Old Macdonald Had a Farm for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Songs and Rhymes
Curriculum Theme: Songs and Rhymes
Previous Lesson: Familiar songs and rhymes
Topic: OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM
Subject Matter: OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify common farm animals mentioned in the song.
• Make the sounds of farm animals.
• Describe a farm in simple terms.

Affective Domain

• Enjoy singing “Old Macdonald Had a Farm.”
• Participate enthusiastically in role-playing animal actions.

Psychomotor Domain

• Recite and sing the song “Old Macdonald Had a Farm” with actions.
• Colour pictures of farm animals.

Social Domain

• Take turns making animal sounds during the song.
• Share ideas about farm animals with classmates.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4
• Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) resources

Instructional Materials

• Pictures/flashcards of farm animals (cow, pig, duck, sheep, horse, chicken)
• A storybook featuring farm animals
• Crayons
• Colouring sheets with outlines of farm animals
• A chart with the lyrics of “Old Macdonald Had a Farm”

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson introduces pupils to the popular rhyme “Old Macdonald Had a Farm,” which helps them learn about common farm animals and their sounds. It promotes language development, listening skills, and motor coordination through singing, actions, and creative play, connecting them to the world around them.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with some common animals and enjoy singing simple songs.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM

A farm is a place where animals like cows, pigs, chickens, and sheep live. Farmers also grow food like maize and yam on a farm.

Old Macdonald Had a Farm Song

Tune: Traditional

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.

(Continue with other animals like sheep, horse, chicken, etc., changing the animal and its sound.)

Actions:

• For “Old MacDonald had a farm”: Spread arms wide like showing a farm.
• For “E-I-E-I-O”: Point to self for E, then to eye for I, then to self for E, then to eye for I, then make an O shape with hands.
• For animal names: Make a gesture related to the animal (e.g., horns for cow, snout for pig, flapping wings for duck).
• For animal sounds: Mimic the sound.
• For “here a moo, there a moo”: Point left, then right.

Key Words

• Macdonald – The name of the farmer in the song.
• Farm – A place where animals live and food is grown.
• Cow – A large farm animal that gives milk.
• Pig – A farm animal that makes an “oink” sound.
• Duck – A farm bird that swims and says “quack.”
• Sheep – A farm animal with wool that says “baa.”
• Chicken – A farm bird that lays eggs and says “cluck.”
• Sounds – What animals say (e.g., moo, oink, quack).

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Pictures of a farm and various farm animals.
• A simple drawing of a farm with animals.

Watch and Sing Along

The teacher will show a video of “Old Macdonald Had a Farm” to help pupils learn the song and actions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIQzS_gR68Q

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them about different animals they know and where some animals live. “Who knows some animals? Where do cows live?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by naming animals and sharing their ideas about where animals live.

Learning Point: Pupils recall prior knowledge about animals.

Step 2: Introducing “Old Macdonald” and Farm Animals

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Aid/Storytelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces “Old Macdonald Had a Farm” by showing pictures of a farm and farm animals (cow, pig, duck, sheep, horse, chicken). The teacher asks pupils to identify the animals.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the pictures and try to name the farm animals.

Learning Point: Pupils recognise and name farm animals.

Step 3: Singing the First Verse with Actions

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Repetition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher sings the first verse of “Old Macdonald Had a Farm” (with the cow) and demonstrates the actions. The teacher then guides pupils to sing and perform the actions together.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, watch the teacher’s actions, and then sing along while imitating the actions.

Learning Point: Pupils learn the first verse and actions of the song.

Step 4: Adding More Animals and Sounds

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Sound Imitation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces other farm animals one by one (pig, duck, sheep, horse, chicken), showing their pictures and making their sounds. The teacher then leads pupils to sing the verses for these animals, focusing on their specific sounds and actions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the new animals, make their sounds, and sing the corresponding verses with actions.

Learning Point: Pupils learn about more farm animals and their distinct sounds.

Step 5: Role-Play and Movement

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Role-play/Movement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher encourages pupils to role-play being different farm animals. “Who wants to be a cow? Show me how a cow walks and sounds!” The teacher guides them to move like the animals and make their sounds.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils move around the classroom, imitating the movements and sounds of various farm animals.

Learning Point: Pupils physically express their understanding of animal characteristics.

Step 6: Animal Identification and Colouring Preparation

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Practical Activity/Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes colouring sheets with outlines of farm animals. The teacher asks pupils to identify each animal on their sheet before they start colouring.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils receive their colouring sheets and identify the animals on them.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce animal recognition through a visual task.

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 name three animals that live on Old Macdonald’s farm?”
2. “What sound does a pig make?”
3. “Let’s sing the ‘duck’ part of the song together.”
4. “Show me how a horse gallops.”

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: Recap/Praise

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and singing. The teacher reminds them that Old Macdonald’s farm has many animals and sounds. The teacher then guides them to begin colouring their animal sheets.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the teacher and begin their colouring activity.

Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and engage in a creative activity.

Lesson Keywords

• Farm – A place where animals live and food is grown.
• Animals – Living creatures like cows, pigs, and ducks.
• Sounds – The noises that animals make.
• Sing – To make music with your voice.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who find it challenging, the teacher can focus on just two or three animals, use larger picture cards, and repeat the sounds and actions more slowly. Hand-over-hand guidance can be used for actions.
• Extension: For quicker learners, the teacher can ask them to name other animals that could live on a farm or create a new verse for the song with a different animal and its sound. They can also describe what a farmer does on the farm.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have clear, colourful pictures of farm animals and a large chart with the song lyrics. Prepare enough colouring sheets and crayons for all pupils. Encourage active participation from all children, especially during the singing and role-play segments. Use exaggerated actions and sounds to make the lesson engaging and fun. Observe how pupils make animal sounds and identify the animals, as this is a key indicator of their understanding. Repeat the song several times throughout the week to reinforce learning.