Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before the lesson, ensure you have a clear picture of Mary and a lamb, or a toy lamb, ready to show pupils. The central idea is for pupils to learn and sing the “Mary Had a Little Lamb” rhyme, understand what a lamb is, and connect the lamb’s obedience to the importance of following rules and doing the right thing. Observe if pupils can sing the song, identify a lamb, and state simple reasons for obeying rules.
Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Third Term
Week: 3
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Songs and Rhymes
Curriculum Theme: Songs and Rhymes
Previous Lesson: Other simple rhymes and songs, identifying common animals.
Topic: MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
Subject Matter: MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Describe a lamb based on its appearance.
- Recite the rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb”.
- State the importance of obeying rules.
Affective Domain
- Show enjoyment while singing the rhyme.
- Express willingness to do the right thing at the right time.
- Appreciate the value of adhering to school rules.
Psychomotor Domain
- Sing the song “Mary Had a Little Lamb” with appropriate actions.
- Role-play simple actions from the rhyme.
Social Domain
- Participate in group singing and discussion.
- Relate the message of the song to everyday behaviour in school.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4.
- Early Childhood Care and Education resources.
Instructional Materials
- Picture of Mary and a lamb.
- Chart with the lyrics of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”.
- Toy lamb (optional).
- Pictures showing children following school rules (e.g., lining up, sitting quietly).
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson introduces children to a classic nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” which helps develop their language, memory, and rhythmic skills. Beyond the song, it provides a gentle way to discuss important social habits like obedience, following rules, and doing the right thing, connecting these values to their daily experiences at home and school.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify some common animals, sing simple songs, and understand basic instructions from the teacher.
Lesson Content/Board Summary
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
A lamb is a baby sheep. It has soft, white wool and is usually gentle. In the song, Mary had a little lamb that followed her everywhere she went, even to school!
The story of Mary and her lamb teaches us about following. Just like the lamb followed Mary, we should also follow good rules and do the right things.
- Obeying Rules: Rules help us stay safe and learn well. We have rules at home and at school.
- Doing the Right Thing: This means listening to our teachers, sharing with friends, helping others, and keeping our classroom tidy.
Mary Had a Little Lamb Song
Tune: Traditional
Lyrics:
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day,
That was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.
And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about,
Till Mary did appear.
“Why does the lamb love Mary so?”
The eager children cry;
“Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,”
The teacher did reply.
Actions:
- For “lamb,” make a gentle patting motion.
- For “white as snow,” spread hands open.
- For “everywhere that Mary went,” make walking motions with fingers.
- For “followed her to school,” point forward and make walking motions.
- For “laugh and play,” mime laughing and clapping.
- For “teacher turned it out,” make a shooing motion.
- For “lingered near,” look around patiently.
- For “Mary loves the lamb,” hug self gently.
Watch and Sing Along
Key Words
- Mary – The girl in the song.
- Lamb – A baby sheep.
- Wool – The soft hair on a sheep or lamb.
- Rules – Instructions that tell us what to do or not do.
- Obey – To follow rules or instructions.
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Begin by showing the picture of Mary and the lamb. Ask pupils to describe the lamb (e.g., “What animal is this?”, “What colour is its wool?”, “Is it big or small?”). Introduce Mary as the girl who owns the lamb. Explain that the song tells a story about them. After singing, discuss the part where the lamb went to school and why it was against the rules. Connect this to school rules and the importance of obeying them for safety and good learning.
What to show or demonstrate: Show the picture of Mary and the lamb. Point to the words on the chart as you sing. Demonstrate the simple actions for the song clearly.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the song slowly at first, line by line, encouraging pupils to repeat. Introduce the actions gradually. Sing the full song multiple times to help pupils memorise it. Emphasise the rhythm and clear pronunciation.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as another way to see and hear the song. Tell pupils to watch the actions and try to sing along. After the video, ask them what they saw and if they liked the song. Encourage them to sing it again with the actions they learned.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils are able to identify the lamb, sing along with some of the lyrics, and participate in the actions. Check if they can grasp the simple idea that rules are important and why.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Songs and Rhymes
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Question and Answer
- Picture Talk
- Role-play
- Repetition
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly. The teacher shows a picture of a lamb and asks pupils if they know the animal. “What animal is this? What does it look like?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings and identify the lamb, describing its appearance (e.g., “It’s a sheep!”, “It has white wool!”).
Learning Point: Pupils recall knowledge of farm animals and engage with the lesson. They identify a lamb.
Step 2: Introduction of Topic and Song
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Introducing new content
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces Mary as the girl who owns the lamb in the picture. “This is Mary, and this is her little lamb. We are going to learn a fun song about Mary and her lamb today!” The teacher then introduces the song title, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and look at the picture. They repeat the song title.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the main characters and the topic of the lesson.
Step 3: Teacher Recites/Sings the First Verse
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Modelling/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher sings the first verse of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” clearly, pointing to the words on the chart and demonstrating simple actions. “Listen carefully to the words and watch my actions.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the teacher sing and watch the actions.
Learning Point: Pupils hear the melody and lyrics of the first verse and observe the actions.
Step 4: Guided Practice (Verse 1)
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Repetition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher invites pupils to sing the first verse along with her, guiding them with actions. The teacher repeats the verse several times, encouraging full participation. “Now let’s sing it together! Copy my actions.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the first verse with the teacher, performing the actions.
Learning Point: Pupils practise singing the first verse and coordinating actions with the lyrics.
Step 5: Introduce More Verses/Full Song
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Expanding content/Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher sings the entire song, including the other verses, inviting pupils to join in on the parts they know and to listen to the new parts. The teacher then plays the video of the song and encourages pupils to sing along and do the actions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along to the full song, watching the video and performing actions.
Learning Point: Pupils learn more verses of the song and reinforce their singing and action skills.
Step 6: Discussion of Message and Rules
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Value Integration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks questions about the song’s meaning: “What did the lamb do? Did it follow Mary everywhere? Was it right for the lamb to go to school?” The teacher explains that even though the lamb loved Mary, it was against school rules. “Just like the lamb should follow Mary, we should follow rules at school and at home. Why is it important to obey rules?” The teacher shows pictures of children following school rules (e.g., lining up, sitting quietly).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer questions, discuss why the lamb going to school was wrong, and state reasons for obeying rules (e.g., “to be safe,” “to learn”).
Learning Point: Pupils understand the moral message of the song and the importance of obeying rules and doing the right thing.
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 animal did Mary have?” (Show picture of lamb).
- “Can you sing the first part of ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’?”
- “Why is it important to obey rules at school?”
- “Tell me one right thing you can do in our classroom.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate (e.g., singing a line, pointing to the lamb, stating a rule).
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson’s content and values.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 1 minute
Teaching Skill: Closure/Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises pupils for their participation and reminds them to always obey rules and do the right thing. “Well done, everyone! Remember to always follow our school rules, just like we learned today.” The teacher leads one final, quick sing-through of the song.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to praise and sing the song one last time.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and leave with a positive reinforcement of the lesson’s message.
Lesson Keywords
- Mary – The girl in the song.
- Lamb – A baby sheep.
- Wool – The soft hair on a sheep or lamb.
- Rules – Instructions that tell us what to do or not do.
- Obey – To follow rules or instructions.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils struggling with the lyrics or actions, the teacher can sing slower, use larger picture cards, or provide hand-over-hand guidance for actions. Focus on them singing just the chorus or a few key lines. Use more direct examples of school rules they can easily understand.
- Extension: For pupils who quickly grasp the song and its message, encourage them to identify other animals that follow their parents or to name more school rules and explain why they are important. They could also try to create a simple action for a line of the song not covered.
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