Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you are familiar with the lyrics and actions of “In a Cottage in a Wood.” Prepare pictures of a cottage, a rabbit, and a kind old man to aid understanding. The central idea for pupils is to learn the rhyme and understand the meaning of friendship through helping others. Successful learning will be observed when pupils can repeat the rhyme, perform the actions, and participate in a simple role-play demonstrating kindness.

Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: Second Term
Week: 2
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Songs and Rhymes
Curriculum Theme: Songs and Rhymes
Previous Lesson: Learning and reciting simple rhymes and songs.
Topic: In a Cottage in a Wood
Subject Matter: In a Cottage in a Wood.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

Recite the rhyme “In a Cottage in a Wood” with some accuracy.
Identify the main characters in the rhyme (little old man, rabbit, hunter).
Describe what a cottage is.

Affective Domain

Show enjoyment while singing and performing actions for the rhyme.
Appreciate the act of kindness and helping others as shown in the rhyme.

Psychomotor Domain

Perform simple actions that accompany the rhyme.
Participate in a role-play demonstrating the act of helping.

Understand the importance of being kind and helpful to others.
Interact positively with peers during group activities and role-play.

Reference Materials

NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Suitable early-years rhyme books

Instructional Materials

MP4 Player (for video)
MP3 Player (for audio of the song)
Rhyme book with lyrics
Pictures: a cottage, a rabbit, a kind old man, a forest/wood
Puppets or simple masks for role-play (optional)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for 4-year-olds as it enhances their language development, memory, and listening skills through the repetition of a rhyme. It also introduces valuable social concepts like kindness, empathy, and friendship in a relatable and engaging way, helping children understand how to be helpful and caring towards others in their daily lives.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have previously listened to and participated in simple songs and rhymes, and they can identify some common animals.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

In a Cottage in a Wood

This rhyme tells a story about a little old man who shows kindness to a rabbit in need, teaching us about helping friends.

Rhyme: In a Cottage in a Wood

Tune: Traditional Nursery Rhyme Tune

Lyrics:

In a cottage in a wood,
A little old man by the window stood.
Saw a rabbit hopping by,
Knocking at the door.
“Help me, help me, help me,” he said,
“Before the hunter shoots me dead!”
“Come on in,” said the little old man,
“Safely with me you can stay.”

Actions:

“In a cottage in a wood”: Make a house shape with hands, then wave hands like trees.
“A little old man by the window stood”: Point to self, then make a window shape with hands.
“Saw a rabbit hopping by”: Hop fingers like a rabbit.
“Knocking at the door”: Make a knocking motion.
“Help me, help me, help me,” he said: Put hands together as if begging.
“Before the hunter shoots me dead!”: Make a shooting motion (safely, pointing down).
“Come on in,” said the little old man: Make a welcoming gesture.
“Safely with me you can stay”: Hug self.

Meaning of Friendship

Friendship means being kind, helpful, and caring towards others. The little old man showed friendship by helping the rabbit when it was in danger.

Key Words

Cottage – a small, simple house.
Wood – a forest or a place with many trees.
Rabbit – a small animal with long ears that hops.
Hunter – a person who catches or kills animals.
Friend – someone you care about and who cares about you, someone you help.

Watch and Practise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_jK6h2r09A

💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary

How to teach the content: Introduce the rhyme by showing pictures of a cottage and a wood. Recite the rhyme slowly and clearly, line by line, allowing pupils to listen carefully. Explain new words like “cottage,” “wood,” “rabbit,” and “hunter” using the prepared pictures. Discuss the story of the rhyme, focusing on the little old man’s kindness to the rabbit.

What to show or demonstrate: Display the pictures of a cottage, a rabbit, and a kind old man. Demonstrate the actions for each line of the rhyme clearly and enthusiastically. Use expressive facial gestures and body language to convey the story and emotions.

How to use the rhyme/song: Recite the rhyme several times, first without actions, then with actions. Encourage pupils to join in with repeating lines and performing actions as they become familiar. Repeat the rhyme as a whole class, in smaller groups, and individually to build confidence. Emphasise clear pronunciation and rhythm.

How to use the video: Introduce the video as another way to see and hear the rhyme. Play the video on the MP4 player. After watching, discuss what they saw and heard, reinforcing the characters and actions. Encourage pupils to sing along and do the actions with the video on subsequent viewings.

What to watch for: Observe pupils’ engagement, their ability to repeat lines, and their participation in actions. Pay attention to how they understand the concept of helping and kindness during the discussion and role-play. Correct pronunciation gently and encourage all pupils to participate.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Songs and Rhymes
Demonstration
Guided Practice
Repetition
Picture Talk
Role-play
Question and Answer

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and leads a short, familiar warm-up song or chant. The teacher asks pupils if they know any animals that live in the forest.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, sing along with the warm-up song, and name animals they know.

Learning Point: Pupils are settled and ready to learn, and their prior knowledge is activated.

Step 2: Presentation of the Rhyme

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Modelling/Listening

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the new rhyme “In a Cottage in a Wood.” The teacher recites and sings the entire rhyme clearly, without actions, using the MP3 player or their voice. The teacher shows pictures of a cottage and a wood.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively to the rhyme and look at the pictures shown by the teacher.

Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the rhyme and its setting.

Step 3: Vocabulary and Explanation

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Visual Aids

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains key words from the rhyme using pictures: “cottage” (a small house), “wood” (a forest), “rabbit” (a hopping animal), “hunter” (a person who catches animals). The teacher asks simple questions about the pictures.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the pictures, repeat the new words, and answer simple questions about them.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the meaning of new words in the rhyme.

Step 4: Guided Repetition and Actions

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Repetition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher recites the rhyme again, line by line, demonstrating the simple actions for each line. The teacher encourages pupils to repeat each line and imitate the actions after them. The teacher plays the video of the rhyme on the MP4 player and encourages pupils to watch and listen.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils repeat the lines of the rhyme and perform the actions, following the teacher and the video.

Learning Point: Pupils begin to memorise the rhyme and associate actions with words.

Step 5: Full Rhyme Recitation and Movement

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Coordination

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the entire class in reciting the rhyme from beginning to end, with all the actions. The teacher encourages energetic participation and helps pupils who are struggling with words or actions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils recite the full rhyme with actions, trying to keep up with the rhythm and words.

Learning Point: Pupils gain confidence in reciting the complete rhyme with actions.

Step 6: Role-Play and Friendship Discussion

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Role-play/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher initiates a simple role-play of the rhyme, where some pupils pretend to be the old man and others the rabbit. The teacher guides the role-play to highlight the act of helping. The teacher asks, “Why did the old man help the rabbit?” and “What does it mean to be a friend?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in the role-play, acting out the parts. They share their ideas about why the old man helped and what friendship means.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the meaning of friendship through helping and kindness.

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.

“What is a cottage?” (Show picture of a cottage).
“Who was knocking at the door in the rhyme?” (Show picture of a rabbit).
“What did the little old man do to help the rabbit?”
“Can you show me the action for ‘hopping by’?”
“What did we learn about being a friend from this rhyme?”

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: Summarising/Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and learning. The teacher leads the class in singing the rhyme one last time, encouraging everyone to join in joyfully.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme again enthusiastically.

Learning Point: The lesson is reinforced through a final enjoyable activity.

Lesson Keywords

Cottage – a small house.
Wood – a place with many trees.
Rabbit – a small, hopping animal.
Hunter – someone who catches animals.
Friend – someone who is kind and helpful to you.

Differentiation

Support: For pupils who find it difficult to remember the lyrics, provide more one-on-one repetition. Use larger, clearer pictures for vocabulary. Allow them to focus on just repeating key phrases or performing simpler actions.
Extension: Encourage advanced pupils to suggest other ways the old man could have shown kindness. Ask them to name other animals that live in the wood. They can also lead a small group in reciting the rhyme or demonstrating actions.