Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have an MP3 player ready with the “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” song, along with picture cards of various farm animals (cow, pig, duck, horse, sheep). The central idea is for pupils to learn the song, associate animals with their sounds, and participate in simple role-play. Observe if pupils can sing along, make the correct animal sounds, and identify farm animals mentioned in the song.

Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Songs and Rhymes
Curriculum Theme: Songs and Rhymes
Previous Lesson: Learning simple action songs
Topic: OLD MAC-DONALD
Subject Matter: OLD MAC-DONALD

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

Recite and sing the “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” song.
Identify various farm animals mentioned in the song.
Associate each animal with its correct sound.

Affective Domain

Show enthusiasm while singing and participating in the song.
Listen attentively to the teacher and peers during the activity.

Psychomotor Domain

Perform simple actions related to the animals in the song.
Participate in role-playing animal sounds and movements.

Participate cooperatively in group singing and role-play activities.

Reference Materials

NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
Early Childhood Care and Education resources on songs and rhymes
Suitable early-years songbook

Instructional Materials

MP3 player
Rhyme book with “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” lyrics
Picture cards of farm animals (cow, pig, duck, horse, sheep)
Small toy farm animals (optional)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps 4-year-olds develop language skills, memory, and rhythm through a fun, repetitive song. By singing about farm animals and their sounds, pupils enhance their vocabulary, learn to associate sounds with animals, and develop social skills through group participation and role-play, connecting to familiar aspects of their world.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with some common animals and have participated in simple songs and rhymes in previous lessons.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

OLD MAC-DONALD

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” is a traditional children’s song about a farmer and the various animals on his farm. It teaches children about different farm animals and the sounds they make.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm Song

Tune: Traditional Nursery Rhyme

Lyrics:

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!
And on his farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O!
With a moo-moo here, and a moo-moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo-moo.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!
And on his farm he had a pig, E-I-E-I-O!
With an oink-oink here, and an oink-oink there,
Here an oink, there an oink, everywhere an oink-oink.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!
And on his farm he had a duck, E-I-E-I-O!
With a quack-quack here, and a quack-quack there,
Here a quack, there a quack, everywhere a quack-quack.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!
And on his farm he had a horse, E-I-E-I-O!
With a neigh-neigh here, and a neigh-neigh there,
Here a neigh, there a neigh, everywhere a neigh-neigh.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!
And on his farm he had a sheep, E-I-E-I-O!
With a baa-baa here, and a baa-baa there,
Here a baa, there a baa, everywhere a baa-baa.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!

Actions: Point to self for “Old MacDonald”, make a farm shape with hands, clap for “E-I-E-I-O”, mimic animal sounds and movements (e.g., hands like cow horns, wiggle nose for pig, flap arms for duck, gallop for horse, hands like sheep’s wool).

Watch and Sing Along

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIQzS_wTz-Y

Key Words

Farm: A place where animals are kept and crops are grown.
Old MacDonald: The farmer in the song.
Cow: A large farm animal that gives milk (sound: moo).
Pig: A farm animal with a short snout (sound: oink).
Duck: A water bird often found on farms (sound: quack).
Horse: A large animal used for riding or pulling (sound: neigh).
Sheep: A farm animal with woolly fleece (sound: baa).

💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary

How to teach the content: Begin by introducing the idea of a farm and asking pupils about animals they know. Recite the first verse of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” clearly, emphasizing the animal name and its sound. Go slowly, adding one animal at a time, ensuring pupils grasp the sound and actions before moving to the next. Repeat each verse several times.

What to show or demonstrate: Display picture cards of each farm animal as you introduce them. Demonstrate the actions for each animal sound (e.g., hands like cow horns for “moo-moo,” wiggling fingers for “oink-oink,” flapping arms for “quack-quack”). Encourage pupils to imitate your actions.

How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the song with enthusiasm, using clear pronunciation. Encourage pupils to join in on the “E-I-E-I-O” and the animal sounds. Vary the tempo and volume to keep it engaging. Use the actions consistently to help pupils remember the lyrics and sounds.

How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to see and hear Old MacDonald’s farm. Play the video once for pupils to watch and listen. Then, play it again, encouraging them to sing along and perform the actions they have learned. Discuss what they saw and heard in the video afterwards.

What to watch for: Observe if pupils are repeating the animal sounds correctly and performing the actions. Watch for participation in the “E-I-E-I-O” part and their ability to name the animals and their sounds when prompted.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Role-play, Picture Talk, Repetition, Question and Answer.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Warm-up

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and initiates a discussion about animals they might see on a farm. “Good morning, children! Who can tell me what animals live on a farm?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by naming familiar farm animals like cow, goat, chicken.

Learning Point: Pupils recall prior knowledge of farm animals.

Step 2: Introduce “Old MacDonald” and the Cow Verse

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and sings the first verse about the cow, demonstrating the actions and the “moo-moo” sound. The teacher shows a picture of a cow.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively, observe the picture, and watch the teacher’s actions.

Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the song and the first animal (cow) and its sound.

Step 3: Guided Repetition of the Cow Verse

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Repetition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher sings the cow verse again, encouraging pupils to join in, especially on the “E-I-E-I-O” and the “moo-moo” sounds and actions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils repeat the song lyrics and actions after the teacher, focusing on the cow’s sound.

Learning Point: Pupils practise singing the cow verse and making the “moo” sound.

Step 4: Introduce More Animals and Sounds

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Expansion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces other farm animals one by one (pig, duck, horse, sheep) using picture cards, singing their respective verses, and demonstrating their unique sounds and actions. “Now, Old MacDonald also had a pig! What sound does a pig make?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the animals from the picture cards, listen to the new verses, and try to make the animal sounds with the teacher.

Learning Point: Pupils learn about new farm animals and their sounds (oink, quack, neigh, baa).

Step 5: Full Song with All Animals and Actions

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the class in singing the entire “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” song, incorporating all the animals learned and encouraging full participation with actions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the complete song with the teacher, performing all the animal sounds and actions.

Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their knowledge of the song, animals, and sounds through full participation.

Step 6: Role-Play Farm Animals

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Role-play/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to pretend to be different farm animals, making their sounds and movements. “Let’s all be a duck! Quack, quack, quack!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in the role-play, mimicking the sounds and movements of various farm animals.

Learning Point: Pupils apply their learning through creative movement and sound imitation.

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.

“Can you mention one animal Old MacDonald had on his farm?”
“What sound does a cow make?”
“What sound does a pig make?”
“Can you show me how a duck walks and quacks?”

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: Closure

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their active participation and singing. “Well done, everyone! You all sang beautifully and made wonderful animal sounds!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils acknowledge the teacher’s praise.

Learning Point: Pupils feel a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment from the lesson.

Lesson Keywords

Old MacDonald – The farmer in the song.
Farm – A place where animals live and crops grow.
Cow – A farm animal that says “moo”.
Pig – A farm animal that says “oink”.
Duck – A farm animal that says “quack”.

Differentiation

Support: For pupils who find it challenging, focus on just two or three animals and their sounds. Provide more one-on-one repetition and hand-over-hand guidance for actions. Use larger, clearer picture cards.
Extension: Encourage advanced pupils to suggest other animals that could be on Old MacDonald’s farm and invent new verses with their sounds. Ask them to lead a small group in singing a verse.