Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before the lesson, ensure you have the “Jack and Jill” rhyme lyrics ready, either on a chart or in a book. Prepare simple actions to accompany the rhyme and have your MP3/MP4 player ready for the song and video. The central idea is for pupils to learn the rhyme through repeated listening, singing, and active participation in role-play. Observe pupils’ ability to repeat lines, sing along, and mimic actions to gauge their understanding and engagement.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: Second Term
Week: 1
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Songs and Rhymes
Curriculum Theme: Songs and Rhymes
Previous Lesson: Listening to and repeating simple songs and rhymes.
Topic: JACK AND JILL WENT UP THE HILL
Subject Matter: JACK AND JILL WENT UP THE HILL.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Recall the sequence of events in the “Jack and Jill” rhyme.
- Identify the main characters, Jack and Jill, from the rhyme.
- State what Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch.
Affective Domain
- Show enjoyment while listening to and singing the rhyme.
- Participate enthusiastically in repeating the rhyme and song.
- Express interest in acting out the rhyme.
Psychomotor Domain
- Perform simple actions that accompany the “Jack and Jill” rhyme.
- Participate in a simple role-play of the rhyme.
- Clap along to the rhythm of the song.
Social Domain
- Take turns during group repetition and role-play activities.
- Collaborate with peers during the role-play.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
- Early Childhood Care and Education curriculum resources
- Suitable early-years rhyme books
Instructional Materials
- MP4 Player
- MP3 Player
- Rhyme book/chart with “Jack and Jill” lyrics
- Picture cards of Jack, Jill, a hill, and a pail of water
Rationale for the Lesson
Learning nursery rhymes like “Jack and Jill” is crucial for developing language skills, memory, and rhythm in 4-year-old children. It introduces new vocabulary, encourages listening comprehension, and provides a fun way to engage with storytelling. Through repetition and role-play, pupils also develop social skills and imaginative play, connecting the rhyme to actions and simple narratives.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can listen attentively to stories and short songs. They are able to repeat simple words and phrases after the teacher and enjoy participating in group activities.
Lesson Content/Board Summary
JACK AND JILL WENT UP THE HILL
The Rhyme: Jack and Jill
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
Up Jack got and home did trot,
As fast as he could caper.
He went to bed to mend his head
With vinegar and brown paper.
Key Words
- Jack – A boy’s name, one of the characters.
- Jill – A girl’s name, the other character.
- Hill – A small mountain or raised land.
- Pail – A bucket, used for carrying water.
- Water – A clear liquid, what they went to fetch.
- Crown – In this rhyme, it means Jack’s head.
- Tumbling – Falling down quickly.
Watch and Sing Along
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Introduce the rhyme by showing pictures of Jack and Jill. Recite the rhyme clearly and slowly, line by line, emphasizing key words. Explain what “crown” means in this context (head) and what “tumbling” means. Use the rhyme chart for visual support.
What to show or demonstrate: Demonstrate simple actions for each line: walking fingers up (hill), pretending to carry a pail, falling down, and tumbling. Use expressive facial gestures and body language to convey the story.
How to use the rhyme/song: Recite and sing the rhyme several times. Encourage pupils to repeat after you, first line by line, then in phrases, and finally the whole rhyme. Use the MP3 player to play an audio version of the song for listening and singing practice.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as another way to see and hear the “Jack and Jill” rhyme. Play the video, encouraging pupils to watch the actions and sing along. After watching, discuss what they saw and liked about the video. Ask them to mimic some of the actions from the video.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils are able to repeat the rhyme, sing along, and perform the actions. Watch for their engagement during role-play and their ability to recall simple details from the rhyme.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Storytelling
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Role-play
- Imitation
- Repetition
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Motivation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets pupils and sings a short warm-up song. The teacher then introduces the topic by asking if they know any rhymes about children going somewhere or falling down.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, sing the warm-up song, and share any rhymes they know.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and ready for the lesson.
Step 2: Teacher Recites and Sings the Rhyme
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Modelling/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher recites the “Jack and Jill” rhyme slowly and clearly, using appropriate actions and expressions. The teacher then sings the rhyme using the MP3 player as a guide.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively to the rhyme and observe the teacher’s actions.
Learning Point: Pupils become familiar with the rhyme’s words, tune, and story.
Step 3: Guided Repetition of the Rhyme
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Repetition/Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in repeating the rhyme line by line, then phrase by phrase, encouraging them to join in with the actions. The teacher corrects pronunciation gently.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils repeat the rhyme after the teacher, trying to mimic the words and actions.
Learning Point: Pupils begin to memorise the rhyme and associate words with actions.
Step 4: Full Rhyme Practice with Actions
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Application
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher encourages pupils to recite and sing the entire “Jack and Jill” rhyme together, performing the actions. The teacher provides support and prompts as needed.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing and recite the full rhyme with actions, building confidence.
Learning Point: Pupils gain confidence in reciting the complete rhyme.
Step 5: Video Reinforcement
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Engagement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the “Jack and Jill” video. Pupils watch the video, singing along and performing actions if they wish. After the video, the teacher asks pupils what they observed.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video, listen to the song, and sing along. They share their observations.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their learning through visual and auditory stimulation.
Step 6: Role-play the Rhyme
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Role-play/Creative Expression
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to role-play the rhyme. Two pupils can pretend to be Jack and Jill, walking up an imaginary hill, fetching water, falling, and tumbling. The teacher encourages others to clap and sing along.
Pupils’ Activity: Selected pupils act out the rhyme while others sing along and clap. All pupils participate in the actions.
Learning Point: Pupils develop imaginative play and deeper understanding of the rhyme’s narrative.
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.
- Who are the two children in our rhyme?
- What did Jack and Jill go up the hill to fetch?
- What happened to Jack?
- Can you show me the action for “Jack fell down”?
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: Summary/Closure
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises pupils for their participation and effort. The class sings the “Jack and Jill” rhyme one more time together as a fun way to end the lesson.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme one last time and prepare for the next activity.
Learning Point: Pupils leave the lesson with a positive feeling and reinforced learning.
Lesson Keywords
- Jack – A boy in the rhyme.
- Jill – A girl in the rhyme.
- Hill – A small raised land.
- Pail – A bucket.
- Tumble – To fall.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who find it difficult to remember the lines, the teacher will provide more one-on-one repetition, use larger picture cards, and guide their actions hand-over-hand during role-play.
- Extension: For pupils who quickly grasp the rhyme, the teacher can ask them to draw a picture of Jack and Jill, or encourage them to lead the class in singing and acting out the rhyme.
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