Folktales: African and Non African Folktales for JSS 1

Class: JSS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 7
Age: 12 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Studies
Curriculum Theme: Literature
Focal competence: Reading and comprehending folktales
Skills:

• Telling/narrating stories

Previous Lesson: Letter Writing: identify types of letters
Topic: Folktales
Subject Matter: African and Non-African tales

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Define folktales.
• Identify common features of folktales.
• State the oral tradition background of folktales.
• Mention typical characters and events found in folktales.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the cultural values and moral lessons embedded in folktales.
• Show interest in listening to and reading different folktales.

Psychomotor Domain

• Retell a simple folktale.
• Narrate a short folktale clearly.

Social Domain

• Participate actively in group discussions about folktales.
• Share different folktales from their own cultures.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable English Studies textbook for JSS 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Audiobooks of folktales
• Interactive videos showing folktales
• Selected passages of African and Non-African folktales
• Pictorial aids depicting characters and scenes from folktales
• Various folktale passages (printed or digital)
• Whiteboard/Blackboard and markers/chalk

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important as it introduces students to a rich literary genre that is fundamental to human culture and storytelling. Understanding folktales helps students appreciate diverse cultural heritages, develop critical thinking through moral lessons, and improve their reading and oral communication skills. It also lays a foundation for further literary studies.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic reading comprehension skills and some familiarity with simple stories and narratives from their homes or previous classes.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Folktales: African and Non-African Tales

Meaning of Folktale

A folktale is a traditional story or legend that is passed down orally from generation to generation within a particular culture or community. They often feature animals, people, or mythical creatures and usually carry a moral lesson or explain natural phenomena.

Oral Tradition Background

Folktales originated from the oral tradition, meaning they were told aloud rather than written down. People would gather to listen to storytellers, who would narrate these tales, often with gestures, songs, and audience participation. This method ensured the stories were preserved and shared across generations before widespread literacy.

Common Features of Folktales

Folktales generally share several common characteristics:

1. They are often passed down orally.
2. They usually have simple plots and settings.
3. They often feature common characters like animals with human-like qualities, tricksters, heroes, or villains.
4. They teach moral lessons or explain natural events.
5. They often begin with phrases like “Once upon a time” or “Long, long ago.”
6. They reflect the culture, beliefs, and customs of the people who tell them.
7. Good is often rewarded, and evil is punished.

Typical Characters and Events

Typical characters in folktales include:

1. Trickster figures: Like Anansi the Spider (West Africa), Tortoise (Nigeria), or Br’er Rabbit (African-American folklore).
2. Wise elders: Who offer advice and guidance.
3. Heroes and heroines: Who overcome challenges.
4. Animals: That can talk and behave like humans.
5. Supernatural beings: Such as spirits, giants, or fairies.

Typical events often involve:

1. Quests or journeys.
2. Battles between good and evil.
3. Solving riddles or overcoming obstacles.
4. Transformations or magic.
5. Explanations of how things came to be (e.g., why the sky is far away).

Cultural Values and Moral Lessons

Folktales are important because they teach valuable lessons and transmit cultural values. Some common lessons and values include:

1. The importance of honesty and truthfulness.
2. The dangers of greed and pride.
3. The value of hard work and perseverance.
4. The consequences of disobedience.
5. The wisdom of humility and kindness.
6. Respect for elders and community.
7. Understanding of cultural norms and traditions.

Examples of African and Non-African Folktales

African Folktales:

1. “How Anansi the Spider Got His Stories” (West Africa)
2. “The Tortoise and the Hare” (Nigeria/various African cultures)
3. “Why the Sky Is Far Away” (Yoruba, Nigeria)
4. “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters” (Zimbabwean tale)

Non-African Folktales:

1. “Little Red Riding Hood” (European)
2. “The Three Little Pigs” (European)
3. “Jack and the Beanstalk” (English)
4. “The Gingerbread Man” (American)
5. “Stone Soup” (European)

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them if they know any traditional stories or stories their grandparents tell them. The teacher then introduces the topic of folktales.

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively.

Learning Point: Introduction to folktales

Step 2: Meaning of Folktales

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what folktales are, highlighting that they are traditional stories passed down orally. The teacher provides simple examples.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, ask questions, and contribute their understanding of traditional stories.

Learning Point: Definition of folktales

Step 3: Oral Tradition and Features

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Listing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the oral tradition background of folktales and then lists and explains common features using pictorial aids or short video clips.

Pupils’ Activity: Students observe the aids, listen to explanations, and identify features as discussed.

Learning Point: Folktale features and origin

Step 4: Characters, Events, and Moral Lessons

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Illustration/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains typical characters and events found in folktales, giving examples. The teacher then discusses how folktales convey cultural values and moral lessons.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, identify characters and events, and discuss the moral lessons from known stories.

Learning Point: Folktale elements and morals

Step 5: Reading/Retelling a Folktale

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Modelling/Narration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher models the skill of retelling a simple African or Non-African folktale using clear pronunciation and expressive storytelling. The teacher can use an audiobook or video for this.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen carefully to the folktale and observe the teacher’s narration style.

Learning Point: Folktale narration practice

Step 6: Guided Practice

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Group Work

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher divides students into pairs or small groups and provides them with short, simple folktale passages. They are instructed to read and then retell the story to each other, identifying features and moral lessons.

Pupils’ Activity: Students work in pairs/groups to read and retell the folktales, identifying features and lessons.

Learning Point: Retelling folktales

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

1. What is a folktale?
2. Mention two common features of folktales.
3. Name one typical character found in folktales.
4. What is one moral lesson you can learn from a folktale?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Folktale understanding assessed

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on folktales, their features, and examples into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reminds students of the importance of folktales in preserving culture and teaching lessons, encouraging them to listen to and read more folktales. The teacher then closes the lesson.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and reflect on the importance of folktales.

Learning Point: Folktale importance reinforced

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook.

1. Ask an elder at home to tell you a folktale. Write down the title and a brief summary of the story.
2. Identify one moral lesson from the folktale you heard.
3. Mention two differences between an African folktale and a Non-African folktale you may know.

Lesson Keywords

• Folktale – A traditional story passed down orally.
• Oral Tradition – The practice of passing stories, songs, and history by word of mouth.
• Moral Lesson – A teaching or message about how to behave, often found in stories.
• Trickster – A character in folklore who plays tricks or disobeys normal rules.
• Culture – The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or group.

Differentiation

For weaker learners, the teacher will provide simpler folktale passages with highlighted key features and guide them through retelling using sentence starters. Faster learners will be encouraged to research and present a unique folktale from their own ethnic group, identifying its specific cultural significance and moral lessons.

Suggested Lesson Videos

Search YouTube for: “JSS 1 English Studies Folktales” or “Introduction to Folktales for Junior Secondary”

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have selected appropriate African and Non-African folktales, either in print, audio, or video format, to use as examples and for guided practice. Prepare visual aids to illustrate the features and characters of folktales. Begin by engaging students with questions about stories they know to connect with their prior experiences. Clearly explain the meaning and oral tradition of folktales. When discussing features, characters, and moral lessons, use concrete examples from the selected folktales. Model storytelling effectively, emphasizing expression and clarity. During the guided practice, circulate among groups to provide support and correct misconceptions. Students should copy the Board Summary notes after the main teaching points have been covered and evaluated. Conclude by reinforcing the cultural value of folktales and encouraging further exploration.