Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before the lesson, ensure you have the Nigerian flag, pictures of Nigerian children/families, and an MP3 player ready to play the National Anthem. The central idea is for pupils to recognise Nigeria as their country and themselves as Nigerians, and to begin familiarising themselves with the sound and words of the National Anthem through repetition and visual cues. Observe if pupils can point to the flag and repeat “Nigeria” and simple phrases from the anthem.
Class: Pre-School Level 1
Term: Third Term
Week: 10
Age: 2 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Social Habits
Curriculum Theme: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Previous Lesson: Learning about their family and school environment.
Topic: NIGERIA
Subject Matter: Nigeria is my country; I am a Nigerian; Reciting the National Anthem.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify Nigeria as their country when shown the flag or map.
- Recognise themselves as Nigerians.
- Repeat simple phrases from the National Anthem.
Affective Domain
- Show enthusiasm when talking about Nigeria.
- Participate in singing the National Anthem.
Psychomotor Domain
- Point to the Nigerian flag.
- Perform simple actions while singing the anthem (e.g., standing still).
Social Domain
- Participate in group activities related to national identity.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 1
- Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Instructional Materials
- Nigerian Flag
- Pictures of Nigerian children and families
- Simple map of Nigeria
- Charts and Posters displaying the Nigerian flag and children
- MP3 Player with the Nigerian National Anthem
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson introduces young children to the concept of their country, Nigeria, and their identity as Nigerians. It is crucial for building a sense of belonging and early patriotism, helping them understand their place within a larger community and fostering respect for national symbols from a tender age.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify their names, their parents, and their school. They can also follow simple instructions and participate in group songs.Lesson Content/Board Summary
NIGERIA: My Country and National Anthem
Nigeria is my country.
This is our home. Many people live here.
I am a Nigerian.
You are a Nigerian. We all live in Nigeria.
The National Anthem
This is our special song for Nigeria. We sing it to show we love our country.
First Stanza (Simplified for Pre-School Level 1):
Arise, O compatriots,
Nigeria’s call obey,
To serve our Fatherland,
With love and strength and faith.
Key Words
- Nigeria – Our country, our home.
- Nigerian – A person who lives in Nigeria.
- Anthem – Our special song for our country.
Our Nigeria Song
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Lyrics:
Nigeria, Nigeria, our home so grand,
We love our country, hand in hand.
I am Nigerian, yes I am,
Nigeria, Nigeria, our dear land!
Actions: Clap hands, point to self, hold hands together, hug self.
Watch and Practise
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Show the Nigerian flag and pictures of children. Point to the flag and say “This is Nigeria, our country.” Then point to the children in the pictures and say “They are Nigerians, just like you!” Point to yourself and then to the pupils, saying “I am a Nigerian, you are a Nigerian.” Introduce the anthem as “our special song.” Play the first stanza of the anthem from the MP3 player and slowly repeat the simplified lines, encouraging pupils to listen and echo.
What to show or demonstrate: Display the Nigerian flag prominently. Show a simple map of Nigeria (if available). Point to the flag and pictures as you speak. Demonstrate standing still respectfully when the anthem is played.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing “Our Nigeria Song” several times with the pupils, encouraging them to perform the actions. Make it fun and repetitive to help them remember “Nigeria” and “Nigerian.”
How to use the video: Play the provided YouTube video of the Nigerian National Anthem for Kids. Encourage pupils to watch the visuals and listen to the song. After watching, play it again and encourage them to hum along or repeat any words they remember.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can point to the flag when asked “Where is Nigeria?” or “What is this?” Look for their participation in repeating the phrases and singing the song. Correct pronunciation gently and encourage all attempts.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Repetition, Imitation, Question and Answer.Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets pupils warmly and leads them in a familiar welcome song. The teacher then shows a large picture of the Nigerian flag and asks, “Do you know what this is?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, sing the welcome song, and observe the flag, some may guess or point.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and introduced to the visual symbol of Nigeria.
Step 2: Presentation of “Nigeria is my country”
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Identification/Repetition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher points to the Nigerian flag and says clearly, “This is our country, Nigeria! Say ‘Nigeria’.” The teacher repeats this several times, encouraging pupils to echo. The teacher also shows a simple map of Nigeria and says, “This is where we live, in Nigeria.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the flag and map, and repeat “Nigeria” after the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils begin to associate the name “Nigeria” with the flag and the concept of their country.
Step 3: Presentation of “I am a Nigerian”
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Self-identification
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher points to themselves and says, “I am a Nigerian.” Then the teacher points to individual pupils and says, “You are a Nigerian too!” The teacher encourages pupils to point to themselves and say, “I am a Nigerian.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils point to themselves and repeat “I am a Nigerian” with guidance.
Learning Point: Pupils identify themselves as Nigerians.
Step 4: Introducing the National Anthem
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Auditory Recognition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains, “Every country has a special song. Our special song for Nigeria is called the National Anthem.” The teacher plays the first stanza of the National Anthem from the MP3 player, asking pupils to listen carefully.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively to the National Anthem.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that the anthem is a special song for Nigeria and listen to its melody.
Step 5: Guided Recitation of the Anthem (First Stanza)
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Repetition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the anthem again, pausing after each short phrase of the first stanza (e.g., “Arise, O compatriots,” “Nigeria’s call obey”) and encourages pupils to repeat. The teacher demonstrates standing respectfully.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils attempt to repeat the phrases after the teacher and imitate standing respectfully.
Learning Point: Pupils begin to learn and repeat parts of the National Anthem.
Step 6: Reinforcement with Song and Video
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Engagement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing “Our Nigeria Song” with actions. Then, the teacher plays the verified YouTube video of the Nigerian National Anthem for Kids, encouraging pupils to watch and listen.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing “Our Nigeria Song” with actions and watch the video, trying to sing along or hum.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their learning through song and visual media, making the lesson more engaging.
Step 7: Evaluation/Review
Time: 4–5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.
- “What is our country called?” (Show flag)
- “Who are you?” (Point to self)
- “Can you show me the Nigerian flag?”
- “Let’s sing a part of our special song (the anthem) together!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarisation/Closure
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises pupils for their participation and reminds them that they are all proud Nigerians. The teacher ends the lesson with a final singing of “Our Nigeria Song.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to praise and sing the song one last time.
Learning Point: Pupils leave with a positive feeling about their national identity.
Lesson Keywords
- Nigeria – The name of our country.
- Nigerian – A person who comes from Nigeria.
- Anthem – A special song that represents our country.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who struggle, provide more one-on-one repetition of “Nigeria” and “I am a Nigerian.” Use hand-over-hand gestures to help them point to the flag or themselves. Focus only on the first line of the anthem for repetition.
- Extension: Encourage pupils who grasp the concepts quickly to say “Nigeria is my country” independently. Ask them to identify the colours on the Nigerian flag.
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