Nursery Rhymes and Clear Pronunciation for Pre-School Level 1

Class: Pre-School Level 1
Term: First Term
Week: 1
Age: 2 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Literacy
Curriculum Theme: Literacy
Previous Lesson: Listening and repeating simple sounds
Topic: NURSERY RHYMES AND CLEAR PRONUNCIATION
Subject Matter: Speech: Nursery Rhymes. Weekly focus: Nursery Rhymes and Clear Pronunciation.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify a familiar nursery rhyme when sung or played.
• Repeat simple words from a nursery rhyme.
• Attempt to pronounce words more clearly.

Affective Domain

• Show enjoyment while singing nursery rhymes.
• Listen attentively to the teacher and the music.

Psychomotor Domain

• Perform simple actions related to the nursery rhyme.
• Clap hands to the rhythm of the rhyme.

Social Domain

• Participate in group singing activities.
• Take turns attempting to say words.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 1
• Early Childhood Care and Education resources

Instructional Materials

• MP3 Player or MP4 Player
• Picture cards showing objects from the rhyme (e.g., star, sky)
• Chart with simple pictures related to the rhyme
• Puppet or soft toy to engage pupils

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson introduces young children to the joy of nursery rhymes, which are fundamental for early language development. Engaging with rhymes helps 2-year-olds develop listening skills, expand vocabulary, and practise clear pronunciation in a fun and repetitive way. This foundation is crucial for their future reading and communication abilities.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can listen to sounds and may attempt to babble or make simple vocal sounds.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Nursery Rhymes and Clear Pronunciation

Nursery rhymes are short, fun songs or poems for children. We sing them and try to say the words clearly.

Let’s Sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Tune: Traditional

Lyrics:

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.

Actions:

• “Twinkle, twinkle”: Wiggle fingers like twinkling lights.
• “Little star”: Point up to the sky.
• “How I wonder what you are”: Shrug shoulders.
• “Up above the world so high”: Reach hands high up.
• “Like a diamond in the sky”: Make a diamond shape with fingers, then point up.

Watch and Sing Along

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCjJdnx2i38

Key Words

• Rhyme – A fun song or poem.
• Sing – To make music with your voice.
• Say – To speak words.
• Clear – Easy to hear and understand.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Repetition, Imitation

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Greeting

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and sings a simple “Good morning” song. The teacher asks, “Do you like to sing?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greeting and may clap or hum along to the song.

Learning Point: Pupils feel welcomed and ready to learn.

Step 2: Introducing Nursery Rhymes

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Motivation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher says, “Today we will sing a fun song called a nursery rhyme! Nursery rhymes help us learn new words and say them clearly.” The teacher shows a picture of a star.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and look at the picture of the star, showing curiosity.

Learning Point: Pupils understand that they will sing a fun song and see a star.

Step 3: Demonstration of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Modelling/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” on the MP3/MP4 player and sings along, demonstrating the actions clearly. The teacher points to the picture of the star.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the song, watch the teacher’s actions, and may try to imitate some movements.

Learning Point: Pupils become familiar with the rhyme and its actions.

Step 4: Guided Practice – Singing and Actions

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Repetition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher sings the rhyme again, encouraging pupils to sing along and do the actions. The teacher provides support and prompts for actions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along with the teacher, making sounds and performing the actions with guidance.

Learning Point: Pupils practise singing the rhyme and performing actions.

Step 5: Focus on Clear Pronunciation

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Phonics/Articulation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher focuses on specific words like “Twinkle” and “Star.” The teacher says, “Let’s say ‘Twinkle!’ (twinkle, twinkle)” and “Let’s say ‘Star!’ (star, star)” slowly and clearly, encouraging pupils to repeat. The teacher uses the video to reinforce clear sounds.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and attempt to repeat the words “Twinkle” and “Star” after the teacher, watching the teacher’s mouth.

Learning Point: Pupils practise saying specific words from the rhyme more clearly.

Step 6: Application – Sing with Clearer Words

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application/Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the rhyme one more time, encouraging pupils to sing and do the actions, paying a little more attention to saying “Twinkle” and “Star” clearly.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme, trying to incorporate clearer pronunciation of the focus words while doing the actions.

Learning Point: Pupils apply their learning by singing the rhyme with improved clarity.

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. “Can you show me how a star twinkles?” (Teacher demonstrates action).
2. “Can you say ‘star’?” (Teacher points to a picture of a star).
3. “Let’s sing the first line of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ together.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Closure/Praise

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their singing and efforts. “You all sang so well and tried to say the words clearly! Good job!” The teacher sings a short farewell song.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the praise and participate in the farewell song.

Learning Point: Pupils feel a sense of accomplishment and enjoy the lesson’s end.

Lesson Keywords

• Rhyme – A fun song or poem.
• Sing – To make music with your voice.
• Say – To speak words.
• Clear – Easy to hear and understand.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who are struggling, the teacher can provide more one-on-one repetition, use hand-over-hand gestures for actions, or focus on just making sounds rather than clear words. Use larger, more colourful picture cards.
• Extension: For pupils who quickly grasp the rhyme and pronunciation, the teacher can encourage them to sing a short phrase independently or identify other objects in the classroom that begin with similar sounds (e.g., ‘s’ for sun, ‘t’ for table).