As a kindergarten teacher in Malaysia, you must be feeling the pressure right now, trying to make your kindergarten lesson plans. We had become used to the KSPK (Kurikulum Standard Prasekolah Kebangsaan) system. Had taken years to master it. And now, just as we thought we had it, the sudden shift to KP2026 (Kurikulum Prasekolah 2026) has changed the game entirely. Suddenly, the focus has now shifted from “what we teach” to “ how children learn”. And we have to plan our kindergarten lessons accordingly.
What we have to remember is that creating a kindergarten lesson plan in 2026 is not just about planning your “Maths” and “English” classes. It is all about an integrated curriculum. Core subjects will now be taught through Aktiviti Pembelajaran (Learning Activities). And we have to weave it into them, smartly create our kindergarten lesson plans accordingly.
KO2026 replaced KSPK as Malaysia’s national preschool curriculum framework. The core difference is that KP2026 requires the core subjects to be integrated into an activity-based learning(Aktiviti Pembelajaran). It says:
A lesson plan is the roadmap for your entire term. In the Malaysian context, a lesson plan must have these six pillars of the national curriculum.
Many experienced teachers will tell you that they plan their lessons by keeping in mind certain points, like:
| Component | What It Means |
|
Learning Objective |
What should the child be able to do by the end? Be specific. (e.g., "Name three fruits in BM and English") |
|
Duration |
How long is the activity? KP2026 recommends 40-minute blocks for core activities |
|
Theme / Topic |
The integrated theme that ties subjects together (e.g., Pasar Malam, Animals, My Family) |
|
Materials |
What props, tools, or resources do you need? Plan this to avoid classroom chaos |
|
Activity Steps |
The sequence of the lesson, ideally following the 5E model (see below) |
|
Evaluation Method |
How will you know if learning happened? Drawing, role-play, verbal response, observation |
Modern Malaysian preschools are moving away from rote memorisation. They want to engage the child’s curiosity to encourage them to find their own answers. The 5E and the 5C methods used for kindergarten lesson plans help to do exactly that. As teachers, you can keep these in mind when planning:
The 5E model helps the lesson be simple, activity-based, and Easy to manage in class. How you can do this is simply mentioned in the table below.
| Stage | What It Means | Class Example | What Children Do |
|
Engage |
Get children interested |
Show real fruits and ask, “What do you like to eat?” |
Talk, observe, share ideas |
|
Explore |
Learn by doing |
Set up a small fruit shop in class |
Touch, sort, pretend to buy/sell |
|
Explain |
Teach new words |
Say fruit names in English and BM |
Repeat, identify, answer |
|
Elaborate |
Connect to more learning |
Ask, “If I take 2 bananas, how many?” |
Count, compare, think |
|
Evaluate |
Check learning |
Ask them to draw or role-play |
Draw, speak, act |
Now, as teachers, you will have to make sure your lessons are reaching the children. To make sure of that, most experienced teachers use the 5C’s of lesson planning. So ask yourself these questions.
| 5C Skill | What It Means | Question to Ask | What to Look For |
|
Critical Thinking |
Thinking & solving problems |
Can children solve simple problems? |
Trying ideas, asking questions |
|
Creativity |
Using imagination |
Can they express their ideas? |
Drawing, storytelling, pretend play |
|
Collaboration |
Working with others |
Do they work well with friends? |
Sharing, taking turns, playing together |
|
Communication |
Speaking & listening |
Can they talk and share their thoughts? |
Speaking clearly, listening to others |
|
Character |
Good behaviour & values |
Are they kind and patient? |
Helping others, showing kindness |
Theme: Pasar Malam (The Night Market)
Target Age: 5–6 years
Duration: 60 minutes
Curriculum Pillars Covered: Communication, Humanity, Personal Skills, Science & Technology
Materials Needed: Plastic fruits, fake RM1 notes, label cards (BM + English), a simple stall setup using a classroom table
| Phase | Activity | 5E Stage | Subject Link |
|
Introduction (5 min) |
Show a "Mystery Bag" with plastic fruits and fake RM1 notes. Ask: "What do you think is inside?" |
Engage |
Communication, BM |
|
Hands-on activity (15 min) |
Set up a mini stall. Half the class "sells," half "buys." Swap roles halfway. |
Explore |
Social skills, Humanity |
|
Literacy (8 min) |
Introduce bilingual labels: "Apple / Epal," "Banana / Pisang," "Orange / Oren." Children match cards to fruits. |
Explain |
English, BM |
|
Numeracy (7 min) |
Ask: "If one apple is RM1, how much for two?" Introduce simple addition through the activity. |
Elaborate |
Mathematics |
|
Review (5 min) |
Each child draws their favourite item from the market and labels it in BM or English. |
Evaluate |
Fine motor, Literacy |
|
Wrap-up (5 Min) |
Circle time: "What did you buy today? What was your favourite?" |
Reflection |
Communication |
1. Treating activities and subjects as separate: KP2026 wants them integrated. If you find yourself writing "9:00 AM — English class" followed by "10:00 AM — Maths class" with no connecting theme, that is the old KSPK approach. Try linking them through a shared theme instead.
2. Skipping the evaluation step: Many teachers plan Engage through Elaborate, but then run out of time for Evaluate. Without it, you have no record of who understood the lesson and who needs more support. Even a 5-minute drawing activity counts.
3. Over-planning materials: Keep it simple. The Pasar Malam lesson above only needs plastic fruits, fake money, and some label cards. Complex setups waste prep time and can overwhelm children.
4. Writing vague objectives: "Children will learn about fruits" is not a learning objective. "Children will be able to name three fruits in BM and English and count up to RM3 using fake notes" is a learning objective.
The shift to KP2026 is not just a shift in the curriculum. It is a shift in teaching methods. What might feel a little bit overwhelming in the beginning will actually bring in a change that early education needs right now. Because when you start planning these integrated lessons, your classroom stops being just another place to receive instructions. It becomes a space where you learn and share knowledge. A place of discovery every day. Children then become active participants in the class, becoming more and more intrigued about learning.
A well-designed lesson plan is no longer about ticking all the boxes. It is becoming more about creating learning experiences that the child will remember. And we as teachers are the ones who will make this a reality. It would mean we have to start planning smarter and not harder. Focusing more on outcomes, observations and continuous adaptations.
With Teeny Beans, however, you get access to a ready-made curriculum. Our EYFS-aligned activity integrated curriculum is exactly the approach you are looking for. It has been designed to simplify these transitions for the teachers. Because the lesson plan you use should inspire a whole generation of early learners.
1. What are the 5 types of lesson plans?
The five types of lesson plans are:
2. What are the basic lessons for kindergarten?
Some basic topics that you need to cover for a kindergarten lesson plan are:
All are taught through play-based methods.
3. How do I write a good lesson plan?
A short guide to writing a lesson plan that works is to include the following while preparing your lesson for each topic:
4. What is the 5E model?
Is your lesson plan effective or not? This is a question teachers often ask themselves. And to do that, they need to follow the 5E model, which is: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate. This model has been effectively used to prepare lessons that keep children engaged and learning.
5. Why is lesson planning important?
It is very important to have a lesson plan ready so that teachers have everything ready, including materials to teach the child every day. This will mean less time loss preparing things in class. A well-prepared lesson plan also means that the teacher will be ready for all eventualities, thus making the lesson flexible.
6. How can teachers make lesson planning easier?
To make planning lessons easier, teachers can have ready templates, plan weekly themes, or reuse activities. Or they can use Teeny Beans for their curriculum partner for ready frameworks.
