Grade 3 My Family Lesson Plan: Life Skills

Lesson Plan Title:
Grade 3 Life Skills Lesson Plan: My Family

Materials Needed:
– Chart paper and markers
– Family tree templates
– Crayons and colouring pencils
– Scissors and glue
– Pictures of family members (students may bring from home)
– Digital projector and computer (optional)
– “My Family” worksheet
– “All About My Family” book (CAPS approved)

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Identify different family members and their roles.
2. Describe the structure of their own families.
3. Recognize the importance of family in providing love, support, and care.

Vocabulary:
1. Family – A group of people related to each other.
2. Parents – A mother and father.
3. Sibling – A brother or sister.
4. Grandparents – The parents of one’s parents.
5. Cousin – A child of one’s uncle or aunt.

Previous Learning:
Students have learnt about their immediate environment and personal identities. They have discussed their interests, favourite activities, and understanding of personal relationships.

Anticipated Challenges and Solutions:
Challenge: Students from diverse family backgrounds may feel uncomfortable sharing.
Solution: Emphasise that all family structures are equally valuable. Provide examples of various family types to ensure inclusivity.
Challenge: Some students may struggle with creating the family tree.
Solution: Provide additional support and have a helping buddy system for peer assistance.

Beginning Activities (4 minutes):
1. Greet students and briefly review previous lessons on personal identity.
2. Introduce the topic “My Family” and outline the learning objectives.
3. Ask a few students to share one thing they love about their families to activate prior knowledge.

Middle Activities (32 minutes):
1. Direct Instruction (10 minutes):
– Discuss different types of families using a chart or projector (nuclear, extended, single-parent, blended).
– Show pictures representing various family structures.

  1. Guided Practice (12 minutes):
  2. Hand out “My Family” worksheets.
  3. Guide students in filling out the worksheet, including spaces for drawing and labelling family members.

  4. Independent Practice (10 minutes):

  5. Distribute family tree templates.
  6. Allow students time to create their own family trees, using pictures and/or drawings. Circulate the room to provide support as needed.

End Activities (4 minutes):
1. Ask students to share their family trees with a partner.
2. Summarise the key points about families and their importance.
3. Conduct an exit ticket activity where students write one thing they learnt about families today.

Assessment and Checks for Understanding:
Formative Assessment: Observe students during guided and independent practice. Provide feedback.
Summative Assessment: Review completed worksheets and family trees.
Exit Ticket: Collect students’ written reflections to assess understanding.

Differentiation Strategies for Diverse Learners:
Scaffolding: Offer additional visual aids and a word bank for students who struggle with vocabulary.
Extension: Provide more complex family tree templates for advanced students, asking them to include extended family members.

Teaching Notes:
– Emphasise the respect and value of all family types.
– Encourage sharing and participation but also respect students’ privacy regarding sensitive family details.
– Ensure that materials like scissors and glue are accessible to students with fine motor difficulties or provide assistance.


This lesson plan aligns with the CAPS curriculum for Grade 3 Life Skills, aiming to help students understand and appreciate the concept of family in a supportive and inclusive environment.