Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before the lesson, prepare clear charts or large pictures of common animals (like a dog, cat, bird, fish) showing their distinct body parts. The central idea for pupils is that animals are living things with different body parts, and some of these parts are similar to our own. Ensure a safe, open space for movement during the rhyme. Successful learning will be observed when pupils can point to and name basic body parts on animal pictures and on themselves.
Class: Pre-School Level 1
Term: Second Term
Week: 3
Age: 2 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Pre-Science
Curriculum Theme: Pre-Science
Previous Lesson: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Topic: Animals
Subject Matter: Animals: Meaning and Body Parts; Similarities between animal and human body parts.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify common animals from pictures.
- Name basic body parts of familiar animals (e.g., head, eyes, legs, tail).
- Recognise simple similarities between animal and human body parts.
Affective Domain
- Show interest in learning about animals.
- Listen attentively to the teacher’s explanations and instructions.
Psychomotor Domain
- Point to specific body parts on animal pictures.
- Point to their own body parts when prompted.
- Perform simple actions related to animal body parts during a song.
Social Domain
- Participate in group activities like singing and pointing.
- Take turns when identifying animals or body parts.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 1
- Early Childhood Care and Education resources
- Relevant picture books on animals
Instructional Materials
- Large charts or posters of common animals (e.g., dog, cat, bird, fish)
- Picture cards of various animals
- MP4 Player (for video)
Rationale for the Lesson
Learning about animals and their body parts helps 2-year-olds understand the living world around them. It also develops their vocabulary, observation skills, and self-awareness by drawing simple comparisons between animals and themselves. This lesson encourages curiosity and respect for living creatures.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify some common objects in their environment and are aware of their own basic body parts (e.g., head, eyes, hands).
Lesson Content/Board Summary
Animals: Meaning and Body Parts
Animals are living things that move, eat, and make sounds. They live all around us!
Body Parts of Animals
- All animals have a head.
- Most animals have eyes to see.
- Many animals have legs to walk or run. Some have wings to fly, and some have fins to swim.
- Some animals have a tail.
Examples:
- A dog has a head, eyes, ears, a mouth, four legs, and a tail.
- A bird has a head, eyes, a beak, two wings, and two legs.
- A fish has a head, eyes, a mouth, and fins.
Similarities between Animals and Humans
Animals have some body parts just like us!
- You have a head, and an animal has a head.
- You have eyes, and an animal has eyes.
- You have legs, and many animals have legs.
- You have a mouth, and an animal has a mouth.
Key Words
- Animal – A living thing that moves and eats.
- Head – The top part of the body where the eyes and mouth are.
- Eyes – What we use to see.
- Legs – What animals use to walk or run.
- Tail – A part at the back of some animals.
Animal Body Parts Rhyme
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Head, eyes, and tail, oh my!
Legs to run and wings to fly.
Animals have parts like you,
Big and small, and brown and blue!
Actions: Point to head, eyes, wiggle fingers for tail, run in place, flap arms like wings, point to self.
Watch and Learn About Animal Parts
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Begin by showing pictures of familiar animals and asking pupils to make their sounds. Introduce the idea that animals are living things. For body parts, point to each part on the charts/pictures, name it clearly, and have pupils repeat. Emphasize the similarities by pointing to an animal’s eye and then to a pupil’s eye, saying, “Animal has eyes, you have eyes!”
What to show or demonstrate: Display charts of a dog, cat, bird, and fish. Clearly point to the head, eyes, legs/wings/fins, and tail of each animal. Demonstrate the actions for the rhyme.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the “Animal Body Parts Rhyme” slowly, demonstrating the actions. Repeat it several times, encouraging pupils to join in with the words and actions. Praise their efforts.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to see more animals and their parts. Play the video once or twice. After watching, ask pupils to point to the body parts they saw in the video on the charts or on themselves.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can correctly point to the body parts you name. Watch for any confusion between different animal parts or difficulty in repeating the names. Provide gentle correction and more repetition as needed.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Repetition
- Manipulation of Objects (pointing to pictures)
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and leads a short “Hello Song.” The teacher then makes some animal sounds (e.g., dog bark, cat meow) and asks pupils, “What animal makes this sound?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, sing along, and try to guess the animal sounds.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and introduced to the topic of animals.
Step 2: Meaning of Animals
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Identification
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows pictures of various animals (dog, cat, bird) and explains simply, “These are animals! Animals are living things that move, eat, and make sounds.” The teacher asks pupils to point to an animal on a chart.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the pictures, listen to the explanation, and point to animals as requested.
Learning Point: Pupils begin to understand what an animal is.
Step 3: Identifying Animal Body Parts
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Naming/Pointing
Teacher’s Activity: Using the animal charts, the teacher points to the head of a dog and says, “This is the dog’s head.” The teacher then points to its eyes, legs, and tail, naming each part. The teacher asks pupils to point to the same parts on the chart.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch and listen, then point to the head, eyes, legs, and tail of the animals on the charts as the teacher names them.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and name basic body parts of animals.
Step 4: Similarities between Animals and Humans
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Comparison/Self-awareness
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher points to an animal’s eye on the chart and then to a pupil’s eye, saying, “The dog has eyes, and you have eyes!” The teacher repeats this for head, and legs, encouraging pupils to point to their own body parts.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils point to the animal’s body parts and then to their own corresponding body parts, repeating the names.
Learning Point: Pupils recognise that animals share some body parts with humans.
Step 5: Rhyme Reinforcement
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Musicality/Movement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Animal Body Parts Rhyme” (to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”) with actions. The teacher sings slowly and clearly, demonstrating each action.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along with the teacher and perform the actions (pointing to head, eyes, wiggling fingers for tail, pretending to run/fly).
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce learning of animal body parts through song and movement.
Step 6: Video and Practice
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Repetition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the educational video about animal body parts on the MP4 player. After the video, the teacher asks pupils to point to different animal parts on the charts or on their own bodies, as seen in the video.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video, then point to animal body parts on the charts or on themselves when prompted by the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their understanding of animal body parts through visual and interactive reinforcement.
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.
- “Point to the head of the cat on the chart.”
- “What are these called?” (pointing to the dog’s legs).
- “Show me your eyes, just like the animal has eyes.”
- “Which animal has wings?” (pointing to a bird).
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: Summarisation/Closure
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and briefly reminds them that animals are wonderful living things with many different body parts, just like us. The teacher leads a short “Goodbye Song.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, respond to praise, and sing the goodbye song.
Learning Point: Pupils leave with a positive reinforcement of the lesson.
Lesson Keywords
- Animal – A living thing that moves and eats.
- Head – The top part of the body where the eyes and mouth are.
- Eyes – What we use to see.
- Legs – What animals use to walk or run.
- Tail – A part at the back of some animals.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who are struggling, provide more one-on-one repetition, use larger and clearer pictures, and physically guide their hand to point to the correct body parts. Focus on only 2-3 key body parts.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, ask them to identify more specific parts (e.g., nose, ears, beak) or to make the sound of the animal whose body part they are pointing to. Introduce a wider variety of animals.
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