Class: Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3, JSS 3)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 5
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Pre-Vocational Studies
Curriculum Theme: Home Economics
Previous Lesson: Consumer Challenges and Rights
Topic: Child Development And Care (Part 1)
Subject Matter: Meaning of child development, Stages of child development, Care of the child.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:
(a) State the stages of child development.
(b) Explain ways of caring for a child at different stages of development.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the importance of proper care and attention to children during their growth stages.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Demonstrate basic practices in child care such as bathing and feeding techniques using dolls or visual aids.
Social Domain:
(a) Work cooperatively in groups to discuss the needs of children at various stages of development.

Reference Materials

The following resources was used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
Lagos State Unified Scheme of work for Junior Secondary Schools
UNICEF – “Early Childhood Development” (https://www.unicef.org/early-childhood-development)
Wikipedia – Child development
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing stages of child development
Baby dolls or mannequins for demonstration
Picture cards showing children at different ages
Samples of baby care materials (feeding bottle, diaper, towel, soap)
Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how children grow and change over time and how to care for them properly to promote healthy development.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have seen babies, toddlers, and older children around them and are familiar with how they look, act, and grow differently.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Child Development and Care

Meaning of Child Development

Child development refers to the gradual physical, mental, emotional, and social growth of a child from birth to adulthood. It involves changes in the body, behaviour, and ability to adapt to the environment.

The following are aspects of child development:

Physical development – growth in height, weight, and body structure.
Mental development – development of thinking, memory, and understanding.
Emotional development – ability to express and control feelings properly.
Social development – learning to relate and interact with others.

Stages of Child Development

A child passes through several stages from birth to maturity. Each stage has unique features and needs that must be properly cared for.

The stages of child development include:

Infancy (0–2 years): Rapid growth; the child learns to crawl, walk, and talk.
Early childhood (2–6 years): The child becomes active, curious, and learns through play.
Middle childhood (6–12 years): The child develops reasoning, social skills, and independence.
Adolescence (12–18 years): The body changes during puberty; the child becomes more self-aware and responsible.

Care of the Child

Proper care helps a child grow healthy, strong, and emotionally balanced. Each stage of development requires special attention.

The following are ways of caring for a child:

Provide nutritious food suitable for the child’s age.
Keep the child clean and well-groomed through regular bathing.
Ensure the child sleeps and rests well.
Provide love, affection, and a sense of security.
Ensure medical check-ups and immunizations.
Provide opportunities for play and learning.
Correct and guide the child in a kind and understanding way.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Explanation, Storytelling, Group Work, Question and Answer

Instructional Procedures

To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows a picture of a baby and an older child and asks pupils to describe their differences in size and behaviour.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe and describe the differences.
Learning Point: Pupils become curious about how children grow and develop.

Step 2: Meaning of Child Development

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of child development and its main aspects.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and take notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that development involves physical, mental, emotional, and social changes.

Step 3: Stages of Child Development

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the stages of child development and uses charts to explain each stage.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and discuss each stage in groups.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify the main stages of child development.

Step 4: Care of the Child

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates child care activities like bathing and feeding using dolls or pictures.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in demonstration or explain how care is given at home.
Learning Point: Pupils understand and can describe proper child care practices.

Step 5: Note-Taking

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes the board summary and guides pupils to copy into their notes.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy notes into their exercise books.
Learning Point: Pupils have a complete written record of the lesson.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Mention two stages of child development.
State two aspects of child development.
List three ways of caring for a child.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer the questions orally.
Learning Point: Pupils recall and apply what they have learned.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson and advises pupils to show care and love to younger ones at home.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and respond.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate the importance of caring for children.

Lesson Keywords

Development – the gradual growth and change in a person.
Infancy – the first stage of life from birth to about two years.
Adolescence – the period of growth from childhood to adulthood.
Nutrition – the process of providing food needed for health and growth.
Care – the act of providing what someone needs to stay safe and healthy.

Differentiation

Provide visual aids and demonstrations for visual learners, discussions for auditory learners, and practical tasks for kinesthetic learners. Offer extra guidance for slower learners.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that pupils participate actively during demonstrations. Use simple, real-life examples to explain each stage of development and emphasize moral and emotional care for children.