Meaning and Stages of Growth in Animals for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Second Term
Week: 5
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Basic Science and Technology
Curriculum Theme: Basic Science and Technology
Previous Lesson: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Topic: Growth in Animals
Subject Matter: Meaning and stages of growth in animals.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Define growth in simple terms.
• Identify the different stages of growth in humans/animals from baby to adult using pictures or charts.

Affective Domain

• Show interest in observing changes in living things.
• Appreciate that living things grow and change over time.

Psychomotor Domain

• Point to the different stages of growth on a chart.
• Pretend to measure their height and weight.

Social Domain

• Participate in discussions about how they have grown.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4
• Early Childhood Care and Education curriculum guides
• Relevant early-years science workbooks

Instructional Materials

• Well-labelled charts showing stages of human growth (baby, child, adult)
• Picture cards of different animals at various growth stages (e.g., chick to hen, puppy to dog)
• Video clips/documentary on growth stages in humans or animals
• Measuring tape (child-safe)
• Weighing scale (classroom appropriate, or a picture of one)
• Flashcards with words: baby, child, adult

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps 5-year-olds understand that all living things, including themselves, grow and change over time. It introduces them to the concept of life cycles and helps them observe and appreciate the natural development around them, fostering a basic scientific understanding of life.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can identify different animals and know that they were once smaller. They also know that they themselves are growing bigger.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Meaning and Stages of Growth in Animals

What is Growth?

Growth means getting bigger, taller, and stronger. All living things grow, like you, your friends, animals, and plants.

• When you were a baby, you were very small.
• Now you are a child, you are bigger and can do many things.
• Soon you will be an adult, like your mummy and daddy.

Stages of Growth (Using Humans as an Example):

1. Baby: Very small, cannot walk or talk, needs lots of care.
2. Child: Grows bigger, learns to walk, talk, play, and go to school.
3. Adult: Fully grown, can work, take care of children, and make decisions.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Display a chart showing a baby, a child, and an adult.
• Show pictures of different animals (e.g., a kitten and a cat, a chick and a hen) to illustrate growth in animals.
• Point to different parts of the body that grow (e.g., legs get longer, body gets bigger).

Growing Up Song

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

I was once a tiny baby,
Small and cute, oh so maybe.
Now I’m growing, big and strong,
Playing, learning all day long.
Soon an adult I will be,
Just like Mummy, just like Daddy!

Actions:

• “Tiny baby”: Curl up small, rock like holding a baby.
• “Big and strong”: Stretch arms out wide, flex muscles.
• “Playing, learning”: Mimic playing and reading.
• “Adult I will be”: Stand tall.
• “Mummy, Daddy”: Point to self, then outward.

How to use the rhyme: The teacher sings the song with actions, encouraging pupils to join in and perform the actions. Repeat several times to reinforce the concept of growth.

Watch and Learn About Growth

The teacher will play a short video showing the stages of growth in humans, pointing out the changes at each stage.

Video Title: Life Cycle of a Human Being | Human Life Cycle | Environmental Science | Kids Learning Video

Key Words

• Growth – getting bigger, taller, and stronger.
• Baby – a very young human or animal.
• Child – a young human who is growing.
• Adult – a fully grown human or animal.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Video Viewing, 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 to look at their hands and feet. “Are your hands and feet the same size as when you were a tiny baby? No! You have grown! Today, we will learn about growth in animals, including ourselves!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at their hands and feet, respond to questions, and show excitement.

Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of growth.

Step 2: Explanation of Growth

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Illustrating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains growth using simple language. “Growth means getting bigger, taller, and stronger. Just like a small seed grows into a big plant, a baby grows into an adult. We need good food and rest to grow well.” The teacher shows pictures of a baby and a child, asking “Who is bigger?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the pictures, and respond to questions by pointing to the bigger picture.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the simple meaning of growth.

Step 3: Introducing Stages of Growth (using charts/pictures)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Aid/Identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays the charts/picture cards showing the stages of human growth: Baby, Child, Adult. The teacher points to each stage and names it clearly, asking pupils to repeat. “This is a baby. This is a child. This is an adult.” The teacher also shows pictures of animal growth, e.g., a puppy and a dog, a chick and a hen.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the charts, repeat the names of the stages, and point to the different pictures of growth.

Learning Point: Pupils can identify the main stages of growth.

Step 4: Rhyme Integration

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Engagement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Growing Up Song” with actions. The teacher encourages energetic participation and repeats the song several times.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song along with the teacher, performing the actions to reinforce the concept of growth.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of growth through song and movement.

Step 5: Video Viewing on Growth Stages

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Multimedia/Observation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the video, “Now we will watch a short video about how humans grow, just like we discussed.” The teacher plays the verified YouTube video on the life cycle of a human being. After the video, the teacher asks simple questions like, “What did the baby become later?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video attentively and respond to simple questions after viewing.

Learning Point: Pupils visually observe the stages of growth in a dynamic way.

Step 6: Practical Activity – Measuring Growth

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Practical Application/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher brings out a measuring tape and a weighing scale (or pictures of them). “How do we know we are growing? We can measure our height and weight!” The teacher demonstrates how to use the measuring tape to measure a pupil’s height (or pretends to). The teacher also shows the weighing scale. “When you go to the clinic, they measure you to see how much you have grown!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the measuring tape and weighing scale. They may line up to pretend to measure their height or weight with the teacher’s guidance.

Learning Point: Pupils understand how growth is measured and relate it to their own experience.

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 does ‘growth’ mean?” (Encourage answers like ‘getting bigger’).
2. “Point to the baby on the chart.”
3. “Point to the adult on the chart.”
4. “Are you a baby, a child, or an adult?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill by pointing to the correct pictures.

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. “Great job, everyone! Remember, all living things grow, and it’s wonderful to see how we all change and get bigger and stronger!” The teacher encourages them to eat good food and play to grow well.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and acknowledge the conclusion.

Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to appreciate growth and healthy habits.

Lesson Keywords

• Growth – The process of getting bigger, taller, and stronger.
• Baby – A very young human or animal.
• Child – A young person between infancy and adulthood.
• Adult – A fully grown person or animal.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who are struggling, use larger, clearer pictures. Provide hand-over-hand guidance for pointing to stages. Focus on only two main stages (baby and adult) initially. Use more repetition of key words.
• Extension: For quicker learners, ask them to identify other animals they know that grow (e.g., a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, a seed becoming a plant). Encourage them to describe one change they notice between a baby and a child.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure all charts and picture cards are clear, visible, and easily accessible. Preview the video to ensure it is appropriate and engaging for 5-year-olds. When explaining growth, use simple, relatable examples that children can see in their own lives (e.g., comparing their current size to old baby clothes). Emphasize that growth is a natural and continuous process. The activity with the measuring tape and weighing scale should be done playfully and safely, without focusing on actual numbers, but rather on the idea of measuring change. Observe pupils’ ability to point to and name the stages as a primary indicator of understanding. Encourage all pupils to participate in the song and actions, as this is a key way for them to internalize the concept.