Writing Horizontal Lines for Pre-School Level 2

Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: First Term
Week: 5
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Handwriting
Curriculum Theme: Handwriting
Previous Lesson: Simple scribbling and drawing various shapes.
Topic: Writing Horizontal Lines
Subject Matter: Horizontal Lines. Writing Horizontal Lines.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify horizontal lines when shown on a chart or board.
• Explain that horizontal lines go “across” or are “sleeping lines.”

Affective Domain

• Show interest in drawing and tracing horizontal lines.
• Listen attentively to the teacher’s instructions.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate proper sitting posture and pencil grip.
• Trace horizontal lines in the air and in a sand tray.
• Attempt to draw horizontal lines in their writing books.

Social Domain

• Participate actively in classroom activities.
• Follow simple instructions given by the teacher.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2
• Early Childhood Care and Education resources
• Suitable early-years handwriting workbook

Instructional Materials

• Whiteboard and markers
• Chart showing clear horizontal lines
• Individual writing books
• Pencils
• Erasers
• Sand tray or individual small trays with sand
• Picture cards of objects that have horizontal lines (e.g., a ladder rung, a table top, a railway track)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is crucial for 3-year-olds as it introduces a fundamental pre-writing stroke, the horizontal line. Mastering this stroke helps develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and prepares children for forming letters and numbers that incorporate horizontal movements, laying a strong foundation for future literacy.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have previously engaged in free scribbling, drawing simple shapes, and holding crayons or pencils for play. They can follow simple instructions and recognise basic directions like left and right.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

WRITING HORIZONTAL LINES

A horizontal line is a straight line that goes from left to right, like a sleeping line. It lies flat, just like the ground or the top of a table. We start a horizontal line on the left side and draw it across to the right side.

How to make a horizontal line:

1. Sit up straight.
2. Hold your pencil correctly.
3. Start from the left.
4. Draw straight across to the right.

Examples of horizontal lines:

_____
_____
_____

Key Words

• Horizontal – A line that goes straight across, like a sleeping line.
• Left – The side where we start writing.
• Right – The side where we finish writing.
• Across – Moving from one side to the other.

Horizontal Line Rhyme

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Lyrics:

Line goes left, line goes right,
Sleeping line, oh what a sight!
Start on left, then go across,
Horizontal, no more loss!
Line goes left, line goes right,
Sleeping line, so clear and bright!

Actions: Pupils use their index finger to trace a horizontal line in the air from left to right as they sing.

Watch and Practise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1883F_yQ0k

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

• Demonstration
• Guided Practice
• Play-based Learning
• Songs and Rhymes
• Picture Talk
• Repetition
• Practical Activity

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils, leads a short warm-up activity like stretching arms side to side, and asks them about lines they might have seen (e.g., on a road, on a book). The teacher then introduces the topic: “Today, we will learn about special lines that go across, called horizontal lines!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils greet the teacher, participate in the warm-up, and share their ideas about lines. They listen to the introduction of the new topic.

Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and ready for the lesson.

Step 2: Presentation of Horizontal Lines

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Visual Aid

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a chart with clear horizontal lines. The teacher explains what a horizontal line is, using simple terms like “sleeping lines” or “lines that go from left to right.” The teacher draws big horizontal lines on the whiteboard, emphasizing the direction.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the chart and the teacher drawing on the board. They repeat “horizontal line” and “left to right” after the teacher.

Learning Point: Pupils recognise and understand the concept of horizontal lines.

Step 3: Demonstration of Proper Posture and Grip

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates the correct sitting posture (back straight, feet flat) and the proper way to hold a pencil (tripod grip). The teacher then shows how to trace a horizontal line in the air using their finger and arm, starting from the left and moving to the right.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils imitate the teacher’s sitting posture and practice holding an imaginary pencil. They trace horizontal lines in the air with their fingers, following the teacher’s lead.

Learning Point: Pupils learn correct pre-writing posture and movement.

Step 4: Guided Practice (Sand Tray/Air Tracing)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Sensory Learning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes sand trays or guides pupils to use their desks/palms as a surface. The teacher guides pupils to trace horizontal lines in the sand or on their palms, saying “left to right” as they do so. The teacher sings the “Horizontal Line Rhyme” to reinforce the action.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils enthusiastically trace horizontal lines in the sand or on their palms, repeating “left to right” and singing along with the rhyme.

Learning Point: Pupils develop kinesthetic memory of the horizontal stroke.

Step 5: Video and Guided Practice (Whiteboard/Chart)

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Reinforcement/Group Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the educational video on horizontal lines. After the video, the teacher invites a few pupils to come to the whiteboard or chart to trace a horizontal line with a marker, guiding their hand if needed. The teacher provides positive feedback.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video attentively. Some pupils volunteer to trace lines on the board, while others trace in the air from their seats.

Learning Point: Pupils gain confidence through visual and group practice.

Step 6: Application (Writing Books)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Independent Practice/Supervision

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes writing books, pencils, and erasers. The teacher demonstrates how to draw horizontal lines in the book, providing a few model lines. The teacher walks around, observing pupils’ attempts, offering individual guidance, and correcting posture or grip as needed.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils attempt to draw horizontal lines in their writing books, trying to copy the given strokes. They ask for help when needed.

Learning Point: Pupils apply their learning to independent writing practice.

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 kind of line did we learn today?” (Show a horizontal line on the board).
2. “Show me with your finger how a horizontal line goes.”
3. “Can you show me your best horizontal line in your book?”
4. “What side do we start our horizontal line from?”

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: Recap/Encouragement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their efforts and good work. The teacher briefly recaps the lesson, reminding them about horizontal lines and the left-to-right movement. The teacher encourages them to look for horizontal lines around them.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the recap and receive praise. They feel encouraged.

Learning Point: Pupils leave the lesson with a sense of accomplishment and reinforced learning.

Lesson Keywords

• Horizontal – A line that goes flat across, like a sleeping line.
• Line – A long, thin mark.
• Across – From one side to the other.
• Left – The starting side.
• Right – The finishing side.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils struggling with pencil grip, provide larger, chunkier pencils or crayons. For those having difficulty with direction, use hand-over-hand guidance to trace lines in the sand or on paper. Provide fewer lines to copy in their books, focusing on quality over quantity.
• Extension: For pupils who quickly grasp the concept, encourage them to draw simple objects that contain horizontal lines, like a ladder or a table. They can also be asked to identify horizontal lines in pictures or around the classroom.