Differences Between History and Story Telling for JSS 1

Class: Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS 1)
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 12
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: History
Curriculum Theme: History
Previous Lesson: Sources of History: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources
Topic: Differences Between History and Story Telling
Subject Matter: differences between History and story telling, History as time-based and factual, historical facts about Nigeria

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Define History and Storytelling.
• State at least three differences between History and Storytelling.
• Identify History as a time-based and factual account of past events.
• List at least two historical facts about Nigeria.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of accurate historical records.
• Develop an interest in learning about Nigeria’s past.

Psychomotor Domain

• Participate actively in discussions about historical events.

Social Domain

• Collaborate with peers to discuss the characteristics of History and Storytelling.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum.
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work.
• An approved Junior Secondary textbook for the subject.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• A chart showing definitions of History and Storytelling.
• Pictures or illustrations depicting historical events.
• Textbooks on Nigerian History.
• Whiteboard and markers.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps students understand the fundamental nature of History as a discipline, distinguishing it from mere storytelling. It lays a crucial foundation for appreciating the importance of facts, evidence, and chronology in understanding past events, which is essential for their future studies in History.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have a basic understanding of what the past is and may have heard stories or accounts of past events from their parents or elders.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Differences Between History and Story Telling

What is History?

History is the study of past events, particularly in human affairs. It is a systematic and factual account of what happened in the past, based on evidence and sources. History seeks to understand how societies, cultures, and individuals have changed over time.

• Factual: History deals with real events, real people, and real places.
• Time-based (Chronological): Events in history are arranged in the order in which they happened, from the earliest to the most recent. This helps us understand cause and effect.
• Evidence-based: Historians use sources like written documents, artifacts, oral traditions, and archaeological findings to reconstruct the past.
• Purpose: To understand the past, learn lessons, and explain the present.

What is Storytelling?

Storytelling is the act of telling a tale or narrative, often for entertainment, moral instruction, or to pass on cultural values. Stories can be real or imagined, and they do not always require strict adherence to facts or a specific timeline.

• Can be Fictional: Stories often involve imaginary characters, places, and events.
• Not always time-based: While stories have a sequence, they don’t always follow strict chronological order or historical accuracy.
• Not always evidence-based: Stories can be created from imagination without needing proof.
• Purpose: To entertain, teach a moral, or preserve cultural beliefs.

Key Differences Between History and Storytelling

While both History and storytelling involve narratives about the past, they have fundamental differences:

• Accuracy and Facts:
  • History: Must be accurate and based on verified facts and evidence. It aims for objective truth.
  • Storytelling: Can be fictional or exaggerated. Its primary goal is not always factual accuracy.
• Evidence and Sources:
  • History: Relies heavily on verifiable evidence such as documents, artifacts, eyewitness accounts, and archaeological findings.
  • Storytelling: Often relies on imagination, tradition, or personal interpretation, without necessarily needing proof.
• Time and Chronology:
  • History: Events are presented in a specific chronological order (time-based) to show development and cause-and-effect relationships.
  • Storytelling: While stories have a sequence, they may not strictly adhere to historical timelines or dates.
• Purpose:
  • History: Aims to explain, analyze, and interpret the past to understand the present and guide the future.
  • Storytelling: Primarily aims to entertain, teach moral lessons, or transmit cultural values.
• Objectivity vs. Subjectivity:
  • History: Strives for objectivity, presenting events as they happened, supported by evidence.
  • Storytelling: Can be highly subjective, reflecting the storyteller’s perspective, emotions, or imagination.

History as Time-Based and Factual

History is fundamentally time-based because understanding the sequence of events is crucial to understanding their causes and effects. For example, knowing that the Nigerian Civil War happened after independence helps us understand its context. It is factual because it deals with verifiable events and information, not made-up tales.

Historical Facts About Nigeria

These are examples of real events that happened in Nigeria’s past, supported by evidence:

• Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960.
• The Northern and Southern Protectorates were amalgamated in 1914 by Lord Lugard to form what is now Nigeria.
• The Nigerian Civil War (Biafran War) took place from 1967 to 1970.
• Lagos was the capital of Nigeria until 1991 when Abuja became the new capital.
• Many ancient kingdoms like the Oyo Empire, Benin Kingdom, and Kanem-Bornu Empire existed in the geographical area now known as Nigeria long before colonial rule.

Suggested Lesson Video

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Question and Answer, Group Work, Guided Practice.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging learners, Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them to share any interesting stories they have heard from their parents or elders. The teacher then asks if these stories are always true or if some are just for fun.

Students’ Activity: Students share stories and discuss whether they are true or fictional.

Learning Point: Students are introduced to the idea that not all narratives about the past are the same.

Step 2: Defining History and Storytelling

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation, Definition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the topic “Differences Between History and Story Telling” and guides students to define History as the study of past events based on facts and evidence, and Storytelling as telling tales that can be real or imagined.

Students’ Activity: Students listen, contribute to definitions, and write down the definitions in their notes.

Learning Point: Students understand the basic definitions of History and Storytelling.

Step 3: History as Factual and Time-Based

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation, Elaboration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains that History is always factual and time-based, meaning events are arranged in the order they happened. The teacher gives simple examples of historical facts.

Students’ Activity: Students listen and ask questions for clarification, noting down key characteristics of History.

Learning Point: Students grasp that History relies on facts and follows a chronological order.

Step 4: Characteristics of Storytelling

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation, Comparison

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the characteristics of storytelling, emphasizing that stories can be fictional, may not follow strict timelines, and are often for entertainment or moral lessons.

Students’ Activity: Students listen and compare these characteristics with those of History.

Learning Point: Students understand the flexible and often imaginative nature of storytelling.

Step 5: Comparing History and Storytelling

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guiding discussion, Facilitation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides learners to discuss the differences between History and storytelling, focusing on facts, evidence, time, and purpose. The teacher uses a chart or the board to list these differences.

Students’ Activity: Students discuss in groups or as a class, identifying and listing the differences between History and storytelling.

Learning Point: Students can articulate the main distinctions between History and storytelling.

Step 6: Application with Nigerian Historical Facts

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application, Example-giving

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides examples of historical facts about Nigeria (e.g., Independence in 1960, Amalgamation in 1914) and asks students why these are considered History and not just stories.

Students’ Activity: Students identify why the given Nigerian facts are historical and not mere stories, reinforcing their understanding.

Learning Point: Students apply their understanding to real-world historical examples.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is History?
2. What is storytelling?
3. State two differences between History and storytelling.
4. Why is History considered time-based and factual?
5. Mention two historical facts about Nigeria.

Students’ Activity: Students answer orally and in writing as appropriate.

Learning Point: Students demonstrate understanding and application of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarizing, Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, reiterating the importance of distinguishing between factual History and imaginative storytelling. The teacher assigns homework: “Find out one historical event from your local community and write a short paragraph about it, stating why it is History and not just a story.”

Students’ Activity: Students listen to the summary and copy down the homework.

Learning Point: Students consolidate their learning and are encouraged to apply it further.

Lesson Keywords

• History – The study of past events, based on facts and evidence.
• Storytelling – The act of telling a tale or narrative, often for entertainment, which can be real or imagined.
• Factual – Based on real events and verifiable information.
• Time-based (Chronological) – Arranged in the order in which events happened.
• Evidence – Information or objects that prove something is true.
• Fiction – Something invented or imagined, not true.

Differentiation

For learners needing support: The teacher can provide simpler definitions and focus on one or two key differences between History and storytelling. Visual aids like a simple chart comparing “Real vs. Imagined” and “Dates vs. No Dates” can be used. Students can work in pairs to identify differences.

For faster learners: These students can be challenged to research and present an additional historical fact about Nigeria or their local community, explaining the sources of their information. They can also be asked to explain why it is important for historians to be objective.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have clear definitions of History and storytelling ready, perhaps on a chart. Prepare a few simple, verifiable Nigerian historical facts to use as examples. Encourage active discussion and allow students to share their own understanding of stories. Emphasize that while stories are valuable for culture, History demands accuracy and evidence. When copying notes, ensure students understand the key differences, perhaps by drawing a simple table on the board. The suggested video can be played at the end of the lesson to reinforce the concepts visually, or as a recap in the next class. Evidence of understanding will be students’ ability to correctly identify historical facts and explain why they differ from fictional stories.