Water Transportation and Types of Water Vehicles for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Second Term
Week: 7
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Basic Science and Technology
Curriculum Theme: Basic Science and Technology
Previous Lesson: Means of transportation
Topic: Water Transportation and Water Vehicles
Subject Matter: Water transportation and types of water vehicles.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify water as a means of transportation.
• Name at least three types of water vehicles.
• Describe in simple terms what water transportation is.

Affective Domain

• Participate actively in discussions about water transportation.
• Show interest in learning about different water vehicles.

Psychomotor Domain

• Point to pictures of various water vehicles.
• Mimic the movement of a boat or ship.

Social Domain

• Share their understanding of water transportation with classmates.
• Take turns when speaking during class discussions.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4.
• Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) resources.
• Relevant early-years Basic Science and Technology textbooks.
• Charts showing different means of transportation.

Instructional Materials

• Charts displaying various water vehicles (boat, canoe, ship, ferry, submarine).
• Pictures of people and goods being transported on water.
• Toy boats, ships, or canoes.
• A small basin of water for demonstration.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson introduces pupils to water transportation, helping them understand that people and goods can move across water. It expands their knowledge of the world around them and the different ways we travel, fostering curiosity and an appreciation for various modes of transport in their environment.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have a basic understanding of movement and may have learned about other means of transportation like land or air transport. They can identify some common vehicles.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Water Transportation and Water Vehicles

What is Water Transportation?

Water transportation is when we use vehicles to move people and things from one place to another on water, like rivers, lakes, and the sea.

Types of Water Vehicles:

• Boat: A small vessel used for short trips, fishing, or recreation on rivers and lakes.
• Canoe: A very light and narrow boat, often pointed at both ends, moved by paddling. It is common in local communities for fishing and crossing small rivers.
• Ship: A very large vessel that travels on the sea, carrying many people (passengers) or big loads of goods (cargo) across long distances.
• Ferry: A vessel that carries people, cars, and other vehicles across a body of water, usually on a regular route over shorter distances.
• Submarine: A special type of ship that can travel completely underwater.

Key Words

• Water – The liquid we drink and find in rivers, lakes, and seas.
• Transportation – Moving people or things from one place to another.
• Boat – A small vehicle that moves on water.
• Ship – A large vehicle that moves on water.
• Ferry – A boat that carries people and cars across water.
• Canoe – A small, narrow boat moved by paddling.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Display charts with clear pictures of a boat, canoe, ship, ferry, and submarine.
• Draw a simple boat on the board with wavy lines underneath to represent water.
• Show toy boats and demonstrate how they float in a basin of water.

Water Vehicles Rhyme

Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Float, float, float on water,
See the boats go by.
Ships and ferries sailing far,
Underneath the sky.

Canoes paddle, swift and small,
On the river’s flow.
Water vehicles, one and all,
Helping us to go!

Actions: Pupils can make rowing motions, wave hands like a boat sailing, and point to the sky.

How to use the rhyme: Sing the rhyme together, encouraging pupils to do the actions. Repeat it several times to help them remember the names of water vehicles and the concept of water transportation.

Watch and Learn About Water Transport

Let’s watch a short video to see different water vehicles in action!

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Discussion, Manipulation of Objects.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them how they came to school today. The teacher then asks if they remember other ways people can travel (e.g., by car, bus, plane). The teacher introduces the topic by asking, “Can vehicles also move on water?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, share how they came to school, recall other means of transport, and listen attentively.

Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and ready for the new lesson, linking it to prior knowledge.

Step 2: Exploring Water Transportation

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Discussing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what water transportation means: “It’s when we use special vehicles to move people and things on rivers, lakes, or the big sea.” The teacher asks if anyone has ever seen a boat or ship on water.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation and share any experiences they might have had seeing vehicles on water.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the basic concept of water transportation.

Step 3: Introducing Water Vehicles (Part 1 – Boat, Canoe)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Aid/Identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows pictures of a boat and a canoe. The teacher names them clearly and discusses their simple uses, e.g., “This is a boat, it takes people for short trips. This is a canoe, it’s smaller and people use paddles to move it.” The teacher uses toy boats for a quick demonstration in a basin of water.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures and toy boats, repeat the names “boat” and “canoe,” and watch the demonstration.

Learning Point: Pupils can identify and name a boat and a canoe.

Step 4: Introducing Water Vehicles (Part 2 – Ship, Ferry, Submarine)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Aid/Comparison

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows pictures of a ship, a ferry, and a submarine. The teacher explains their uses and differences, e.g., “A ship is very big and goes far. A ferry carries cars and people across water. A submarine goes *under* the water!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures, repeat the names “ship,” “ferry,” and “submarine,” and note the differences.

Learning Point: Pupils can identify and name a ship, ferry, and submarine.

Step 5: Rhyme and Movement

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Singing/Movement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Water Vehicles Rhyme” from the Lesson Content/Board Summary. The teacher encourages pupils to perform the actions like rowing and waving.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along with the teacher and perform the actions, reinforcing the names of water vehicles.

Learning Point: Pupils enjoy the lesson and reinforce learning through song and movement.

Step 6: Practical Activity/Video Reinforcement

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application/Observation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows the short video about water transportation. After the video, the teacher points to various water vehicles on the charts and asks pupils to name them. The teacher might also demonstrate floating a toy boat in water again, asking pupils to observe.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video, then point to and name the water vehicles shown on the charts. They observe the floating toy boat.

Learning Point: Pupils apply their knowledge to identify vehicles from pictures and a video.

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.

1. “What is water transportation?” (Moving people/things on water).
2. “Name one vehicle that moves on water.”
3. “Point to the ship on the chart.”
4. “Which water vehicle can go under the water?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate (e.g., pointing to the correct picture).

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Summarizing/Praising

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly summarizes that they learned about water transportation and different water vehicles. The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and encourages them to look out for water vehicles around them. The teacher might ask them to draw a boat at home.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, respond to praise, and prepare for the next activity.

Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Lesson Keywords

• Water – The liquid that fills rivers, lakes, and oceans.
• Transportation – The act of moving people or things from one place to another.
• Boat – A small vessel used for travelling on water.
• Ship – A very large vessel used for travelling on the sea.
• Ferry – A boat that carries passengers and vehicles across water.
• Canoe – A narrow boat moved by paddles.
• Submarine – A vessel that can travel underwater.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who are struggling, the teacher can use larger, clearer pictures, focus on only two or three main water vehicles, and provide hand-over-hand guidance when pointing. Repetition of names and uses will be key.
• Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, the teacher can ask them to name more water vehicles, describe a specific use for a ship or ferry, or identify where they might see these vehicles in Nigeria (e.g., Lagos lagoon, Calabar River). They could also draw more than one type of water vehicle.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure all instructional materials like charts, pictures, and toy boats are ready and easily accessible. If using a basin of water for demonstration, ensure it is stable and placed where all pupils can see, keeping safety in mind. Emphasize clear pronunciation of vehicle names. Encourage pupils to share their experiences, as this makes the lesson more relatable. Observe pupils’ ability to identify vehicles from pictures, as this is a key indicator of understanding. The rhyme and video are excellent tools for engagement and reinforcement, so use them enthusiastically. For the evaluation, accept simple, age-appropriate responses, focusing on recognition and basic naming.