Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: First Term
Week: 9
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Creativity
Curriculum Theme: Creativity
Previous Lesson: Identifying and sorting different craft materials.
Topic: Straw Jewellery: Identifying and Cutting Straws
Subject Matter: Straw Jewellery: Identifying and Cutting Straws.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

Identify a straw by sight and touch.
Identify a rubber thread.
Explain why we cut straws for jewellery.

Affective Domain

Show enthusiasm for making straw jewellery.
Listen carefully to safety instructions when using scissors.

Psychomotor Domain

Cut straws into smaller pieces using child-safe scissors.
Thread cut straw pieces onto a rubber thread to make simple jewellery.

Share craft materials with classmates.
Work cooperatively during the activity.

Reference Materials

NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4
Early Childhood Care and Education curriculum resources
Suitable early-years craft workbook

Instructional Materials

Assorted drinking straws (various colours and sizes)
Rubber threads or elastic strings
Child-safe scissors (one per pupil or enough for small groups)
Small trays or bowls for cut straw pieces
Finished examples of straw necklaces/bracelets
Poster colours, paint brushes, and plates (optional, for decorating straws)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps Pre-School Level 4 pupils develop their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity. Learning to identify, cut, and thread straws for jewellery encourages precision, patience, and provides a sense of accomplishment through creating a tangible item they can wear or give.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can identify basic colours, hold a pencil or crayon correctly, and have some experience with simple cutting activities under supervision.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Straw Jewellery: Identifying and Cutting Straws

Straw jewellery is a fun craft where we use drinking straws to make beautiful necklaces, bracelets, or other decorations. We cut the straws into smaller pieces and then thread them onto a string.

What is a Straw?

A straw is a thin, hollow tube, usually made of plastic or paper, that we use to drink liquids. They come in many colours!

What is a Rubber Thread?

A rubber thread is a thin, stretchy string that we will use to hold our straw pieces together to make jewellery.

How to Make Straw Jewellery:

Identify the Straws: Look at the different straws. Feel them. What colours are they?
Identify the Rubber Thread: Look at the string. Is it stretchy?
Cut the Straws: Use child-safe scissors to carefully cut the straws into small, short pieces. These pieces will be like beads.
Thread the Straws: Take a rubber thread and carefully push the cut straw pieces onto it, one by one.
Tie it Up: When you have enough straw pieces, tie the ends of the thread together to make a necklace or bracelet.

Safety First!

Always use child-safe scissors.
Always cut carefully and slowly.
Listen to your teacher for instructions.

Key Words

Straw – A thin, hollow tube for drinking.
Thread – A thin string used for joining things.
Cut – To divide something with scissors.
Jewellery – Ornaments like necklaces or bracelets.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

Display a variety of colourful straws.
Show a rubber thread.
Demonstrate how to hold child-safe scissors correctly.
Demonstrate how to cut a straw into small, even pieces.
Demonstrate how to thread a straw piece onto a string.
Show examples of finished straw necklaces and bracelets.

Straw Craft Rhyme

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Straws, straws, colourful straws,
Making crafts with careful paws.
Snip, snip, snip, we cut them small,
Threading beads for one and all.
Straws, straws, colourful straws,
Making jewellery, no flaws!

Actions:

“Straws, straws, colourful straws” – Hold up straws.
“Making crafts with careful paws” – Wiggle fingers.
“Snip, snip, snip, we cut them small” – Make cutting motion with fingers.
“Threading beads for one and all” – Pretend to thread.
“Straws, straws, colourful straws” – Hold up straws again.
“Making jewellery, no flaws!” – Show off pretend necklace.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the rhyme before starting the cutting activity to remind pupils of the steps and to encourage careful work. Sing again during the threading activity to keep them engaged.

Watch and Learn: Straw Jewellery

The teacher will show a short video demonstrating how to make straw jewellery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9U6t4Nl55U

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Manipulation of Objects, 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 wearing beautiful things like necklaces or bracelets. The teacher introduces the topic: “Today, we are going to be creative and make our own special jewellery using straws!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions and show excitement for the activity.

Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the lesson topic and motivated to participate.

Step 2: Identifying Materials

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Observation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a variety of straws and rubber threads. The teacher holds up a straw and asks, “What is this?” and “What do we use it for?” The teacher then holds up a rubber thread and asks, “What about this? What does it feel like?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the straws and rubber threads, describing their appearance and texture.

Learning Point: Pupils can identify straws and rubber threads.

Step 3: Teacher Demonstration – Cutting Straws

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Safety Instruction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to hold child-safe scissors correctly and how to carefully cut a straw into small, short pieces over a tray or bowl. The teacher emphasizes cutting slowly and safely. The teacher sings the “Straw Craft Rhyme” to reinforce the cutting action.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the teacher’s demonstration and listen carefully to the safety instructions and the rhyme.

Learning Point: Pupils understand how to safely cut straws into pieces.

Step 4: Guided Practice – Cutting Straws

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Supervision

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes straws and child-safe scissors to each pupil or small groups. The teacher supervises closely, guiding pupils to cut their straws into small pieces, reminding them of safety rules. The teacher encourages pupils to collect their cut pieces in a small tray.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice cutting straws into small pieces under the teacher’s guidance, collecting their cut pieces.

Learning Point: Pupils develop fine motor skills and practice safe cutting techniques.

Step 5: Teacher Demonstration – Threading Straws

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to take a rubber thread and carefully push the cut straw pieces onto it, one by one, to start making a necklace or bracelet. The teacher shows how to hold the thread and the straw piece.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the teacher’s demonstration of threading.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the process of threading straw pieces.

Step 6: Guided Practice – Threading Straws

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Support

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes rubber threads to pupils. The teacher guides pupils to start threading their cut straw pieces onto the thread. The teacher provides individual support as needed and encourages them to continue making their jewellery. The teacher sings the “Straw Craft Rhyme” again.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice threading their cut straw pieces onto the rubber thread to create their jewellery, singing along with the rhyme.

Learning Point: Pupils develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills by threading.

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 is this?” (holding up a straw)
“What is this?” (holding up a rubber thread)
“Show me how you cut the straw safely.”
“Show me how you put the straw on the thread.”

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

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarizing/Praise

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their creativity and careful work. The teacher reminds them to always be careful when using scissors. The teacher collects any remaining materials and encourages pupils to wear their new straw jewellery.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils show off their finished or in-progress jewellery and help tidy up their workspace.

Learning Point: Pupils feel a sense of accomplishment and learn to clean up after an activity.

Lesson Keywords

Straw – A thin, hollow tube.
Thread – A thin string.
Cut – To make smaller pieces with scissors.
Jewellery – Ornaments like necklaces.

Differentiation

Support: For pupils who struggle with cutting, provide straws that are already cut into larger pieces, focusing only on the threading activity. For threading, use thicker string or straws with wider openings. Provide hand-over-hand guidance for both cutting and threading.
Extension: For pupils who quickly grasp the concept, encourage them to create patterns with different coloured straws or to make longer pieces of jewellery. They could also try to decorate their straws with marker pens before cutting and threading (if time permits and materials are available).

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have a good supply of various straws and enough child-safe scissors for all pupils or small groups. Prepare rubber threads cut to appropriate lengths for necklaces or bracelets. Emphasize safety with scissors repeatedly. Supervise pupils closely during the cutting and threading activities, providing individual assistance as needed. The “poster colours, paint brush, plate” mentioned in the instructional resources can be used to paint the straws *before* cutting and threading, but this would require additional drying time and might be better suited as an extension activity or for a subsequent lesson. For this lesson, focus primarily on identifying, cutting, and threading. Judge understanding by observing pupils’ ability to safely cut straws and successfully thread them onto the string.