Plasticine, Identifying and Moulding Objects for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Creativity
Curriculum Theme: Creativity
Previous Lesson: Free Expression, Independent Drawing and Colouring
Topic: Plasticine: Identifying and Moulding Objects
Subject Matter: Plasticine: Identifying and Moulding Objects

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify plasticine by sight and touch.
• Name simple objects that can be moulded with plasticine.

Affective Domain

• Show enthusiasm for working with plasticine.
• Participate actively in moulding activities.

Psychomotor Domain

• Roll, squeeze, and flatten plasticine.
• Mould simple objects like a ball, snake, or plate with plasticine.

Social Domain

• Share plasticine with classmates (if applicable).
• Take turns during demonstrations.

Reference Materials

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

Instructional Materials

• Different colours of plasticine.
• Pictures of simple objects (e.g., ball, snake, apple, car).
• A flat surface or small mat for each pupil to work on.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils develop their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity through the tactile experience of working with plasticine. It also encourages imagination and the ability to transform ideas into tangible objects, which are important foundational skills for problem-solving and artistic expression.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have previously engaged in simple play activities involving manipulating objects and recognising basic shapes.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Plasticine: Identifying and Moulding Objects

Plasticine is a soft, colourful material that we can squeeze, roll, and shape into different objects. It is fun to play with and helps our fingers become strong.

What is Plasticine?

• Plasticine is a type of modelling clay.
• It is soft and easy to bend and shape.
• It comes in many bright colours.
• We use our hands and fingers to mould it.

How to Identify Plasticine

Look at it: It is colourful and looks like soft dough.

Touch it: It feels soft and squishy. It can be warm from our hands.

Smell it: It has a distinct, mild smell.

How to Mould Simple Objects with Plasticine

1. Warm it up: Squeeze a piece of plasticine in your hands to make it softer.
2. Roll it: Roll the plasticine between your palms to make a ball or a long snake.
3. Flatten it: Press it down with your palm to make a flat shape like a plate.
4. Pinch and pull: Use your fingers to pinch out parts or pull to make different shapes.
5. Combine colours: Mix different colours to create new colours or add details to your object.

Examples of Objects We Can Mould

• A round ball
• A long snake
• A flat plate or pancake
• Simple fruits like an apple or orange
• A small car or animal shape

Plasticine Fun Rhyme

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Plasticine, soft and bright,
Moulding shapes with all my might.
Roll it, squeeze it, make it round,
Best new shapes on the ground.
Plasticine, fun for me,
What new thing will it be?

Actions:

• “Plasticine, soft and bright” – Show plasticine.
• “Moulding shapes with all my might” – Pretend to squeeze and mould.
• “Roll it, squeeze it, make it round” – Demonstrate rolling, squeezing, making a circle with hands.
• “Best new shapes on the ground” – Point to the floor or table.
• “Plasticine, fun for me” – Hug self.
• “What new thing will it be?” – Shrug shoulders playfully.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the rhyme before starting the moulding activity to get pupils excited and familiar with the actions involved.

Key Words

• Plasticine – A soft, colourful material used for moulding.
• Mould – To shape something with your hands.
• Squeeze – To press something firmly.
• Roll – To move something over and over, often to make it long or round.
• Shape – To give something a particular form.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Display different coloured plasticine.
• Show examples of simple moulded objects (e.g., a plasticine ball, snake, and a flat disc).
• Demonstrate the actions of rolling, squeezing, and flattening plasticine.

Watch and Practise

Let’s watch a short video to see how we can play and mould with modelling clay, just like plasticine!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rLzE8U7M0w

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Manipulation of Objects, Question and Answer, Practical Activity.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Motivation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them if they like to play with soft, colourful things. The teacher then introduces plasticine by showing a colourful block of it.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and observe the plasticine.

Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the topic and plasticine.

Step 2: Identifying Plasticine

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Observation/Sensory Exploration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher passes around small pieces of plasticine for pupils to touch, feel, and describe. The teacher asks, “How does it feel? What colour is it?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils touch and feel the plasticine, describing its texture and colour. They identify it as plasticine.

Learning Point: Pupils identify plasticine using their senses.

Step 3: Teacher Demonstration – Basic Actions

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates basic plasticine actions: squeezing, rolling into a ball, rolling into a snake, and flattening into a disc. The teacher sings the “Plasticine Fun Rhyme.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the teacher’s demonstration carefully and listen to the rhyme. Some may try to imitate the actions in the air.

Learning Point: Pupils observe how to manipulate plasticine.

Step 4: Guided Practice – Basic Actions

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Support

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher gives each pupil a piece of plasticine and guides them to try squeezing, rolling into a ball, and making a snake. The teacher provides individual help.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively practise squeezing, rolling plasticine into a ball, and making a snake with their own pieces.

Learning Point: Pupils develop fine motor skills by performing basic plasticine actions.

Step 5: Teacher Demonstration – Moulding Simple Objects

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Instruction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to mould a simple object, like an apple or a small car, by combining the basic actions. The teacher explains each step clearly.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the teacher moulding the object, paying attention to the steps.

Learning Point: Pupils learn the steps to mould a simple object.

Step 6: Pupil Application – Moulding Objects

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application/Creativity

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher encourages pupils to mould their own simple objects, either by imitating the teacher’s example or creating something of their own. The teacher moves around to offer assistance and praise.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils use their plasticine to mould different objects, showing creativity and applying the learned techniques.

Learning Point: Pupils practise moulding various objects with plasticine.

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. “What is this soft, colourful material called?” (Holding up plasticine)
2. “Can you show me your favourite object you moulded?”
3. “How did you make that object?” (Asking about a specific action like rolling or squeezing).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate, showing their moulded objects and naming plasticine.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson by identifying plasticine and showing their moulded objects.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Summarising/Praise

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their creativity and effort. The teacher reminds them to always wash their hands after playing with plasticine and helps them tidy up the materials.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the teacher, clean up their work area, and wash their hands.

Learning Point: Pupils conclude the lesson and learn the importance of tidiness and hygiene.

Lesson Keywords

• Plasticine – A soft, colourful material used for shaping and moulding.
• Mould – To make something into a particular shape using your hands.
• Roll – To make something round or long by moving it over a surface.
• Squeeze – To press something tightly.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who find it difficult, provide larger pieces of plasticine, offer hand-over-hand guidance for rolling and squeezing, and focus on just one simple shape (e.g., only a ball).
• Extension: For pupils who quickly grasp the concept, encourage them to combine different colours, mould more complex objects (e.g., a flower, a person), or create a small scene with multiple objects.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have enough plasticine for each child or small groups, and that it is soft enough to work with. If it’s too hard, warm it slightly in your hands before distributing. Emphasize that plasticine is not for eating and that hands must be washed thoroughly afterwards. Encourage pupils to experiment and be creative, rather than focusing on perfection. Observe their fine motor development as they manipulate the material. Praise effort and unique creations to build confidence. Judging understanding should be based on their ability to physically manipulate the plasticine and identify it, not on the artistic quality of their moulded objects.