Lesson Plan: Grade R Life Skills – Water

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  1. Lesson Plan Title: “Grade R Life Skills: Recognising the Uses and Characteristics of Water”

  2. Materials Needed: A large and shallow tub of water, a range of small natural objects (such as stones, leaves), preschool-friendly cups, towels for cleanup, laminated pictures illustrating various uses of water.


  3. Learning Objectives:

    • LO1: Learners will recognise multiple uses of water.
    • LO2: Learners will grasp the idea of buoyancy by exploring the concept of sinking and floating.
    • LO3: Learners will participate in a tactile and interactive water activity.
    • LO4: Learners will gain an introductory understanding of water conservation.
  4. Key Terms: Sink, float, water, conserve, valuable.

  5. Prior Learning: Learners have studied different natural resources available in their environment.



  6. Potential Challenges and Solutions: Some learners might have limited previous experience with water or may harbour fears about it. Introduce the properties and uses of water gently and progressively, using both images and the interactive water activity.



  7. Beginning Activities (5 minutes): Use photographic visuals to illustrate different uses of water (drinking, cleaning, irrigation, etc.). Pose an open-ended question to learners about what these images have in common, leading them to identify the theme “water”.


  8. Middle Activities (30 minutes):

    • Explicit Instruction (10 minutes): Prompt a discussion about the origins and uses of water, highlighting its importance, and using the picture cards as visual aids.
    • Guided Practice (10 minutes): Arrange the large tub of water and demonstrate the concept of buoyancy – sinking and floating – utilising different objects. Encourage learners to predict outcomes before throwing the objects into the water.
    • Individual Practice (10 minutes): Provide a chance for children to experiment hands-on with the water and objects, forming predictions and noting actual sink/float outcomes.
  9. End Activities (5 minutes): Highlight the lesson by revisiting the vital role of water in our day-to-day lives. Stress the concept of water conservation and encourage learners to suggest one practical step to save water within their daily routines.

  10. Assessment and Progress Checks:

    • Use continuous questioning throughout the lesson to gauge understanding with regard to the uses and importance of water.
    • Assess learners on their ability to accurately classify objects as sinking or floating.
  11. Differentiation Strategies: Extend faster learners by requesting they classify objects based on their buoyancy, explaining their rationale. Use visual cues and individualised discussion to support learners who need additional help.

  12. Pedagogical Notes:

    • Ensure learners’ safety during the water activities. Consider potential slip hazards and keep activities calm and orderly.
    • Use this topic as a building block towards Environmental Sciences (natural resources).
    • Maintain an inviting and engaging learning environment to foster positive associations with water and its many applications.
    • Consider introducing an Indigenous Knowledge System aspect by discussing traditional South African customs involving water use.
  13. Extended Opportunities:
    • Integrate technology by using a tablet to show a short video clip on water conservation.
    • Facilitate a mini field trip to a nearby body of water or visit a water treatment facility.
    • Encourage learners to role-play situations to use or save water at home (e.g., role play opening and closing a tap).