Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, prepare clear picture cards showing examples of peaceful actions (e.g., sharing, helping, hugging) and conflicting actions (e.g., snatching, pushing, arguing). Ensure you have a storybook or puppets ready for a simple story or role-play about resolving a conflict peacefully. The central idea for pupils is to understand that peace means being happy and friendly, while conflict means fighting or arguing, and that we can choose peace. Pupils will successfully learn if they can identify peaceful actions and express a desire to be peaceful.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: Second Term
Week: 7
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Civic Education
Curriculum Theme: Civic Education
Previous Lesson: Good Manners and Helping Others
Topic: PEACE EDUCATION: Meaning of Peace and Understanding Conflict
Subject Matter: Peace Education: Meaning of Peace and Understanding Conflict.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Define peace in simple terms.
- Identify examples of peaceful actions from pictures.
- Identify examples of conflicting actions from pictures.
Affective Domain
- Express a desire to be peaceful.
- Show empathy when listening to stories about conflict.
Psychomotor Domain
- Demonstrate a peaceful action (e.g., sharing, smiling).
- Participate in a simple role-play about resolving conflict.
Social Domain
- Share their ideas during discussions.
- Take turns when speaking or acting.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Instructional Materials
- Chart showing “Peace” and “Conflict” words
- Posters or picture cards depicting peaceful scenarios (e.g., children sharing, playing happily, helping each other)
- Posters or picture cards depicting conflicting scenarios (e.g., children snatching toys, pushing, arguing)
- Storybook about friendship, sharing, or resolving disagreements
- Puppets or dolls for role-play (optional)
- Audio device for music/song
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson helps 4-year-olds understand basic concepts of peace and conflict, which are fundamental for developing positive social behaviours. By learning to identify peaceful actions and understand what causes conflict, pupils can begin to practise kindness, sharing, and problem-solving in their daily interactions at school and at home.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify basic emotions like happy and sad. They have learned about good manners and the importance of helping others. They also know how to play and share with their friends.Lesson Content/Board Summary
PEACE EDUCATION: Meaning of Peace and Understanding Conflict
What is Peace?
Peace means being happy, quiet, and friendly. It means no fighting, no shouting, and no pushing. When we have peace, everyone feels safe and loved. Examples of peace:- Sharing toys with friends.
- Playing nicely together.
- Helping someone who needs help.
- Smiling and talking kindly.
What is Conflict?
Conflict means arguing, disagreeing, or fighting. It happens when people don’t share or don’t listen to each other. Examples of conflict:- Snatching a toy from a friend.
- Pushing someone.
- Shouting at each other.
- Not taking turns.
Peace and Friendship Song
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Lyrics:
Peace, oh peace, we love you so,
Happy faces, watch them glow.
No more fighting, no more frowns,
Peaceful children all around.
Share our toys and play so kind,
Best of friends, we always find.
Actions:
- “Peace, oh peace, we love you so”: Hug self, then open arms wide.
- “Happy faces, watch them glow”: Point to face, then make a circle with hands.
- “No more fighting, no more frowns”: Shake head “no” and cross arms.
- “Peaceful children all around”: Spin slowly in a circle.
- “Share our toys and play so kind”: Pretend to share, then clap hands gently.
- “Best of friends, we always find”: Hold hands with a friend or self.
Watch and Learn About Peace
This video, “Peace Begins With Me” by The Kiboomers, helps children understand how they can contribute to peace.
Key Words
- Peace – when everyone is happy and friendly, no fighting.
- Conflict – when people argue or fight.
- Share – to let others use what you have.
- Happy – feeling joyful and good.
- Fight – to argue or use hands to hurt someone.
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Introduce “Peace” first. Use the picture cards to show examples of peaceful actions and ask pupils what they see and how the children in the pictures feel. Then introduce “Conflict” using contrasting picture cards, asking pupils how the children in those pictures feel and why they think they are fighting. Emphasize that we can choose peace. Keep explanations very simple and use familiar examples from the classroom.
What to show or demonstrate: Display the chart with “Peace” and “Conflict.” Show and discuss each picture card one by one, asking pupils to describe what is happening. Demonstrate peaceful actions like sharing a toy or giving a hug, and contrasting conflicting actions like snatching (without actual aggression).
How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce the “Peace and Friendship Song” after discussing both peace and conflict. Sing it slowly first, demonstrating the actions. Repeat the song 2-3 times, encouraging pupils to join in with the words and actions. Praise their participation.
How to use the video: Introduce the video by telling pupils they will watch a song about how peace starts with each of us. Play the video. After watching, ask pupils what they learned from the song and how they can show peace in the classroom (e.g., “I can share,” “I can be kind”).
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can distinguish between peaceful and conflicting actions when shown pictures. Watch for their ability to articulate simple ideas about peace and conflict in their own words. Correct any misconceptions gently by reinforcing positive behaviours.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Storytelling
- Picture Talk
- Discussion
- Question and Answer
- Role-play
- Songs and Rhymes
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets pupils and leads a short “Hello Song.” The teacher then asks pupils how they feel today (happy, sad) and what makes them happy or sad, linking it to playing nicely or arguing.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, sing along, and share their feelings.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and begin to think about feelings related to interactions.
Step 2: Presentation – Meaning of Peace
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Visual Aid
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the word “Peace” and explains its simple meaning using the chart and picture cards of peaceful scenarios (e.g., children sharing, helping). The teacher asks, “What do you see in this picture? Are they happy? Why?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the chart and pictures, listen to the explanation, and respond to questions by identifying peaceful actions.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that peace means being happy and friendly, without fighting.
Step 3: Guided Practice – Peaceful Actions
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Imitation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to show a peaceful face or a peaceful action (e.g., sharing a pretend toy, giving a gentle hug). The teacher provides more examples and praises correct demonstrations.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils imitate peaceful actions and demonstrate their understanding of being peaceful.
Learning Point: Pupils actively demonstrate understanding of peaceful behaviour.
Step 4: Presentation – Understanding Conflict
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Contrast
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the word “Conflict” and explains its simple meaning using the chart and picture cards of conflicting scenarios (e.g., children snatching, pushing). The teacher asks, “What is happening here? Are they happy? Why not?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the chart and pictures, listen to the explanation, and identify conflicting actions.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that conflict means arguing or fighting.
Step 5: Reinforcement – Story Time/Role-play
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Role-play
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reads a short story about two friends who had a disagreement and resolved it peacefully, or uses puppets for a simple role-play. The teacher asks pupils how the characters felt and what they did to make peace.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the story or watch the role-play, and discuss how the characters felt and acted.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about resolving conflicts and choosing peace through a narrative.
Step 6: Application – Peace Song/Video
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Musical Reinforcement/Media Integration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing the “Peace and Friendship Song” with actions. Alternatively, the teacher plays the “Peace Begins With Me” video and encourages pupils to watch and sing along, asking them to share one thing they learned about peace.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song with actions or watch the video and share their thoughts.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of peace through song and visual media.
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.
- “What does peace mean?” (Encourage simple answers like ‘no fighting’, ‘being happy’).
- Show a picture of children sharing. “Is this peace or conflict?”
- Show a picture of children pushing. “Is this peace or conflict?”
- “What can you do to make peace in our classroom?”
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: Summarization/Encouragement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises pupils for their participation and reminds them to always choose peace by sharing, being kind, and talking nicely. The teacher ends the lesson with a “Peace Handshake” activity.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in the “Peace Handshake” and listen to the teacher’s concluding remarks.
Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to apply peaceful behaviours in their daily lives.
Lesson Keywords
- Peace – when everyone is happy and friendly, no fighting.
- Conflict – when people argue or fight.
- Share – to let others use what you have.
- Kind – being friendly and caring.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who are struggling, use larger, very clear picture cards and fewer options. Provide one-on-one prompts and model responses. Focus on identifying just one peaceful action and one conflicting action. Use hand-over-hand guidance for actions in the song.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, ask them to suggest other ways to make peace in the classroom or at home. Encourage them to describe how a friend might feel during a conflict and how they can help.
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