Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, prepare pictures or charts showing different Nigerian festivals and their activities, along with simple props like scarves, drums (or makeshift drums), and hats for role-play. The central idea for pupils is to understand that festivals are special times of celebration in our culture, involving unique activities like dancing and special food. Successful learning will be observed when pupils can name a festival, describe one activity, and participate joyfully in the role-play.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: First Term
Week: 9
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Social Habits
Curriculum Theme: Social Habits
Previous Lesson: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Topic: Ceremonies in Our Culture (Festival)
Subject Matter: Ceremonies in Our Culture (Festival)
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- State a simple meaning of a festival.
- Identify different types of festivals from pictures.
- Describe one or two activities involved in a festival they have attended or seen.
Affective Domain
- Express appreciation for cultural festivals.
- Show excitement about participating in festival activities.
Psychomotor Domain
- Participate in role-play activities mimicking festival celebrations.
- Demonstrate simple dance steps or actions associated with festivals.
Social Domain
- Share their experiences of festivals with classmates.
- Take turns during discussions and role-play.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
- Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Instructional Materials
- Chart showing different Nigerian festivals (e.g., New Yam Festival, Christmas, Eid al-Fitr)
- Posters depicting people celebrating with special clothes, food, and dances
- Pictures of various festival activities (dancing, drumming, eating)
- Simple props for role-play (scarves, hats, toy drums, pretend food)
- Audio of traditional music or festival songs
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson helps 4-year-olds understand and appreciate the cultural celebrations around them. Learning about festivals connects them to their community and heritage, fostering a sense of belonging and joy. It also encourages social interaction as they share experiences and participate in group activities.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils may have attended family celebrations, birthday parties, or seen people celebrating in their community. They also know about different types of food and clothing.Lesson Content/Board Summary
CEREMONIES IN OUR CULTURE (FESTIVAL)
What is a Festival?
A festival is a special time when people come together to celebrate something important. It is a happy time with lots of fun!Types of Festivals
In Nigeria, we have many types of festivals:- Harvest Festivals: Like New Yam Festival, to thank God for food.
- Cultural Festivals: To celebrate our traditions, music, and dances.
- Religious Festivals: Like Christmas (for Christians) and Eid (for Muslims).
Activities at Festivals
When people celebrate festivals, they often:- Wear special, colourful clothes.
- Dance to joyful music.
- Sing happy songs.
- Eat special, delicious food.
- Tell stories and play games.
- Drum and make music.
Festival Celebration Rhyme
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Lyrics:
Festival, festival, what a joy,Happy faces, girl and boy.
Dancing, singing, all around,
Joyful music, happy sound.
Festival, festival, what a joy,
Happy faces, girl and boy.
Actions: Clap hands, sway side to side, pretend to dance, make a happy face.
Watch and Celebrate
Key Words
- Festival – A special, happy celebration.
- Culture – Our way of life, traditions, and customs.
- Celebrate – To have a happy party for something special.
- Dance – To move your body to music.
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Introduce the concept of a festival using simple language and relatable examples from the pupils’ own experiences (e.g., “like a big party”). Use the charts and pictures to show different types of festivals and their activities, pointing out the special clothes, food, and dances. Encourage pupils to share their own experiences of festivals they have attended.
What to show or demonstrate: Display the charts and posters of festivals. Point to people dancing, eating special food, and wearing colourful attire. Demonstrate simple dance moves or actions associated with celebration.
How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce the “Festival Celebration Rhyme” after discussing festival activities. Sing it together several times, encouraging pupils to join in with the actions. The repetition helps reinforce the idea of joy and celebration.
How to use the video: Play a short segment (e.g., 1-2 minutes) from the provided YouTube video “Festivals around the World for Kids” that shows people celebrating with music and dance. Focus on the joyful atmosphere and different ways people celebrate. After watching, ask pupils what they saw people doing in the video and how they felt watching it.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can identify key elements of a festival (e.g., “dancing,” “special food”). Watch for their participation and enthusiasm during the rhyme and role-play, which indicates their understanding and appreciation of the topic.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Role-play
- Repetition
- Practical Activity
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them about happy times they have had with their families, like parties or special gatherings. “Who has been to a party or a special celebration?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by sharing brief experiences or raising their hands.
Learning Point: Pupils recall positive experiences of celebration.
Step 2: Meaning of Festival
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining/Defining
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the topic “Festivals” and explains that a festival is a very special and happy time when people celebrate something important in their culture. “A festival is like a big, happy party for everyone!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and repeat the word “Festival.”
Learning Point: Pupils understand the simple meaning of a festival.
Step 3: Types of Festivals
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Illustrating/Classifying
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows pictures/charts of different festivals (e.g., New Yam Festival, Christmas, Eid) and briefly explains what each celebrates. “Look at this picture! This is a New Yam Festival, where people celebrate new food. This is Christmas, a happy time for Christians.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures, identify familiar festivals, and name one or two types of festivals with teacher’s help.
Learning Point: Pupils recognise different types of festivals in their culture.
Step 4: Activities at Festivals
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Describing/Discussing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to discuss what people do at festivals, using pictures to illustrate activities like dancing, singing, eating special food, and wearing special clothes. “What do you see people doing in this picture? Yes, they are dancing!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils describe activities they see in the pictures and share what they or their families do during festivals.
Learning Point: Pupils can describe common activities involved in festivals.
Step 5: Festival Rhyme and Video
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcing/Visualising
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing the “Festival Celebration Rhyme” with actions. Afterwards, the teacher shows a short, relevant segment of the video on festivals to reinforce the concept of celebration.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme with actions and watch the video, pointing out things they recognise.
Learning Point: Pupils enjoy and internalise the concept of celebration through song and visual aids.
Step 6: Role-Play Festival Activities
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Facilitating/Practising
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes simple props (scarves, toy drums) and guides pupils to role-play festival activities like dancing, drumming, and pretending to share special food. The teacher plays some traditional music.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils enthusiastically participate in the role-play, mimicking festival actions.
Learning Point: Pupils physically demonstrate understanding and enjoyment of festival activities.
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 a festival? (Help them say: “A happy celebration!”)
- Show me a picture of people dancing at a festival.
- Can you tell me one thing people do at a festival?
- Let’s sing our festival rhyme one more time!
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 1 minute
Teaching Skill: Summarising
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them that festivals are special, happy times in our culture. “Remember, festivals are wonderful times to celebrate together!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and say “Yes!” or clap their hands.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and feel positive about cultural celebrations.
Lesson Keywords
- Festival – A special, happy celebration.
- Culture – Our way of life and traditions.
- Celebrate – To have a happy party for something special.
- Dance – To move your body to music.
- Music – Sounds that make us want to sing or dance.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who need extra help, the teacher can use larger, clearer pictures, provide more direct prompts, and allow them to point to answers rather than speaking. Pair them with a more confident peer during role-play.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, the teacher can ask them to name another festival they know, or describe two different activities they might see at a festival. They can also be encouraged to lead a simple dance step during role-play.
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