Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before the lesson, ensure you have large sheets of paper or a whiteboard with pre-drawn right, left, and down-facing curve patterns. Prepare individual handwriting workbooks or tracing sheets for each pupil. The central idea is for pupils to understand the directionality of each curve and practise tracing them smoothly. Observe pupils’ pencil grip and the direction of their strokes; successful learning will be shown by pupils confidently tracing the curves in the correct direction.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: First Term
Week: 5
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Handwriting
Curriculum Theme: Handwriting
Previous Lesson: Tracing Straight and Slanting Lines
Topic: TRACING RIGHT, LEFT AND DOWN-FACING CURVES
Subject Matter: TRACING OF RIGHT, LEFT, DOWN FACING CURVES.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify right-facing curves.
- Identify left-facing curves.
- Identify down-facing curves.
Affective Domain
- Show enthusiasm for tracing activities.
- Listen attentively to instructions for tracing.
Psychomotor Domain
- Trace right-facing curves correctly.
- Trace left-facing curves correctly.
- Trace down-facing curves correctly.
Social Domain
- Participate in group tracing activities.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources
- Preschool Handwriting Workbook
Instructional Materials
- Large chart paper with pre-drawn right, left, and down-facing curves
- Individual handwriting workbooks or tracing sheets with curve patterns
- Pencils and crayons
- Picture cards showing objects with curved shapes (e.g., a rainbow, a letter ‘C’, a banana)
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 4-year-olds as it builds foundational pre-writing skills. Tracing curves helps to develop fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, and prepares pupils for forming curved letters like ‘C’, ‘O’, ‘S’, ‘U’, and numbers like ‘3’, ‘6’, ‘9’. These skills are crucial for future literacy development.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can hold a pencil correctly and have previously traced simple straight and slanting lines.
Lesson Content/Board Summary
TRACING RIGHT, LEFT AND DOWN-FACING CURVES
Today we will learn to trace different kinds of curves. Curves are lines that are not straight; they bend smoothly.
Right-Facing Curve (C-shape backwards)
- This curve opens towards the right side.
- It looks like a backward letter ‘C’.
- Start from the top, go down and curve to the right.
Left-Facing Curve (C-shape)
- This curve opens towards the left side.
- It looks like the letter ‘C’.
- Start from the top, go down and curve to the left.
Down-Facing Curve (Rainbow shape)
- This curve bends downwards.
- It looks like a rainbow or the top part of a circle.
- Start from the left, curve down, and go up to the right.
Key Words
- Curve – a line that bends smoothly.
- Right – the side where your right hand is.
- Left – the side where your left hand is.
- Down – moving towards the bottom.
Curve Tracing Rhyme
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Lyrics:
Curve, curve, lines so grand,
Right and left, across the land.
Down like rainbows in the sky,
Watch our pencils gently fly.
Curve, curve, round and neat,
Making patterns, oh so sweet!
Actions: Pupils use their fingers to trace curves in the air as they sing along, pointing right, left, and down as mentioned.
Watch and Practise
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Draw large examples of each curve on the board or chart paper. Use simple, clear language to describe the direction of each curve. Emphasise starting points and the direction of movement. Connect curves to familiar objects like a banana (right/left curve) or a rainbow (down curve).
What to show or demonstrate: Demonstrate tracing each curve slowly and clearly on the board, explaining the starting point and the path. Use a finger first, then a marker. Show how a right-facing curve opens to the right, a left-facing curve opens to the left, and a down-facing curve bends downwards.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the “Curve Tracing Rhyme” together with pupils. Encourage them to perform the actions (air tracing) as they sing, reinforcing the concept of curves and their directions. Repeat the rhyme a few times to help them remember.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to see and practise tracing curves. Play the video and encourage pupils to trace in the air along with the video. After watching, ask pupils to describe what they saw and to try tracing the curves shown in the video again on their own.
What to watch for: Observe pupils’ pencil grip and ensure they are tracing in the correct direction for each curve. Look out for pupils who might be tracing in reverse or struggling with coordination. Provide gentle, hand-over-hand guidance if needed.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Play-based Learning
- Songs and Rhymes
- Repetition
- Picture Talk
- Practical Activity
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall
Teacher’s Activity: Greets pupils and reviews previous lesson on straight and slanting lines. Asks pupils to show how they trace a straight line and a slanting line in the air. Introduces today’s topic: tracing curves.
Pupils’ Activity: Greet the teacher, demonstrate tracing straight and slanting lines in the air, and listen to the new topic.
Learning Point: Pupils recall previous pre-writing skills and are introduced to curves.
Step 2: Presentation of Right-Facing Curve
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Draws a large right-facing curve on the board. Explains that it opens to the right side, like a backward ‘C’. Demonstrates tracing it from top to bottom, curving to the right. Shows a picture of an object with a right-facing curve (e.g., a banana).
Pupils’ Activity: Observe the teacher drawing and explaining, identify the right-facing curve, and look at the picture.
Learning Point: Pupils recognise and understand the direction of a right-facing curve.
Step 3: Guided Practice for Right-Facing Curve
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Correction
Teacher’s Activity: Guides pupils to air-trace the right-facing curve. Then, provides tracing sheets with right-facing curves and supervises as pupils trace with their pencils. Offers individual assistance.
Pupils’ Activity: Air-trace the curve, then trace the right-facing curve on their sheets using pencils.
Learning Point: Pupils practise tracing right-facing curves with correct directionality.
Step 4: Presentation of Left-Facing Curve
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Draws a large left-facing curve on the board. Explains that it opens to the left side, like the letter ‘C’. Demonstrates tracing it from top to bottom, curving to the left. Shows a picture of an object with a left-facing curve (e.g., the letter ‘C’ itself).
Pupils’ Activity: Observe the teacher drawing and explaining, identify the left-facing curve, and look at the picture.
Learning Point: Pupils recognise and understand the direction of a left-facing curve.
Step 5: Guided Practice for Left-Facing Curve
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Correction
Teacher’s Activity: Guides pupils to air-trace the left-facing curve. Then, provides tracing sheets with left-facing curves and supervises as pupils trace with their pencils. Offers individual assistance.
Pupils’ Activity: Air-trace the curve, then trace the left-facing curve on their sheets using pencils.
Learning Point: Pupils practise tracing left-facing curves with correct directionality.
Step 6: Presentation and Practice of Down-Facing Curve & Rhyme Integration
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: Draws a large down-facing curve on the board, explaining it looks like a rainbow. Demonstrates tracing it. Leads pupils in singing the “Curve Tracing Rhyme” with actions. Provides sheets with down-facing curves for pupils to trace.
Pupils’ Activity: Observe, sing the rhyme with actions, and trace down-facing curves on their sheets.
Learning Point: Pupils recognise, trace down-facing curves, and reinforce learning through song.
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.
- “Show me a right-facing curve on your sheet.”
- “Which curve looks like the letter ‘C’?”
- “Trace a down-facing curve in the air.”
- “Can you trace a left-facing curve on your workbook?”
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: Summarisation/Praise
Teacher’s Activity: Praises pupils for their effort and good tracing. Reminds them that tracing curves helps them prepare to write many letters and numbers. Collects workbooks.
Pupils’ Activity: Listen to the teacher and tidy up their materials.
Learning Point: Pupils feel encouraged and understand the importance of tracing curves.
Lesson Keywords
- Curve – a line that bends smoothly.
- Right – the direction to your right hand side.
- Left – the direction to your left hand side.
- Down – moving towards the bottom.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils struggling, use larger tracing patterns, provide hand-over-hand guidance, or use textured tracing cards (e.g., sandpaper curves) for sensory input. Focus on one type of curve at a time before moving to the next.
- Extension: For pupils who quickly master tracing, encourage them to draw simple objects that contain these curves (e.g., a half-moon, a simple rainbow, a letter ‘C’). They can also try connecting two curves to make a full circle or an ‘S’ shape.
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