Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: First Term
Week: 6
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Health Habits
Curriculum Theme: Health Habits
Previous Lesson: Keeping our environment clean.
Topic: COMPOSTING: MEANING, BENEFITS AND COMPOST MATERIALS
Subject Matter: COMPOSTING OF WASTE – Meaning of composting – Benefits of composting – Compost materials. Weekly focus: Composting: Meaning, Benefits and Compost Materials.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

Define composting in simple terms.
Identify common materials that can be composted.
State at least two benefits of composting.

Affective Domain

Listen attentively to the teacher’s explanation.
Participate actively in class discussions about waste.
Appreciate the importance of turning waste into something useful.

Psychomotor Domain

Point to examples of compost materials.
Demonstrate simple actions related to mixing compost materials.

Share their ideas about waste management with classmates.
Take turns when speaking during discussions.

Reference Materials

NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4
Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Relevant early-years health habits workbook

Instructional Materials

Pictures/charts showing a compost pile and various compost materials (e.g., leaves, fruit peels, vegetable scraps, grass cuttings).
Real examples of dry leaves, fruit peels (e.g., banana, orange), small twigs, and vegetable scraps.
A small bucket or container to represent a compost bin.
A small stick or trowel for demonstrating mixing.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson introduces pupils to the concept of composting, teaching them a practical way to manage organic waste. Understanding composting at an early age helps children appreciate how waste can be transformed into valuable resources, promoting a cleaner environment and fostering a sense of responsibility towards nature.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with different types of waste found at home and school, and they understand the importance of keeping their environment clean.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

COMPOSTING: MEANING, BENEFITS AND COMPOST MATERIALS

What is Composting?

Composting is a special way to turn waste from plants and food into rich, dark soil. This rich soil is called ‘compost’. It helps plants grow strong and healthy.

When we put certain waste materials together, they slowly break down or ‘decay’ with the help of tiny living things. This decay turns them into compost.

What are Compost Materials?

These are the things we can use to make compost. They are mostly natural things that come from plants and food.

Dry leaves
Grass cuttings
Fruit peels (like banana peels, orange peels)
Vegetable scraps (like carrot tops, potato peels)
Eggshells
Small twigs and branches
Old flowers

We do NOT put plastic, glass, metal, or cooked food with oil in the compost bin.

Benefits of Composting:

It makes good food (fertilizer) for plants and gardens.
It helps to reduce the amount of waste we throw away.
It keeps our environment cleaner and healthier.
It saves money because we don’t need to buy chemical fertilizers.

Key Words

Composting – turning natural waste into rich soil.
Waste – things we throw away.
Soil – the ground where plants grow.
Decay – to break down slowly.
Compost – the rich soil made from decayed waste.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

The teacher should display pictures of a simple compost pile or bin. Show real examples of leaves, fruit peels, and vegetable scraps. Demonstrate how these materials can be layered or mixed in a small container.

The Composting Song

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Compost, compost, good for soil,
Helps our plants grow without toil.
Leaves and peels and grass we bring,
Good rich soil, a happy thing.
Compost, compost, waste we turn,
Lessons for our earth we learn.

Actions:

“Compost, compost, good for soil”: Pat hands on lap.
“Helps our plants grow without toil”: Make a growing motion with hands.
“Leaves and peels and grass we bring”: Point to different parts of the classroom or to pictures of materials.
“Good rich soil, a happy thing”: Rub hands together as if feeling soil, then clap.
“Compost, compost, waste we turn”: Make a turning motion with hands.
“Lessons for our earth we learn”: Point to self and then to the floor.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the song together to reinforce the meaning of composting and the types of materials used. Encourage pupils to do the actions.

Video Demonstration

The teacher can show a short, age-appropriate video to visually explain composting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s71Q0W7yq8E

This video from SciShow Kids explains what composting is and how it helps the environment.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Manipulation of Objects, Repetition, Practical Activity.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Greeting/Revision

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and revises the previous lesson on keeping the environment clean. The teacher asks pupils what they do with waste at home and school.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings and share ideas about waste disposal, e.g., “We put it in the dustbin.”

Learning Point: Pupils recall previous knowledge and are introduced to the topic of waste management.

Step 2: Presentation (Meaning of Composting)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the topic “Composting.” Using pictures and simple language, the teacher explains that composting is a way to turn some waste into rich soil for plants. The teacher explains the word ‘decay’ as things breaking down naturally.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively, look at the pictures, and repeat the word “composting” and “decay.”

Learning Point: Pupils understand the basic meaning of composting and decay.

Step 3: Guided Practice (Compost Materials)

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Classification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays real examples of compost materials (dry leaves, fruit peels, vegetable scraps, small twigs). The teacher names each item and asks pupils if they have seen them before. The teacher explains that these are “compost materials.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the materials, touch them (if safe and clean), and repeat their names. They point to items that can be composted.

Learning Point: Pupils can identify various compost materials.

Step 4: Reinforcement (Song and Activity)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Singing/Practical Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing “The Composting Song” with actions. The teacher then uses the small bucket and some materials to demonstrate how a compost pile might be started, layering materials and pretending to mix them.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song with actions and observe the teacher’s demonstration of layering compost materials.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of composting through song and visual demonstration.

Step 5: Presentation (Benefits of Composting)

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the benefits of composting, asking questions like, “Why do you think composting is good?” The teacher emphasizes that compost helps plants grow and keeps our environment clean.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and offer simple answers, e.g., “Good for plants,” “No more rubbish.”

Learning Point: Pupils understand the advantages of composting.

Step 6: Video Integration (Optional)

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Learning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays a short, age-appropriate video about composting for kids to further illustrate the concept.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video and discuss what they saw.

Learning Point: Pupils gain a visual reinforcement of composting.

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 composting? (Teacher guides them to say “turning waste into good soil.”)
Point to two things here that we can use to make compost. (Teacher points to a mix of compostable and non-compostable items.)
Tell me one good thing about composting.

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: Summarization

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and briefly summarizes that composting is a wonderful way to help our plants and keep our earth clean. The teacher encourages them to look for compost materials at home.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and say “Thank you, teacher.”

Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and are encouraged to apply it.

Lesson Keywords

Composting – The process of turning natural waste into rich soil for plants.
Waste – Things we throw away, like old food or leaves.
Soil – The ground where plants grow, which can be made richer with compost.
Decay – When natural things slowly break down and become part of the earth.
Benefits – The good things that come from doing something, like composting.

Differentiation

Support: For pupils who are struggling, the teacher can use larger, more distinct pictures of compost materials, provide more repetition of key terms, and offer hand-over-hand guidance for pointing to items. Focus on identifying just one or two compost materials and one benefit.
Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, the teacher can ask them to name additional compost materials they might find at home or ask them to explain in their own words why composting is good for the environment. They can also draw a simple picture of a compost bin with some materials.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, gather the real compost materials (dry leaves, fruit peels, vegetable scraps, small twigs) and pictures. Ensure the materials are clean and safe for children to handle. Avoid using anything that could be harmful or unsanitary. The concept of ‘decay’ can be abstract for young children, so emphasize the transformation from ‘waste’ to ‘good soil’ through visual aids and simple demonstrations. The song is a great tool for memorization and engagement; repeat it several times. Encourage pupils to look for compostable items at home and discuss them with their parents. Assess understanding by observing their participation and ability to correctly identify materials and state benefits, rather than expecting complex verbal explanations.