Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, prepare pictures of children showing happy faces, smiley face cards, and various objects or pictures that typically make children happy (e.g., toys, sweets, friends playing). The central idea for pupils is to understand that happiness is a good feeling and to be able to demonstrate a happy facial expression and name simple things that make them happy. Observe closely how pupils imitate facial expressions and share their own reasons for happiness to gauge their understanding.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: Third Term
Week: 10
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Civic Education
Curriculum Theme: Civic Education
Previous Lesson: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Topic: EMOTIONAL STATE: HAPPINESS
Subject Matter: Meaning, causes and facial expressions of happiness.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- State a simple meaning of happiness.
- Identify at least two things that make them happy.
Affective Domain
- Express when they feel happy.
- Appreciate the feeling of happiness.
Psychomotor Domain
- Demonstrate a happy facial expression.
- Clap and move along to a song about happiness.
Social Domain
- Share with classmates what makes them happy.
- Participate in group discussions about feelings.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3.
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources.
Instructional Materials
- Chart showing different facial expressions, especially happy faces.
- Posters with pictures of children engaging in activities that cause happiness (e.g., playing, eating, receiving gifts).
- Smiley face cards.
- Small mirror (for pupils to see their own happy faces).
- Audio device for playing a happiness song.
- Toys, sweets, or other familiar objects that bring joy to children.
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 4-year-olds as it helps them understand and identify their own emotions, specifically happiness. Learning to express happiness and recognise its causes contributes to their emotional intelligence, social skills, and overall well-being, enabling them to better interact with others and navigate their feelings.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils have a basic understanding of different feelings and have engaged in simple social interactions with family and friends.Lesson Content/Board Summary
EMOTIONAL STATE: HAPPINESS
Meaning of Happiness
Happiness is a good feeling inside you. It means you feel joyful, excited, or very pleased. When you are happy, your heart feels light and warm.Facial Expressions of Happiness
When you are happy, your face shows it!- You have a big SMILE on your face.
- Your eyes look bright and cheerful.
- Sometimes you might even laugh or giggle.
Causes of Happiness (Things that make us happy)
Many things can make us happy, like:- Playing with friends or toys.
- Eating yummy food or sweets.
- Receiving a gift.
- Being praised by Mummy, Daddy, or teacher.
- Helping someone.
- Listening to a fun song.
Key Words
- Happiness – a good feeling inside.
- Smile – the shape your mouth makes when you are happy.
- Joy – another word for happiness.
Happiness Song
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Lyrics:
When I’m happy, happy, happy,
I will smile so bright!
When I’m happy, happy, happy,
Everything feels right!
Joyful feelings, big, big smiles,
Make my heart feel light.
When I’m happy, happy, happy,
Shining like a light!
Actions: Smile broadly, point to face, hug self, point to heart, clap hands, make a shining motion with hands.
Watch and Learn About Happiness
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Introduce happiness by asking pupils how they feel today. Explain happiness as “feeling good inside” using simple words. Use the chart and posters to show happy faces and activities. Ask open-ended questions like “What makes this child happy?”
What to show or demonstrate: Demonstrate a very clear happy facial expression, emphasizing the smile and bright eyes. Encourage pupils to use small mirrors to see their own happy faces as they imitate. Show pictures of various things (toys, food, friends) and ask pupils if they make them happy.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the “Happiness Song” together multiple times, encouraging pupils to perform the actions. Emphasize the words “happy” and “smile.”
How to use the video: Introduce the video as “a song about being happy.” Play the video and encourage pupils to sing along and do the actions. After watching, ask pupils to name one thing from the video that makes them happy.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can genuinely smile and articulate simple reasons for happiness. Watch for shyness or difficulty in expressing emotions, and offer gentle encouragement.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Role-play, Imitation, Repetition, Practical Activity.Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and leads them in a short “Good Morning” song. The teacher then asks pupils how they are feeling today and introduces the topic of happiness.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, sing along, and share simple feelings.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and introduced to the concept of feelings.
Step 2: Meaning of Happiness
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Picture Talk
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains happiness in simple terms, “Happiness is a good feeling inside you, like when your heart feels warm and joyful.” The teacher shows pictures of happy children and asks, “Do they look happy? How can you tell?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation and observe the pictures, pointing out smiles or bright eyes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand happiness as a good feeling.
Step 3: Demonstrating Facial Expressions of Happiness
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Imitation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates a clear happy facial expression with a big smile and bright eyes. The teacher guides pupils to imitate the expression, encouraging them to look in a small mirror if available. “Show me your happy face!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils imitate the teacher’s happy facial expression, smiling and looking cheerful. They may use mirrors to see themselves.
Learning Point: Pupils can demonstrate a happy facial expression.
Step 4: Causes of Happiness
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Question and Answer/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils, “What makes you happy?” and encourages them to share ideas. The teacher shows pictures of various happy scenarios (e.g., playing, eating ice cream, receiving a gift) and discusses them. “Does playing with your friends make you happy?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils mention things that make them happy and respond to the teacher’s questions about the pictures.
Learning Point: Pupils identify common causes of happiness.
Step 5: Rhyme/Song Reinforcement
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Songs and Rhymes/Movement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing the “Happiness Song” from the Board Summary. The teacher encourages pupils to perform the actions (smiling, clapping, pointing to their heart) as they sing.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song and perform the actions, reinforcing the concept of happiness and its expression.
Learning Point: Pupils use song and movement to express happiness.
Step 6: Video and Discussion
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Audio-Visual Learning/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the “Happy Song for Kids” video. After the video, the teacher asks pupils what they saw in the video that made them feel happy or what the children in the video were doing that made them happy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video, sing along, and discuss what they observed about happiness.
Learning Point: Pupils connect visual and auditory cues to the concept of happiness.
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 does it mean to be happy?” (Encourage simple answers like “feeling good.”)
- “Show me your happy face!”
- “Tell me one thing that makes you happy.”
- The teacher holds up a smiley face card and asks, “What feeling does this face show?”
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: Summary/Encouragement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises pupils for their participation and reminds them that it’s good to feel happy and to make others happy too. The teacher leads a final “Happy Clap.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils clap happily and listen to the teacher’s concluding remarks.
Learning Point: Pupils leave with a positive reinforcement of the lesson.
Lesson Keywords
- Happiness – a good, joyful feeling inside.
- Smile – the expression on your face when you are happy.
- Joy – a strong feeling of happiness.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who struggle to express happiness, the teacher can provide more one-on-one modelling of happy faces and guide their facial muscles. Use larger, more distinct happy face pictures. Offer fewer choices when asking what makes them happy (e.g., “Do sweets make you happy or sad?”).
- Extension: Encourage pupils who grasp the concept quickly to draw a picture of something that makes them happy. Ask them to share a more detailed reason for their happiness or suggest ways they can make a friend happy.
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