Lesson Plan: Lesson 1 – Welcome Voices and Exam Basics

Age Group: K1 and K2 (3 to 5 years old)
Class Size: 10 children
Duration: 60 minutes
Focus Area: Greeting etiquette, stage posture, and breath-to-sound vocal starts

Learning Objectives:

• Children will be able to greet with name, eye focus, and a clear “hello” and “thank you.”

• Children will be able to start sound on a calm breath and stand tall on a stage spot.

• Children will be able to speak one short rhyme line clearly while keeping still feet.

Materials Needed:

• Floor markers or mats to indicate “stage spots”

• Visual aids for posture (e.g., “tall tree” image)

• Simple rhyme cards (e.g., “The cat sat down”)

• Calm instrumental music for warm-up and close

Procedures:

5 min Warm-up: Body + Breath

Purpose: To settle the group, awaken body awareness, and introduce belly breathing.

• Lead gentle stretches: reach arms up, roll shoulders, shake out limbs. Use imagery like “stretch like a star” or “roll like waves.”

• Guide belly “balloon” breathing: place hands on belly, breathe in through nose to “fill the balloon,” breathe out through mouth to “let the air out.”

• Invite children to make soft breath sounds (e.g., “shhh,” “ha”) to connect breath with sound gently.

15 min Technique Focus 1: Greeting Etiquette and Stage Posture

Purpose: To build confidence in greeting and introduce basic stage presence.

• Demonstrate a stage greeting: stand tall, feet still, eyes forward, say “Hello, my name is __” with a smile.

• Show posture cues: use visual aids to reinforce “tall tree” stance—feet planted, shoulders relaxed, head lifted.

• Invite children to stand on a marked “stage spot” and practice posture.

• Model saying “Hello” and “Thank you” with clear voice and calm breath.

• Invite children to take turns greeting the group using name, eye focus, and clear voice.

15 min Technique Focus 2: Breath-to-Sound Starts (Belly “Balloon” Breathing)

Purpose: To connect breath with vocal clarity and prepare for speaking tasks.

• Review belly breathing: hand on belly, slow inhale, gentle exhale.

• Demonstrate starting sound (e.g., “Ah,” “Hello”) immediately after a calm breath.

• Invite children to try breath-to-sound starts using simple words like “Hi,” “Yes,” “No.”

• Reinforce posture: remind children to stand tall and keep feet still while speaking.

• Use peer feedback or teacher observation to help children notice posture and breath control.

10 min Guided Application to Exam Task (Short Rhyme Line)

Purpose: To apply breath and posture techniques to a short speaking task.

• Introduce a short rhyme line (e.g., “The cat sat down”). Choose one with gentle rhythm and clear articulation.

• Model saying the line with belly breath, clear voice, and still feet.

• Invite children to practice the line one by one, using breath-to-sound start and stage posture.

• Guide children to focus on clarity, calmness, and stillness while speaking.

10 min Performance + Feedback

Purpose: To build performance confidence and reinforce technique through observation and feedback.

• Invite children to perform their greeting and rhyme line in small groups or pairs.

• Observe each child’s posture, breath start, and vocal clarity.

• Offer specific feedback: “You stood so tall!” or “Your hello was very clear and calm.”

• Reinforce learning: “Today we practiced starting sound with breath and standing strong on stage.”

5 min Calm Close

Purpose: To help children wind down and leave the session feeling calm and proud.

• Lead a calming breath exercise: slow belly breaths with soft “shhh” sounds.

• Invite children to sit or lie down and listen to gentle music or a soft spoken rhyme.

• Thank children for their effort and preview the next lesson: “Next time, we’ll explore how to use our voices to tell a story.”

Extension Ideas:

• Use puppets or soft toys to model greetings and posture.

• Practice breath-to-sound starts during transitions (e.g., saying “yes” or “thank you” when lining up).

• Reinforce posture with a “stage spot” game—who can stand tall the longest?