Lesson Plan: Lesson 12 – Monkey: Jungle Questions

Age Group: K1 and K2 (3 to 5 years old)
Class Size: 10 children
Duration: 60 minutes
Focus Area: Eye focus to story targets, short factual answers, full 4-step monkey story in sequence

Learning Objectives:

• Children will be able to track the story with their eyes.

• Children will be able to answer where the monkey is and how it gets the banana.

• Children will be able to act out the full 4-step monkey story in order without rushing.

Materials Needed:

• Floor markers to define imagined jungle zones: “tree,” “branch,” “banana spot,” “resting place”

• Visual aids: simple icons/pictures for tree, branch, banana, mouth; “eyes-to-target” cue

• Soft instrumental music for movement and freeze cues

• Suggested prop prompts (pictures only; mime actions in air)

• Chime or soft drum for start/stop cues 

Procedures:

5 min Warm-up: Body + Breath

Purpose: To settle the group, awaken body awareness, and prepare breath for silent movement.

• - Gentle stretches: reach arms up like tall trees, roll shoulders, bend and straighten knees.

• - Belly breathing: hands on belly; inhale through nose, exhale gently through mouth.

• - Eye-focus wake-up: teacher points to four corners; children move only eyes first, then small head turns; finish with a calm “hmm” face and still feet. 

15 min Technique Focus 1: Gaze Targets to “Tree/Branch/Banana”

Purpose: To help children use gaze and small head turns to show attention and intention in the monkey story.

• - Set the jungle map:

  •   - Place floor markers/wall cards for TREE (left), BRANCH (above/front), BANANA (right), MOUTH (center).

• - Demonstrate the eye path:

  •   - Eyes lead, head follows slightly, body stays quiet: TREE → BRANCH → BANANA → MOUTH.

• - Micro-drills (copy after teacher):

  •   1. Point eyes to TREE (hold 2 counts) → return to center.

  •   2. Eyes lift to BRANCH (hold 2) → return.

  •   3. Eyes slide to BANANA (hold 2) → return.

  •   4. Eyes to MOUTH (pretend bite target) (hold 2) → return.

• - Link the path smoothly:

  •   - TREE → BRANCH → BANANA → MOUTH in one slow flow; repeat twice.

• - Add small body cues:

  •   - Tiny chin lift to branch; small hand shape “C” near chest to suggest future grab (no big actions yet).

• - Clarity rules:

  •   - No talking; show with eyes.

  •   - Still feet; soft shoulders; count 1–2 for each target. 

15 min Technique Focus 2: Short Answers about Habitat and Getting Food

Purpose: To help children speak brief, clear facts linked to matching mime.

Part A: Habitat (Where is the monkey?)

• - Teacher Q: “Where is the monkey?”

  • Model answers:

  •     - “In the jungle.” → gesture: wide arms showing trees.

  •     - “In a tree.” → gesture: one arm up like a trunk, other arm branches.

• - Invite children to say the short answer, then make the matching gesture. Practice twice with calm voices.

Part B: Getting Food (How does it get the banana?)

• - Teacher Q: “How does the monkey get the banana?”

  •   - Model short answers with simple mime beats:

  •     - “It looks at the branch.” → eyes up to branch (hold 2).

  •     - “It reaches and grabs.” → one clean reach-and-close (no swing).

  •     - “It peels, then eats.” → two small peel pulls; tiny pretend bite to mouth.

• - Pair voice with action:

  •   - Say the answer first, then do the action on a 1–2 count.

• - Reinforce pacing and clarity:

  •   - One idea at a time; slow, visible actions; friendly volume; still feet between steps.

10 min Guided Application to Exam Task (4-Step Monkey Story Sequence)

Purpose: To combine gaze, short answers, and mime into a smooth, ordered performance.

Introduce the 4-step story and model with counts:

• 1. Look around the jungle (habitat answer)

• Say: “In the jungle (or in a tree).”

• Mime: show the tree space; eyes to TREE.

• 2. Eyes to branch, then banana

• Say: “It looks at the branch.”

• Mime: eyes up to BRANCH → slide to BANANA.

• 3. Reach and grab; peel

• Say: “It reaches and grabs.” “It peels.”

• Mime: one precise reach-and-close → two slow peel pulls (1–2 each).

• 4. Eat and finish statue

• Say: “It eats.”

• Mime: small bite → chew 1–2–3 → playful still statue for 2 counts (soft smile, tall body, quiet feet). 

• Group practice

• - Run small groups (3–4 children) across a short marked pathway; one mover per lane.

• - Use chime cues between steps; remind the eye path TREE → BRANCH → BANANA → MOUTH each round.

10 min Performance + Feedback

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

• Invite children to perform the 4-step story one at a time on the performance spot.

• Observe:

• Clear eye tracking through TREE → BRANCH → BANANA → MOUTH.

• Short, correct answers linked to each action.

• Ordered sequence without rushing; visible pauses between steps.

• Playful still finish for 2 counts.

• Feedback phrases:

• “I saw your eyes travel tree → branch → banana → mouth—so clear!”

• “Your answer ‘in the jungle’ matched your big tree gesture.”

• “Great slow peel before you ate.”

• “Lovely playful statue—very still.”

• Celebrate effort; keep cues concise and positive.

5 min Calm Close

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

• “Jungle rest”: sit tall, inhale through nose; exhale slowly while arms float down like leaves.

• Quiet gaze: look to TREE, then close eyes for two calm breaths.

• Thank children for their effort and preview the next lesson.

Extension Ideas:

• Eye-path trails: place small icons around the room and call “tree → branch → banana → mouth” for quick focus drills.

• Q&A cards: children draw a card (“Where?” “How?”) and give a short answer with the matching gesture.

• Sequence game: teacher mixes steps; class puts them back in order before acting.