Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade R

Lesson Video

This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.

For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.

Performance objectives

• In Grade R, understanding our feelings and how to make and keep friends is super important for growing up happy and healthy. This week, we're going to explore different feelings like happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. We’ll learn how to recognize these feelings in ourselves and others. We will also focus on what it means to be a good friend, how to share, and how to solve small problems with our friends. This matters because when we understand our feelings, we can manage them better, and when we know how to be good friends, we create a happy and safe environment for everyone around us in our schools, homes, and communities in South Africa. It is also linked to the CAPS Life Skills outcomes of promoting self-awareness, interpersonal skills, and responsible decision-making.
• Learning Objectives:
• LO1: Identify and name at least four basic feelings (happy, sad, angry, scared). (CAPS: Personal and Social Well-being) - Measurable by observing their responses during feeling recognition activities.*
• LO2: Demonstrate understanding of what makes someone a good friend (sharing, helping, listening). (CAPS: Social Responsibility) - Measurable through role-playing activities and class discussions.*
• LO3: Participate in a group activity, demonstrating sharing and taking turns. (CAPS: Interpersonal Relationships) - Measurable by observing behaviour during group activities like playing with blocks or doing puzzles together.*

Lesson summary

In Grade R, understanding our feelings and how to make and keep friends is super important for growing up happy and healthy. This week, we're going to explore different feelings like happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. We’ll learn how to recognize these feelings in ourselves and others. We will also focus on what it means to be a good friend, how to share, and how to solve small problems with our friends. This matters because when we understand our feelings, we can manage them better, and when we know how to be good friends, we create a happy and safe environment for everyone around us in our schools, homes, and communities in South Africa.

Lesson notes

Let's dive deeper into understanding feelings and friendships: Feelings: Feelings are the emotions we experience inside of us. They can be happy, sad, angry, scared, or many other things. Everyone feels these emotions sometimes, and it's okay to feel them. Recognizing our feelings is the first step to managing them in a healthy way.

Happiness: Feeling happy is when we are glad, joyful, and content. We might smile, laugh, and want to play.

Example:* Thando feels happy when she plays with her friends at break time.

Sadness: Feeling sad is when we are upset, disappointed, or down. We might cry or feel quiet.

Example:* Sipho feels sad when his favorite toy breaks.

Anger: Feeling angry is when we are upset, frustrated, or annoyed. We might shout, stomp our feet, or clench our fists. It’s important to learn how to express anger in a safe way.

Example:* Aisha feels angry when someone takes her crayon without asking.

Fear: Feeling scared is when we are afraid of something. We might tremble, hide, or scream.

Example:* Musa feels scared when he hears a loud thunderstorm.

Friendship: Friendship is a special relationship we have with people we like and care about. Good friends are kind, helpful, and supportive. They share, listen, and play together.

Being a Good Friend: Sharing: Letting others use our things, like toys or crayons.

Example:* Lerato shares her building blocks with David.

Helping: Doing kind things for others, like helping them up when they fall or carrying their books.

Example:* Zanele helps Khaya tie his shoelaces.

Listening: Paying attention when others are talking and trying to understand what they are saying.

Example:* Neo listens carefully when Simphiwe tells him about her weekend.

Kindness: Being nice and respectful to others. Using polite words like "please" and "thank you".

Example:* Emily says "please" when asking for a turn on the swing.

Solving Problems with Friends: Sometimes, friends disagree or have conflicts. It's important to learn how to solve these problems peacefully.

Talking it Out: Talking about the problem and listening to each other's point of view.

Example:* Two friends are fighting over a toy car. They can talk about why they both want it and try to find a solution, like taking turns.

Compromising: Finding a solution that makes everyone happy.

Example:* One friend wants to play with dolls, and the other wants to play with cars. They can compromise by playing with dolls for a while and then playing with cars.

Apologizing: Saying sorry when we have done something wrong.

Example:* If one friend accidentally hurts another, they should say "I'm sorry."

Worked example

Scenario: Sindi is playing with her doll, and Thabo wants to play with it too, but Sindi doesn't want to share.

Feeling: Sindi is possibly feeling possessive (wanting to keep the doll to herself). Thabo is feeling a want for the doll (desire to play with it).

Solution: The teacher can encourage Sindi to share for a short time and explain that sharing makes Thabo happy. They can also find another doll or toy for Thabo to play with while Sindi is playing with her doll.

Scenario: Peter accidentally pushes Nomusa while running, and Nomusa falls and starts crying.

Feeling: Peter might feel sorry or guilty. Nomusa is feeling hurt and sad.

Solution: Peter should apologize to Nomusa for pushing her. The teacher can help Nomusa feel better by comforting her and checking if she is hurt.

Scenario: Two children are drawing, and one child takes all the red crayons.

Feeling: The child who took the crayon feels like using red color; The child who wanted the red crayon may feel frustrated or sad.

Solution: The teacher can remind the child who took all the crayons about the importance of sharing and encourage them to give some red crayons back to their friend.

Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Identify the feeling.

Picture: A child with a big smile.

Solution: Happy.

Commentary: The big smile is a clear indication of happiness.

Question 2: What is one thing you can do to be a good friend?

Solution: Share my toys with my friends.

Commentary: Sharing is a key component of friendship.

Question 3: Sarah is angry because John broke her crayon. What should Sarah do?

Solution: Sarah should tell John that she is angry and ask him to be more careful next time.

Commentary: It's important to express feelings calmly.