Old Mother Hubbard for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Third Term
Week: 5
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Songs and Rhymes
Curriculum Theme: Songs and Rhymes
Previous Lesson: Recitation of familiar nursery rhymes.
Topic: OLD MOTHER HUBBARD
Subject Matter: OLD MOTHER HUBBARD.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Recite the rhyme “Old Mother Hubbard” clearly.
• Identify the main characters in the rhyme (Old Mother Hubbard and her dog).
• State in simple terms why Old Mother Hubbard’s dog had no bone.
• Explain the importance of planning ahead of time.

Affective Domain

• Show enjoyment while reciting the rhyme.
• Appreciate the value of thinking and planning for future needs.
• Participate enthusiastically in role-playing the rhyme.

Psychomotor Domain

• Perform simple actions related to the rhyme (e.g., opening a cupboard, looking sad).
• Participate in a guided role-play of the rhyme.

Social Domain

• Participate in group recitation of the rhyme.
• Share their thoughts during class discussion about planning.

Reference Materials

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

Instructional Materials

• Chart with “Old Mother Hubbard” rhyme lyrics.
• Picture of a dog.
• A small cupboard or a box to represent a cupboard.
• Flashcards showing Mother Hubbard and her dog.
• Optional: Video of the rhyme.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson uses the familiar rhyme “Old Mother Hubbard” to develop pupils’ language and memory skills through recitation. More importantly, it introduces the crucial concept of planning ahead, which is a foundational life skill. At this age, understanding the consequences of not planning helps children develop responsibility and foresight in their daily activities, such as preparing for school or packing a snack.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with listening to and reciting simple rhymes. They also understand basic needs like food and shelter.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

OLD MOTHER HUBBARD

The Rhyme: Old Mother Hubbard

Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To get her poor dog a bone;
But when she came there
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.

What Happened in the Rhyme?

• Old Mother Hubbard wanted to give her dog a bone.
• She went to the cupboard to get it.
• The cupboard was empty (bare).
• So, her poor dog did not get a bone.

Why the Cupboard Was Bare

Old Mother Hubbard did not check her cupboard earlier or plan to buy bones for her dog. She found it empty when she needed it.

The Importance of Planning Ahead

Planning ahead means thinking about what you will need in the future and getting it ready now. It helps us to be prepared and avoid problems.
Examples:

• Bringing your school bag and books the night before.
• Making sure you have snacks for school.
• Checking if you have clean clothes for tomorrow.

Watch and Practise

Key Words

• Cupboard – a piece of furniture with shelves for storing things.
• Bare – empty; having nothing in it.
• Bone – a hard part of an animal’s body, sometimes given to dogs.
• Plan ahead – to think about and prepare for something before it happens.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

• Songs and Rhymes
• Demonstration
• Guided Practice
• Role-play
• Picture Talk
• Question and Answer
• Discussion
• Repetition

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Warm-up

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them about their favourite animals, specifically dogs. “Who likes dogs? What do dogs like to eat?” Show a picture of a dog.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and look at the picture of the dog.

Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and ready for the lesson.

Step 2: Presentation of the Rhyme

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Introduction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the rhyme “Old Mother Hubbard” by showing the rhyme chart and explaining that it’s a story about a lady and her dog. The teacher reads the rhyme slowly and clearly, pointing to the words.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively to the teacher reading the rhyme and observe the chart.

Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the rhyme and its characters.

Step 3: Guided Recitation

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Repetition/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher recites the rhyme line by line, pausing for pupils to repeat each line. The teacher uses simple actions to illustrate the lines (e.g., pretending to open a cupboard, looking sad).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils repeat each line of the rhyme after the teacher and try to imitate the actions.

Learning Point: Pupils begin to memorize the rhyme and associate words with actions.

Step 4: Full Recitation with Actions

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Movement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides the pupils to recite the entire rhyme together, encouraging them to perform the actions they learned. The teacher plays the video of the rhyme to reinforce learning and enjoyment.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils recite the full rhyme with actions and watch the video, singing along.

Learning Point: Pupils gain confidence in reciting the rhyme with appropriate actions.

Step 5: Discussing the Moral Lesson

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks questions like: “What did Mother Hubbard want to get for her dog?” “What did she find in the cupboard?” “Why do you think the cupboard was empty?” The teacher explains that Mother Hubbard did not plan ahead and discusses the importance of planning ahead with simple examples (e.g., packing lunch, preparing school bag).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer the questions and share their ideas about why planning is important, giving simple examples.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the moral lesson of planning ahead.

Step 6: Role-Play/Application

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Role-play/Practical Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to role-play the rhyme using the cupboard/box and dog picture. Some pupils can be Mother Hubbard, others the dog. The teacher encourages them to act out Mother Hubbard going to the cupboard and finding it bare. The teacher then asks, “What could Mother Hubbard have done to make sure her dog got a bone?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in role-playing the rhyme and suggest ways Mother Hubbard could have planned better.

Learning Point: Pupils apply the concept of planning to the rhyme’s scenario.

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.

1. “Who can recite the rhyme ‘Old Mother Hubbard’ for us?”
2. “What did Mother Hubbard find in her cupboard?”
3. “What does it mean to ‘plan ahead’?”
4. “Give one example of how you can plan ahead for school.”

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

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the rhyme and the importance of planning.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Summarization

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them to always remember to plan ahead in their daily activities. The teacher leads a final group recitation of the rhyme.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils recite the rhyme one last time and say “Thank you, teacher.”

Learning Point: Pupils conclude the lesson with a reinforced understanding of the rhyme and its moral.

Lesson Keywords

• Hubbard – The last name of the old woman in the rhyme.
• Cupboard – A cabinet for storing food or dishes.
• Bare – Empty or without anything.
• Bone – A hard part of a dog’s food.
• Plan ahead – To think about and prepare for the future.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who struggle with memorization, focus on repeating the first two lines of the rhyme with actions. Use larger pictures and fewer words when discussing the moral lesson. Provide hand-over-hand guidance during role-play.
• Extension: Encourage advanced pupils to explain more examples of planning ahead from their own lives (e.g., planning for a birthday party, packing for a trip). Ask them to draw a picture of Mother Hubbard’s cupboard with bones in it, showing she planned ahead.