Making/designing a Hand Fan for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Second Term
Week: 4
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Creativity
Curriculum Theme: Creativity
Previous Lesson: Moulding Different Objects with Plasticine
Topic: Making/Designing a Hand Fan
Subject Matter: Making/Designing a Hand Fan

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify a piece of paper.
• Recall the steps for folding paper to make a fan.

Affective Domain

• Show enjoyment in creating their own hand fan.
• Share materials cooperatively with classmates.

Psychomotor Domain

• Fold a paper forward and backward (accordion style).
• Use markers or crayons to design their hand fan.

Social Domain

• Work respectfully alongside peers during the activity.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4
• Early Childhood Care and Education curriculum resources

Instructional Materials

• Plain sheets of paper (A4 or similar size)
• Washable markers
• Crayons
• Teacher’s pre-made sample hand fan

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps 5-year-olds develop fine motor skills through folding and designing. It encourages creativity and problem-solving while creating a practical item they can use. The activity also reinforces the ability to follow multi-step instructions.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have prior experience handling paper, drawing with crayons or markers, and following simple instructions from the teacher. They may have also seen or used hand fans before.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Making/Designing a Hand Fan

A hand fan is a simple tool we use to create a breeze and keep ourselves cool, especially when it is hot.

Materials Needed:

• Paper
• Markers or Crayons

Steps to Make a Hand Fan:

1. Get your paper: Choose a clean sheet of paper.
2. Fold the paper: Start at one short end. Fold a small strip forward, then turn the paper over and fold the same size strip backward. Keep turning and folding, forward and backward, like an accordion, until you reach the end of the paper.
3. Hold it together: Pinch one end of the folded paper firmly.
4. Decorate your fan: Open up your fan slightly and use your markers or crayons to draw colourful patterns, shapes, or lines on both sides of the fan.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Display a finished sample of a simple paper hand fan.
• Demonstrate the accordion folding technique clearly, step-by-step.
• Show examples of simple designs that can be drawn on the fan.

Fan Folding Rhyme

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Paper, paper, in my hand,
Fold it, fold it, like a fan.
Forward, backward, nice and neat,
Makes a breeze, so cool and sweet.
Decorate it, bright and bold,
Best hand fan, I’m told!

Actions:

• “Paper, paper, in my hand” – Hold up a piece of paper.
• “Fold it, fold it, like a fan” – Make folding motions with hands.
• “Forward, backward, nice and neat” – Demonstrate the accordion fold with hands.
• “Makes a breeze, so cool and sweet” – Fan self gently.
• “Decorate it, bright and bold” – Make drawing motions.
• “Best hand fan, I’m told!” – Hold up an imaginary fan proudly.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the rhyme after demonstrating the folding steps to help pupils remember the process and to encourage engagement. Repeat it while pupils are folding.

Watch and Practise

Let’s watch a short video to see how to make a simple paper fan, then we will try it ourselves!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R94yFqJ6W-A

Key Words

• Fan – A tool used to create a breeze.
• Fold – To bend paper over itself.
• Design – To draw patterns or pictures.
• Paper – The material we use to make the fan.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Demonstration, Guided Practice, Practical Activity, Play-based Learning, Songs and Rhymes, Question and Answer, Repetition.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Motivation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them how they feel when it’s hot. The teacher shows a ready-made hand fan and asks what it is and what it is used for. The teacher introduces the lesson: making and designing their own hand fans.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions about feeling hot and identify the hand fan. They show interest in the lesson.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the purpose of a hand fan and are motivated for the activity.

Step 2: Identifying Materials

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Instruction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays the paper and markers/crayons. The teacher asks pupils to identify each material by name and explains that these are what they will use to make their fans.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the paper and markers/crayons by name. They listen to the instructions.

Learning Point: Pupils recognise and name the materials needed for the craft.

Step 3: Teacher Demonstration – Folding

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher takes a sheet of paper and clearly demonstrates the accordion folding technique. “First, fold forward a little bit. Now turn the paper over, and fold backward the same size. Keep going, forward, backward, forward, backward.” The teacher repeats the demonstration slowly.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the teacher carefully, observing the folding process.

Learning Point: Pupils observe the correct method for folding the paper.

Step 4: Guided Practice – Folding

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Support

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes paper to each pupil. The teacher guides pupils step-by-step through the folding process, providing individual assistance as needed. “Now, everyone take your paper. Fold forward… good! Now turn it over, fold backward…”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils attempt to fold their paper forward and backward, following the teacher’s instructions and receiving help.

Learning Point: Pupils begin to develop fine motor skills and learn to follow multi-step instructions for folding.

Step 5: Rhyme and Reinforcement

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Engagement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Fan Folding Rhyme” (as detailed in the Board Summary) with actions. This helps to reinforce the steps and makes the activity fun.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along with the teacher and perform the actions, enjoying the rhyme.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of the folding process through song and movement.

Step 6: Designing the Fan

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Creativity/Supervision

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes markers and crayons. The teacher encourages pupils to open their folded paper slightly and use the colours to draw patterns, shapes, or lines on their fan. The teacher reminds them to be creative and to colour neatly.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils use markers or crayons to decorate their folded paper, expressing their creativity.

Learning Point: Pupils develop their artistic skills and personal expression through design.

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.

1. “What did we make today?”
2. “What materials did we use?”
3. “Can you show me how you folded your paper?”
4. “What do we use a hand fan for?”

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/Praise

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their effort and creativity in making their hand fans. The teacher collects the finished fans for display or allows pupils to take them home. The teacher reminds them to use their fans to keep cool.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils show off their finished fans and tidy up their workspace.

Learning Point: Pupils feel proud of their work and understand the practical use of their creation.

Lesson Keywords

• Fan – A tool that moves air to make you feel cooler.
• Fold – To bend paper over itself to make it smaller or a different shape.
• Design – To draw or create patterns and pictures.
• Paper – The thin material we used to make our fans.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils struggling with folding, the teacher can use larger paper or pre-draw faint lines on the paper to guide their folds. Provide hand-over-hand assistance where needed.
• Extension: Encourage faster learners to create more intricate designs on their fans, or challenge them to make a second fan using a different size of paper. They could also try to explain the steps to a peer.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have enough paper and markers/crayons for every child. Prepare a sample hand fan to show the pupils the expected outcome. When demonstrating the folding, do it slowly and repeat several times. Emphasise the “forward and backward” motion, likening it to an accordion. Supervise closely during the design phase, especially with markers, to ensure they are used appropriately. Encourage pupils to be creative with their designs. Observe their ability to follow instructions and their fine motor control during folding and decorating. A child’s understanding can be judged by their ability to produce a folded fan and apply some design, even if imperfectly.