Lesson Plan Title: Grade 1 Home Language (CAPS aligned): “Celebrating ‘Me'”
Materials Needed:
1. Classroom mirror
2. ‘All about Me’ worksheet templates
3. Assortment of crayons in diverse skin tones
4. Poster paper and markers
5. Age and level-appropriate children’s book: “I Like Myself!” by Karen Beaumont.
Learning Objectives:
1. Learners will confidently utilise vocabulary related to personal descriptors (name, age, etc.).
2. Learners will express feelings and interests in comprehensible sentences.
3. Learners will construct and present basic sentences about themselves utilising the learnt vocabulary.
4. Learners will strengthen their ability to express their identity to others.
Vocabulary:
1. Myself: Direct reference to oneself.
2. Feelings: Personal emotional state or response.
3. Interests: Activities or topics a person finds enjoyable.
4. Age: The length of time a person has lived, represented in years.
5. Name: The word or set of words by which a person is identified.
Prior Knowledge:
Learners have prior experience with basic greetings, expressions of feelings, and rudimentary vocabulary related to daily life aspects such as family and home.
Potential Challenges and Remedies:
Challenge: Some learners may feel inhibited or find it difficult to express themselves.
Solution: Foster participation by nurturing a safe and inclusive environment, thereby engendering comfort. Validate all responses to emphasise the individuality of each learner.
Starting Activities (4 minutes):
Initiate the topic by peering into the classroom mirror and stating, “Today, we’re going to have a chat about the most exciting person: ME!” Encourage individual learners to echo this briefly.
Main Activities (32 minutes):
1. Interactive Story Time (10 minutes): Orate the book “I Like Myself!” encouraging active listening.
2. Discussion (8 minutes): In the aftermath of the reading session, commence a discussion related to the narrative. Propose questions such as, “What do you appreciate about yourself?”
3. Self-portrait Exercise (10 minutes): Distribute the ‘All about Me’ worksheets. Prompt learners to illustrate themselves and compose/dictate sentences citing their age, interests, feelings, etc.
4. Presentation Slot (4 minutes): Invite a few learners to showcase their self-portraits to the class.
Closing Activities (4 minutes):
Conclude by emphasising, “Every single one of us holds unique traits and value. I am special, and you are special too!” Encourage the class to reaffirm these sentiments about themselves and their classmates.
Assessment and Verification of Understanding:
1. Circulate awareness to gauge learners’ understanding during the post-reading discussion.
2. Inspect the completed self-portraits for accurate application of the focus vocabulary.
3. Actively listen for clear articulation of thoughts during the presentation phase.
Differentiation Techniques:
For struggling learners, impart sentence starters such as “I am…” or “I like….” For more advanced learners, motivate them to use comprehensive sentences or share more detailed personal information.
Teaching Suggestions:
It is crucial to foster an inclusive environment, as learners will be sharing personal details. Utilise the mirror as a tangible prompt to signal whose turn it is to speak. Confirm that the choice of verbs and adjectives used in the discussion are digestible for Grade 1 pupils. Be sure to appreciate each child’s distinctive self-expression to cultivate a sense of self-worth and a positive group dynamic.
Cross-Curriculum Connection: This lesson provides the groundwork for Life Orientation (exploring personal identity) and Mathematics (age as a number concept).
Indigenous Knowledge Integration: Engage a brief discussion on how different traditional South African cultures celebrate individuality, as an extension of the lesson’s theme.
Safety Measures: Ensure a safe emotional space for each learner. Irrespective of their pace or ability, each child’s expression must be respected and appreciated.