Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, please prepare clear charts or posters showing various common animals with their body parts visible. Also, ensure your MP4 player is ready with the suggested video or similar educational content about animal body parts. The central idea for pupils is to recognise different animals, identify their basic body parts, and understand that animals also have parts similar to humans. Successful learning will be observed when pupils can point to and name animal body parts on charts or toy animals.
Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Pre-Science
Curriculum Theme: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Previous Lesson: Identification of familiar objects and their simple features.
Topic: ANIMALS: MEANING AND BODY PARTS
Subject Matter: ANIMALS. Meaning of Animals. Description of Animals: Parts of Their Body. Similarities Between Animals and Humans (Parts of Their Bodies).
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify at least three different animals from charts.
- Name common body parts of animals such as head, eyes, and legs.
- State one similarity between animal body parts and human body parts.
Affective Domain
- Show interest in learning about animals.
- Listen attentively when the teacher explains animal body parts.
Psychomotor Domain
- Point to specific body parts on animal charts or toy animals.
- Imitate simple animal sounds or movements.
Social Domain
- Participate in group activities like singing an animal song.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Instructional Materials
- Charts and posters showing various common animals (e.g., dog, cat, bird, fish)
- MP4 Player or tablet/laptop for video playback
- Toy animals or animal picture cards
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 3-year-olds as it helps them understand the living world around them. By learning about animals and their body parts, pupils develop observation skills, expand their vocabulary, and begin to recognise basic biological similarities between themselves and other living creatures. This understanding fosters curiosity and respect for nature.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify some common objects in their environment and can name a few parts of their own body (e.g., head, eyes, hands, legs).Lesson Content/Board Summary
ANIMALS: MEANING AND BODY PARTS
What are Animals?
Animals are living things that can move, eat, and grow. They are all around us, like dogs, cats, birds, and fish.
Body Parts of Animals
Just like us, animals have different body parts that help them live and move.
- Head: Where the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth are.
- Eyes: To see.
- Ears: To hear.
- Nose: To smell.
- Mouth: To eat and make sounds.
- Legs: To walk, run, or jump. Some animals have two legs, some have four, and some have many!
- Tail: Many animals have a tail (e.g., dog, cat, monkey).
- Body Covering: Some animals have fur (like a dog), some have feathers (like a bird), and some have scales (like a fish).
Similarities Between Animals and Humans
Animals and humans both have many body parts that are similar:
- We both have a head.
- We both have eyes to see.
- We both have ears to hear.
- We both have a mouth to eat.
- We both have legs (or arms and legs for humans) to move around.
Key Words
- Animal – A living thing that moves, eats, and grows.
- Head – The top part of the body where the face is.
- 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 Song
Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Lyrics:
Head, eyes, legs, and tail, legs and tail,
Head, eyes, legs, and tail, legs and tail,
And a mouth and a nose and ears so small,
Head, eyes, legs, and tail, legs and tail.
Actions: Point to your head, eyes, legs, and pretend to wag a tail. For “mouth, nose, ears,” point to those parts on your face. Repeat the actions as you sing.
Watch and Learn About Animal Parts
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Introduce the concept of animals by asking pupils about pets or animals they have seen. Use the charts to show different animals and explain simply that they are living things. Point to and name the key body parts on each animal. Emphasise the similarities with human body parts by asking pupils to point to their own head, eyes, etc., then to the animal’s equivalent. Keep explanations very short and use simple, clear language.
What to show or demonstrate: Display the animal charts prominently. Point clearly to the head, eyes, legs, and tail of different animals. Use toy animals or picture cards for hands-on identification. Demonstrate the actions for the song clearly.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the “Animal Body Parts Song” slowly first, demonstrating the actions. Encourage pupils to join in and perform the actions with you. Repeat the song 2-3 times to help them learn the lyrics and actions.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to see more animals and their body parts. Play the video on the MP4 player. After watching, ask pupils to name some of the animals they saw and point to one body part they remember from the video.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils are able to point to the correct body parts when asked. Listen for their attempts to name the parts. Correct pronunciation gently and encourage participation, especially from quieter pupils.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Picture Talk
- Songs and Rhymes
- Question and Answer
- Play-based Learning
- Repetition
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to make sounds of some animals they know (e.g., “Woof woof” for a dog, “Meeow” for a cat). The teacher then introduces the topic: “Today, we will learn about animals and their body parts!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings and make animal sounds. They listen attentively to the topic introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and introduced to the lesson’s focus on animals.
Step 2: Meaning of Animals
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Concept Building
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows a chart with various animals and explains in simple terms, “Animals are living things, just like us! They can move, they eat food, and they grow big.” The teacher points to different animals on the chart and asks, “What animal is this?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the charts and listen to the explanation. They try to name the animals the teacher points to.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that animals are living things.
Step 3: Identifying Animal Body Parts (Charts)
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Identification/Naming
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher points to a dog on a chart and says, “This is a dog. A dog has a head, eyes, ears, a nose, a mouth, four legs, and a tail!” The teacher then points to each part as they name it. The teacher repeats with a cat and a bird, focusing on head, eyes, and legs/wings.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the charts and listen as the teacher names the body parts. They try to repeat the names of the parts.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and begin to name common body parts of different animals.
Step 4: Similarities Between Animals and Humans
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Comparison/Relating
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks, “Do you have a head?” (Pupils say yes and point to their head). “Animals also have a head!” The teacher guides pupils to compare their own eyes, ears, and mouth with those of the animals on the charts, highlighting similarities.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils point to their own body parts and then to the similar parts on the animal charts. They repeat after the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils recognise that animals have body parts similar to humans.
Step 5: Animal Body Parts Song
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Musical Reinforcement/Motor Skills
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the “Animal Body Parts Song” and sings it slowly with actions. The teacher encourages pupils to sing along and perform the actions, repeating the song a few times.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along with the teacher and perform the actions, pointing to their head, eyes, legs, and pretending to wag a tail.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce learning of animal body parts through song and movement.
Step 6: Video and Guided Practice with Toys/Cards
Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Practical Application
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the educational video about animal body parts on the MP4 player. After the video, the teacher distributes toy animals or animal picture cards and asks pupils to point to the head, eyes, or legs of the animals on their toys/cards.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video. They then take a toy animal or card and point to the body parts as directed by the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils apply their knowledge by identifying body parts on concrete objects.
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.
- “Point to the dog on the chart.”
- “What do we use to see? (Eyes!) What do animals use to see?”
- “Point to the head of this cat.” (Teacher points to a cat on a chart/toy).
- “Can you make the sound of a cat?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate (pointing, making sounds).
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson by identifying animals and their body parts.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 1 minute
Teaching Skill: Closure/Encouragement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and good learning. “Today we learned about animals and their body parts! You all did a great job!” The teacher reminds them to look for animals around them and notice their parts.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the teacher’s praise and respond positively.
Learning Point: Pupils feel a sense of accomplishment and are encouraged to observe animals in their environment.
Lesson Keywords
- Animal – A living thing that moves, eats, and grows.
- Head – The top part of the body where the face is.
- Eyes – What we use to see, and animals 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 need extra help, use larger, clearer pictures of only 2-3 common animals. Provide hand-over-hand guidance to help them point to body parts. Use more repetition and focus on just “head” and “legs” initially.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, encourage them to name more animals or identify less common body parts like “wings” or “fins” if shown on a chart. Ask them to make the sound of the animal after naming its parts.
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