parts around our mouth.
- Tongue – The soft part inside our mouth that helps us taste.
- Speak – To talk using our mouth, lips, and tongue.
- Eat – To put food in our mouth and chew.
- Taste – To know the flavour of food using our tongue.
- Smile – To show happiness with our lips.
- Lick – To pass our tongue over something.
Lips and Tongue Song
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
My lips, my lips, so soft and red,
They help me talk and eat my bread.
My tongue, my tongue, it helps me taste,
No food or drink will go to waste!
Lips and tongue, so good for me,
Happy, healthy, as can be!
Actions: Point to lips, mime eating, point to tongue, mime tasting, smile, clap hands.
Watch and Learn About Lips and Tongue
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Begin by asking pupils to point to their mouth. Then, use the charts and posters to clearly show and name the lips and tongue. Encourage pupils to touch their own lips and try to show their tongue. Explain each use with simple actions and examples that children can relate to (e.g., “When Mummy says ‘I love you,’ she uses her lips!”).
What to show or demonstrate: Point to your own lips and tongue. Demonstrate smiling, talking, sipping water, tasting, and licking. Use the charts to reinforce the visual identification. Encourage pupils to imitate your actions.
How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce the “Lips and Tongue Song” after discussing the uses. Sing it slowly with clear actions, repeating it several times to help pupils learn the words and associate them with the body parts and their functions. Encourage pupils to sing and do the actions with you.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to learn more about lips and tongue. Play the video, encouraging pupils to watch and listen. After watching, ask pupils to recall some of the uses mentioned in the video and practice pointing to their lips and tongue as shown.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can correctly identify and touch their lips and tongue. Listen for their attempts to state the uses. Correct any misconceptions gently and with repetition.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Imitation
- Practical Activity
- Colouring
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Greeting
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and leads a short “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” song, emphasizing the mouth area.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils greet the teacher and sing along, touching their body parts.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and ready to learn, revisiting familiar body parts.
Step 2: Identification of Lips
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Observation/Naming
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows charts of the lips and points to their own lips. The teacher says, “These are our lips!” and asks pupils to touch their own lips. “What are these?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the charts, touch their lips, and repeat “Lips!” after the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify and name their lips.
Step 3: Uses of Lips
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses and demonstrates the uses of lips. “We use our lips to talk (mime talking), to smile (smile), and to eat (mime eating). Who can show me how they smile with their lips?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, watch the demonstrations, and try to mimic smiling, talking, and eating actions with their lips.
Learning Point: Pupils understand some basic uses of their lips.
Step 4: Identification of Tongue
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Observation/Naming
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows charts of the tongue and points to their own tongue (by sticking it out briefly). The teacher says, “This is our tongue!” and asks pupils to show their tongue. “What is this?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the charts, show their tongue, and repeat “Tongue!” after the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify and name their tongue.
Step 5: Uses of Tongue
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses and demonstrates the uses of the tongue. “Our tongue helps us taste food (mime tasting), and it helps us lick ice cream (mime licking). Who can show me how they lick?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, watch the demonstrations, and try to mimic tasting and licking actions with their tongue.
Learning Point: Pupils understand some basic uses of their tongue.
Step 6: Reinforcement Activity (Song and Colouring)
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Creativity
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing the “Lips and Tongue Song” with actions. Then, the teacher distributes printed pictures of lips and tongue for pupils to colour. The teacher reminds them of the colours of lips and tongue.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing and perform actions for the song. They then colour the pictures of lips and tongue beautifully with crayons.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their learning through song and creative expression.
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 your lips.”
- “Show me your tongue.”
- “What do we use our lips for? (e.g., talking, smiling)”
- “What do we use our tongue for? (e.g., tasting, licking)”
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: Summarization/Praise
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and good work. The teacher briefly recaps that lips and tongue are important parts of our body that help us talk, eat, and taste.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and respond to the teacher’s praise.
Learning Point: Pupils feel appreciated and remember the main points of the lesson.
Lesson Keywords
- Lips – The soft parts around our mouth.
- Tongue – The soft part inside our mouth that helps us taste.
- Speak – To talk.
- Taste – To know the flavour of food.
- Smile – To show happiness.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who struggle with identification, provide more one-on-one repetition, use hand-over-hand guidance to touch their lips and tongue, and accept pointing as a response rather than verbal naming initially. Use larger, clearer pictures.
- Extension: For pupils who quickly grasp the concepts, encourage them to mention additional uses for lips and tongue (e.g., lips for blowing bubbles, tongue for moving food around in the mouth) or ask them to describe the texture or colour of their lips and tongue.
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