Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: First Term
Week: 10
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Health Habits
Curriculum Theme: Health Habits
Previous Lesson: Cleanliness and Care of School Uni
Topic: Bedtime and Sleep: Meaning and Benefits
Subject Matter: Bedtime (Sleep Time) – Meaning of sleep – Benefits of sleep. Weekly focus: Bedtime and Sleep: Meaning and Benefits.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

Explain the meaning of bedtime and sleep in simple terms.
Identify at least two benefits of getting enough sleep.
State the best time for children to go to bed.

Affective Domain

Appreciate the importance of good sleep habits.
Show willingness to go to bed early.

Psychomotor Domain

Demonstrate how to sleep properly.
List simple things to do before going to bed.

Discuss with peers why sleep is important.

Reference Materials

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

Instructional Materials

Charts showing children sleeping peacefully
Posters illustrating bedtime routines (e.g., brushing teeth, changing clothes)
Pictures of children looking fresh and active after sleep, and tired before sleep
A small mat or rug for demonstration
A clock face (real or drawn) showing bedtime hours

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for 5-year-olds because understanding the meaning and benefits of sleep helps them develop healthy habits. Good sleep is essential for their physical growth, mental development, and ability to learn and play effectively in school and at home.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils know that they need to rest after playing and that their parents tell them when it is time to go to bed.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Bedtime and Sleep: Meaning and Benefits

What is Bedtime?

Bedtime is the special time when we go to bed to sleep. It is usually at night when it gets dark.

What is Sleep?

Sleep is when our body and mind rest. We close our eyes and our body relaxes. When we sleep, our body grows and gets strong.

Benefits of Sleep

Makes us strong: Our muscles and bones grow when we sleep.
Makes us fresh: We wake up feeling happy and ready to play and learn.
Helps us learn: Our brain rests and remembers what we learned during the day.
Keeps us healthy: Good sleep helps us not to fall sick easily.

Best Time for Bedtime

For children like you, the best time to go to bed is early, usually between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

Things to do before Bedtime

Brush our teeth.
Use the toilet.
Change into our night clothes.
Say goodnight to Mummy and Daddy.

How to Sleep Properly

Lie down comfortably on your back or side, close your eyes, and relax your body. Breathe slowly and quietly.

Key Words

Sleep – When our body rests.
Bedtime – The time we go to bed to sleep.
Rest – To relax and stop being active.
Strong – Having power and energy.
Fresh – Feeling new and full of energy.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

Pictures of children sleeping peacefully.
A clock face with the hands pointing to 7:00 or 8:00 PM.
A simple drawing of a child brushing teeth.

Bedtime Rhyme

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Lyrics:

Tick-tock goes the clock, it’s late,
Time for bed, don’t hesitate.
Close your eyes and rest your head,
Sweet dreams while you’re in your bed.
Wake up fresh, big and strong,
Ready to play all day long!

Actions:

Tick-tock goes the clock, it’s late: Point to wrist or pretend to look at a clock.
Time for bed, don’t hesitate: Make a “go to bed” gesture (hands together under cheek).
Close your eyes and rest your head: Close eyes, tilt head to one side.
Sweet dreams while you’re in your bed: Smile gently.
Wake up fresh, big and strong: Stretch arms wide, flex muscles.
Ready to play all day long!: Jump lightly or clap hands.

How to use the rhyme: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the rhyme with actions to reinforce the idea of going to bed early and the benefits of sleep.

Watch and Learn About Sleep

Let’s watch a short video about why sleep is so important for our bodies!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4k6v1z4K1c

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them what they do when they feel tired after playing. The teacher then sings a short “Good Morning” or “Good Day” song and asks how they feel after waking up in the morning.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions and sing along with the teacher.

Learning Point: Pupils recall feelings of tiredness and freshness.

Step 2: Meaning of Bedtime and Sleep

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Visual Aids

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows pictures of children sleeping and explains what bedtime is (the time we go to bed) and what sleep is (when our body rests). The teacher uses simple language like, “When we close our eyes and our body relaxes, that is sleep.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the pictures, listen attentively, and repeat the simple meanings of “bedtime” and “sleep.”

Learning Point: Pupils understand the basic meanings of bedtime and sleep.

Step 3: Benefits of Sleep

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussing/Reinforcing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks, “Why do we need to sleep?” and guides pupils to identify benefits using pictures (e.g., child growing, child playing happily, child learning). The teacher introduces and leads the pupils in singing the “Bedtime Rhyme” with actions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils offer ideas, observe the pictures, and sing the rhyme with actions, repeating the benefits after the teacher (e.g., “Sleep makes us strong!”).

Learning Point: Pupils identify and remember key benefits of sleep.

Step 4: Best Bedtime and Pre-Bedtime Routine

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstrating/Guiding

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows a clock face and points to 7 or 8 PM, explaining that this is a good bedtime for children. The teacher then lists simple things to do before bed (brush teeth, use toilet, change clothes) using posters or miming.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the time on the clock (if familiar), listen to the routine, and mime actions like brushing teeth or changing clothes.

Learning Point: Pupils learn about appropriate bedtime and pre-bedtime hygiene.

Step 5: How to Sleep Properly

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Modelling/Practising

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to lie down comfortably, close eyes, and relax on a mat or rug. The teacher encourages pupils to gently imitate the posture, emphasizing quietness and relaxation.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils gently lie down on their mats or on the floor (if safe and clean), close their eyes, and imitate the teacher’s sleeping posture.

Learning Point: Pupils practise demonstrating proper sleeping posture.

Step 6: Video Reinforcement

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Engagement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the short video about why sleep is important. The teacher plays the video and encourages pupils to watch and listen carefully.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video, listen to the song/explanation, and may sing along or make relevant movements.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of sleep benefits through a visual medium.

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.

What is bedtime?
Name one thing that sleep helps our body to do.
Show me how you sleep properly.
Is it good for children to stay awake very late at night?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Summarizing/Encouraging

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them to always go to bed early so they can grow strong and be fresh for school the next day.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and say “Yes, teacher!” showing agreement.

Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to adopt good sleep habits.

Lesson Keywords

Sleep – When our body rests.
Bedtime – The time we go to bed to sleep.
Rest – To relax and stop being active.
Strong – Having power and energy.
Fresh – Feeling new and full of energy.

Differentiation

Support: For pupils who struggle, the teacher can use more gestures and repetition, provide one-on-one prompts, and allow them to simply point to pictures showing the benefits of sleep.
Extension: For quicker learners, the teacher can ask them to name an additional benefit of sleep or describe what they do before going to bed in more detail. They can also draw a picture of themselves sleeping or getting ready for bed.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have clear pictures or charts of children sleeping, looking fresh, and engaging in pre-bedtime routines. Prepare a clean mat or rug for the sleeping demonstration. The main idea children must grasp is that sleep is for rest and growth, and going to bed early helps them be healthy and ready for school. Encourage active participation in the rhyme and demonstration. Observe pupils’ ability to explain and demonstrate rather than focusing on perfect verbal recall. Repeat the key benefits of sleep several times. Emphasize that seeking help from an adult for bedtime routines is good.