Toilet Facilities, Septic Tank, Soakaway and Mobile Toilet for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4

Term: Second Term

Week: 7

Age: 5 years

Duration: 30 minutes

Subject: Health Habits

Curriculum Theme: Health Habits

Previous Lesson: Basic toilet hygiene and proper use of the toilet.

Topic: Toilet Facilities: Septic Tank, Soakaway and Mobile Toilet

Subject Matter: Toilet – Septic Tank – Soakaway – Mobile Toilet. Weekly focus: Toilet Facilities: Septic Tank, Soakaway and Mobile Toilet.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify pictures of a septic tank.
• Identify pictures of a soakaway.
• Identify pictures of a mobile toilet.
• State one use for each facility.

Affective Domain

• Show appreciation for different toilet facilities that keep our environment clean.
• Listen attentively as the teacher explains.

Psychomotor Domain

• Point to the correct toilet facility when named.
• Demonstrate how to flush a toilet properly.

Social Domain

• Participate in discussions about keeping public spaces clean.

Reference Materials

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

Instructional Materials

• Charts showing different toilet facilities (septic tank, soakaway, mobile toilet).
• Posters illustrating the importance of proper waste disposal.
• Pictures of various toilets and their components.
• Toy toilet model (if available).

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding different toilet facilities helps young children appreciate how waste is managed to keep their environment clean and healthy. This lesson introduces them to common disposal systems, fostering an early awareness of hygiene and public health practices, which is crucial for their well-being and community living.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with using the toilet for urination and defecation and understand the basic concept of flushing.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Toilet Facilities: Septic Tank, Soakaway and Mobile Toilet

A toilet is a special place or facility we use to pass out urine and faeces from our bodies. After we use the toilet, our waste needs to go somewhere safe to keep our homes and environment clean and healthy.

1. Septic Tank

• A septic tank is a big, strong container usually buried underground, outside our homes or schools.
• It collects all the waste (urine and faeces) that goes down the toilet when we flush.
• It holds the waste and helps to break it down safely.
• Importance: It keeps our environment clean and free from bad smells and germs by storing waste properly.

2. Soakaway

• A soakaway is like a special pit or area underground, usually connected to the septic tank.
• After the septic tank holds the solid waste, the water from it flows into the soakaway.
• The soakaway helps this water to slowly drain and go back into the ground safely.
• Importance: It prevents water from the septic tank from staying on the surface, which could make the area messy and unhealthy.

3. Mobile Toilet

• A mobile toilet is a toilet that can be moved from one place to another. It is not fixed to the ground like toilets in our homes.
• It is often seen at parties, construction sites, outdoor events, or places where there are no permanent toilets.
• It has a special container inside to collect waste, which is then emptied and cleaned regularly.
• Importance: It provides a clean and convenient place to use the toilet when permanent facilities are not available, helping to maintain hygiene in temporary locations.

Key Words

• Toilet – a facility for passing out body waste.
• Septic Tank – an underground tank that collects toilet waste.
• Soakaway – an underground pit that drains water from the septic tank.
• Mobile Toilet – a portable toilet that can be moved.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Display charts and posters clearly showing a septic tank (underground with pipes), a soakaway (a pit receiving water), and a mobile toilet (a portable cabin).
• Point to the different parts and explain their function simply.

Cleanliness Rhyme

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

Toilet clean, day by day,
Wash our germs and flush away.
Waste goes down, out of sight,
Keeps our world so clean and bright.
Septic tank, deep below,
Soakaway helps water flow.
Mobile toilet, here and there,
Keeping clean everywhere!

Actions:

• “Toilet clean, day by day,” – Pretend to wipe.
• “Wash our germs and flush away.” – Rub hands, then make a flushing motion.
• “Waste goes down, out of sight,” – Point downwards.
• “Keeps our world so clean and bright.” – Make a wide circle with hands.
• “Septic tank, deep below,” – Point downwards with both hands.
• “Soakaway helps water flow.” – Wiggle fingers downwards.
• “Mobile toilet, here and there,” – Point left, then right.
• “Keeping clean everywhere!” – Clap hands.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the rhyme together, encouraging pupils to do the actions. Repeat several times to reinforce the names and importance of the facilities.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Repetition.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and reminds them about the importance of using the toilet and flushing. The teacher asks, “After we flush, where does our waste go?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by saying “down the toilet” or “away.” They listen attentively.

Learning Point: Pupils recall previous knowledge about toilet use and are introduced to the lesson topic.

Step 2: Introduction to Septic Tank

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Visual Aid

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a chart/picture of a septic tank and explains simply that it’s a big, hidden tank underground that collects waste from the toilet. The teacher emphasizes its role in keeping the environment clean.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the chart/picture, listen to the explanation, and repeat “septic tank.”

Learning Point: Pupils identify a septic tank and understand its basic function.

Step 3: Introduction to Soakaway

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Comparison

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a chart/picture of a soakaway, explaining that it helps the water from the septic tank go back into the ground. The teacher explains the difference between the septic tank (holds waste) and soakaway (drains water).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the chart/picture, listen to the explanation, and repeat “soakaway.” They try to understand the difference.

Learning Point: Pupils identify a soakaway and understand its role in waste water disposal.

Step 4: Introduction to Mobile Toilet

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Real-world connection

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows a picture of a mobile toilet and explains it’s a toilet that can be moved, often seen at parties or construction sites. The teacher asks if anyone has seen one before.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the picture, listen, and share if they have seen a mobile toilet.

Learning Point: Pupils identify a mobile toilet and understand its use in temporary locations.

Step 5: Differentiation and Importance (Rhyme Integration)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher points to each facility on the charts and asks pupils to name it and say one important thing about it. The teacher then leads the pupils in singing the “Cleanliness Rhyme.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils name the facilities, state their importance, and sing the rhyme with actions.

Learning Point: Pupils differentiate between the facilities and reinforce their importance through song and repetition.

Step 6: Practical Application

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shuffles the pictures of the facilities and asks individual pupils to pick a picture and name the facility, or point to a specific facility when named by the teacher.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils take turns picking pictures and naming the facilities, or pointing to the correct picture.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate recognition and identification of the toilet facilities.

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. “Point to the septic tank.” (Teacher points to chart with all facilities)
2. “What is this called?” (Teacher points to a mobile toilet picture)
3. “Where does the water from the septic tank go?”
4. “Why is it important to have these facilities?”

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: Summary/Praise

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson by reminding pupils that septic tanks, soakaways, and mobile toilets all help to keep our environment clean and healthy. The teacher praises pupils for their participation.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and say “Thank you, teacher.”

Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and feel encouraged.

Lesson Keywords

• Toilet – A place where people go to urinate and pass faeces.
• Septic Tank – A large, hidden container underground that collects waste from toilets.
• Soakaway – A special pit underground that helps water from the septic tank drain into the soil.
• Mobile Toilet – A toilet that can be moved and used in different places, like at parties.

Differentiation

• Support for struggling learners: Provide larger, clearer pictures of each facility. Use more repetition of the names and functions. Guide their hands to point to the correct facility. Focus on identifying just one key feature for each (e.g., septic tank is underground, mobile toilet moves).
• Extension for advanced learners: Ask them to describe where they might have seen a mobile toilet. Encourage them to explain in their own words why each facility is important for hygiene. Ask them to draw a simple picture of one of the facilities.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have clear, simple charts or pictures of a septic tank, a soakaway, and a mobile toilet. These concepts can be abstract for 5-year-olds, so visual aids are crucial. Emphasize that septic tanks and soakaways are usually hidden underground, while mobile toilets are visible and portable. Focus on the *purpose* of each facility – to manage waste safely and keep the environment clean. When explaining the septic tank and soakaway, use simple language and gestures (e.g., pointing downwards). The rhyme is a great way to reinforce the new vocabulary and concepts. Observe pupils’ ability to point to and name the facilities as a key indicator of understanding. Encourage all pupils to participate in the rhyme and identification activities.