Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, gather various toy vehicles or clear pictures of cars, buses, bicycles, trains, aeroplanes, helicopters, boats, and canoes. The central idea is for pupils to recognise and name different types of transportation and understand whether they travel on land, in the air, or on water. Observe pupils as they point to and name vehicles, and sort them into categories to show their understanding.
Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: Third Term
Week: 9
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Social Habits
Curriculum Theme: Social Habits
Previous Lesson: Transportation in My Neighbourhood, Traditional and Modern Means for Pre-School Level 2
Topic: MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION BY LAND, AIR AND WATER
Subject Matter: MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. Weekly focus: Means of Transportation by Land, Air and Water.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify and name different means of transportation.
- Differentiate between means of transportation by land, air, and water.
- State their most preferred means of transportation.
Affective Domain
- Show interest in learning about different vehicles.
- Participate actively in discussions about transportation.
Psychomotor Domain
- Point to pictures or models of vehicles that travel on land, air, and water.
- Demonstrate simple actions related to different vehicles (e.g., steering a car, flying a plane).
Social Domain
- Share their ideas about preferred transportation with peers and the teacher.
- Take turns when identifying vehicles.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2
- Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Instructional Materials
- Charts showing different means of transportation (land, air, water)
- Posters of various vehicles
- Toy cars, buses, aeroplanes, boats, trains
- Picture cards of vehicles
- Audio sounds of vehicles (optional)
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson helps young children understand how people and goods move from one place to another, which is a fundamental part of their daily lives and community. Learning about different means of transportation also expands their vocabulary and helps them observe and categorise the world around them, fostering early cognitive skills.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils have seen different vehicles in their environment and have some basic awareness of moving from one place to another.Lesson Content/Board Summary
MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION BY LAND, AIR AND WATER
Transportation is how we move ourselves and things from one place to another. There are three main ways to travel: by land, by air, and by water.Means of Transportation by Land
These vehicles travel on the ground, usually on roads or railway tracks.- Car: A car has wheels and carries people on roads. (Show toy car/picture)
- Bus: A bus is bigger than a car and carries many people. (Show toy bus/picture)
- Bicycle: A bicycle has two wheels and you pedal it to move. (Show picture)
- Train: A train is very long and travels on special tracks called railways. (Show toy train/picture)
- Motorcycle: A motorcycle has two wheels, like a bicycle, but it has an engine. (Show picture)
Means of Transportation by Air
These vehicles fly high up in the sky.- Aeroplane (Plane): An aeroplane has wings and flies in the sky to take people to far places. (Show toy plane/picture)
- Helicopter: A helicopter has big blades that spin on top to make it fly. (Show toy helicopter/picture)
Means of Transportation by Water
These vehicles travel on rivers, lakes, and the sea.- Boat: A boat is usually small and travels on water. (Show toy boat/picture)
- Ship: A ship is a very big boat that can carry many people or goods across the sea. (Show picture)
- Canoe: A canoe is a long, narrow boat, often moved with paddles. (Show picture)
Key Words
- Transport – moving from one place to another.
- Land – the ground we walk on.
- Air – the sky where birds fly.
- Water – rivers, lakes, and the sea.
- Car – a land vehicle.
- Aeroplane – an air vehicle.
- Boat – a water vehicle.
Our Transportation Song
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Lyrics:
Car goes zoom, on the road,
Bus goes beep, with its load.
Up in the sky, a plane flies high,
Way up high, in the blue sky.
Boat sails gently, on the water,
Splash, splash, splash, across the water.
Actions:
- “Car goes zoom”: Make steering wheel motion.
- “Bus goes beep”: Honk hand.
- “Up in the sky, a plane flies high”: Raise arms like wings and sway.
- “Boat sails gently”: Make waving motion with hands.
- “Splash, splash, splash”: Clap hands together.
Watch and Learn About Transport
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Use the charts, posters, and toy vehicles to introduce each type of transportation. For each vehicle, name it clearly, describe briefly where it travels (land, air, or water), and make its sound or action. Encourage pupils to repeat the names after you. Group the vehicles visually by land, air, and water as you introduce them.
What to show or demonstrate: Display actual toy vehicles or large, clear pictures. Point to the wheels of a car, the wings of a plane, or the hull of a boat. Demonstrate simple actions like “driving” a car, “flying” a plane, or “sailing” a boat.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the “Our Transportation Song” together, using the suggested actions. Repeat it several times throughout the lesson to reinforce the concepts and make learning fun and active. Encourage pupils to join in with the words and actions.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to see more vehicles. Play the video once for pupils to watch. After watching, ask pupils to name some vehicles they saw and where they travel. You can pause the video to discuss specific vehicles.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can correctly identify and name at least one vehicle for each category (land, air, water). Watch for their ability to point to the correct category when asked. Encourage all pupils to express their preferred transport, even if just by pointing.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Manipulation of Objects
- Repetition
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engaging/Motivation
Teacher’s Activity: Greet pupils warmly. Ask them how they came to school today (e.g., “Did you come in a car? Did you walk?”). Sing a short welcome song with movement.
Pupils’ Activity: Respond to greetings, participate in the song, and share how they came to school.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and thinking about movement.
Step 2: Presentation – Land Transportation
Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Naming/Identification
Teacher’s Activity: Show pictures/toy models of land vehicles (car, bus, bicycle, train, motorcycle). Name each one clearly and explain that they travel on land. Ask pupils to repeat the names and make simple sounds (e.g., “Vroom! Vroom!” for a car).
Pupils’ Activity: Observe the pictures/toys, repeat the names of the vehicles, and make sounds.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and name land transportation.
Step 3: Presentation – Air Transportation
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Naming/Identification
Teacher’s Activity: Show pictures/toy models of air vehicles (aeroplane, helicopter). Name each one and explain that they fly in the air. Ask pupils to repeat the names and make flying actions with their arms.
Pupils’ Activity: Observe the pictures/toys, repeat the names, and imitate flying actions.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and name air transportation.
Step 4: Presentation – Water Transportation
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Naming/Identification
Teacher’s Activity: Show pictures/toy models of water vehicles (boat, ship, canoe). Name each one and explain that they travel on water. Ask pupils to repeat the names and make gentle waving motions like water.
Pupils’ Activity: Observe the pictures/toys, repeat the names, and imitate water motions.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and name water transportation.
Step 5: Differentiating and Reinforcing
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Classification/Song
Teacher’s Activity: Use a large chart with three sections: Land, Air, Water. Ask pupils to help you place the picture cards or toy vehicles into the correct section. Sing “Our Transportation Song” with actions.
Pupils’ Activity: Point to where each vehicle belongs, help place cards, and sing the song with actions.
Learning Point: Pupils begin to differentiate between the three types of transportation and reinforce learning through song.
Step 6: Pupil Preference and Video Reinforcement
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Visual Learning
Teacher’s Activity: Ask pupils, “Which transport do you like best? Why?” Encourage them to point or say the name. Then, introduce and play the short video about means of transportation.
Pupils’ Activity: Share their preferred means of transport and watch the video attentively.
Learning Point: Pupils express preferences and reinforce learning visually.
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.
- “Show me a vehicle that travels on land.” (Teacher points to a mix of pictures)
- “What is this called?” (Teacher holds up a picture of an aeroplane)
- “Which one travels on water?” (Teacher shows a boat and a car picture)
- “Name one vehicle you saw today.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate (e.g., pointing, naming).
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarizing/Engagement
Teacher’s Activity: Briefly summarise that we learned about land, air, and water transport. Sing “Our Transportation Song” one last time. Ask pupils to draw their favourite means of transportation at home.
Pupils’ Activity: Sing the song and acknowledge the take-home activity.
Learning Point: Lesson is reinforced and concluded positively.
Lesson Keywords
- Transport – Ways to move people or things.
- Land – Vehicles that move on the ground, like cars and buses.
- Air – Vehicles that fly in the sky, like aeroplanes.
- Water – Vehicles that travel on water, like boats and ships.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who are struggling, provide fewer options when asking them to identify vehicles. Use larger, clearer pictures and repeat names and actions more frequently. Guide their hands to point to the correct categories on the chart.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, ask them to name more examples of vehicles for each category. Encourage them to describe a simple feature of their favourite vehicle (e.g., “My car is red” or “The plane has wings”).
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