Folktales: Telling/narrating stories for JSS 1

Class: JSS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 9
Age: 12 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Studies
Curriculum Theme: Literature
Subject Matter: Practical skill
Focal competence: Reading and comprehending folktales
Skills:

• Telling/narrating stories

Previous Lesson: Letter Writing: write in
Topic: Folktales
Subject Matter: Practical skill

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Define a folktale.
• Identify common features of folktales.
• List typical characters found in folktales.
• State cultural values or moral lessons conveyed by folktales.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the cultural importance of folktales.
• Show interest in listening to and narrating folktales.

Psychomotor Domain

• Retell a simple folktale.
• Demonstrate basic storytelling techniques.

Social Domain

• Participate actively in group storytelling activities.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Macmillan Brilliant English for Junior Secondary Schools 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Audiobooks (e.g., recordings of Nigerian folktales)
• Interactive Videos (e.g., animated folktale videos)
• Selected passages (printed folktales)
• Pictorial aids (pictures depicting scenes or characters from folktales)
• Various passage (a collection of short folktales)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson introduces students to the rich tradition of folktales, which are an integral part of cultural heritage and oral literature. Understanding folktales helps students develop their comprehension, critical thinking, and communication skills, while also instilling moral values and cultural appreciation.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic reading comprehension skills and some familiarity with simple stories and narratives.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Folktales

Meaning of Folktale

A folktale is a traditional story that has been passed down orally from generation to generation within a particular culture or community. These stories often reflect the beliefs, customs, and values of the people who tell them.

Oral Tradition Background

Folktales originate from an oral tradition, meaning they were told aloud rather than written down. This oral transmission allowed stories to be adapted and changed over time, making them living narratives that evolved with the community.

Common Features of Folktales

Folktales typically share several common features:

1. They are usually short and easy to remember.
2. They often feature simple plots and clear moral lessons.
3. They involve common human experiences, emotions, and problems.
4. They often explain natural phenomena or the origins of things.
5. They frequently include supernatural elements, talking animals, or magical events.
6. They are passed down through generations.

Typical Characters and Events

Characters in folktales are often archetypal, representing specific traits or roles. Common characters include:

1. Tricksters: Clever characters who outwit others (e.g., Tortoise, Spider).
2. Heroes/Heroines: Brave individuals who overcome challenges.
3. Villains: Evil or mischievous characters.
4. Animals: Often personified, acting and speaking like humans.
5. Supernatural beings: Spirits, gods, or magical creatures.

Typical events often involve a problem, a journey, a test, a conflict, and a resolution that teaches a lesson.

Cultural Values or Moral Lessons

Folktales serve as a means of teaching important cultural values and moral lessons. These can include:

1. The importance of honesty and truthfulness.
2. The consequences of greed or wickedness.
3. The value of hard work and perseverance.
4. The significance of community and cooperation.
5. Respect for elders and authority.
6. The dangers of pride or disobedience.

Reading or Retelling a Selected Folktale

Reading or retelling folktales involves understanding the plot, characters, and the underlying message. When retelling, it is important to convey the story clearly, using appropriate voice, gestures, and expressions to engage the audience, just as storytellers in the oral tradition would.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Explanation, Storytelling, Pair Work, Group Work, Individual Practice

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 tales their grandparents or parents told them. The teacher then introduces the topic: Folktales, explaining that these are traditional stories passed down orally.

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to the teacher’s questions, sharing any stories they know. They listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Introduction to folktales

Step 2: Meaning and Oral Tradition

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines “folktale” and explains its origin in oral tradition, emphasizing how stories were told and passed down. The teacher models by narrating a very short, simple folktale (e.g., “How the Tortoise Got Its Shell”) using expressive voice and gestures.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen to the explanation and the teacher’s storytelling, observing the narration style.

Learning Point: Folktale meaning and origin

Step 3: Identifying Features of Folktales

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the common features of folktales, drawing examples from the story just told and other well-known folktales. The teacher uses pictorial aids to illustrate some features.

Pupils’ Activity: Students identify features of folktales and contribute to the discussion, relating them to stories they know.

Learning Point: Common folktale features

Step 4: Typical Characters and Events

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Question and Answer

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks students about the types of characters and events commonly found in folktales, guiding them to identify tricksters, talking animals, heroes, and common plot elements like problems, challenges, and resolutions. The teacher shows images of typical characters.

Pupils’ Activity: Students name typical characters and describe common events in folktales.

Learning Point: Folktale characters and plots

Step 5: Cultural Values and Moral Lessons

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains that folktales often teach moral lessons or cultural values. The teacher asks students what lessons they learned from the modelled folktale or other stories they know.

Pupils’ Activity: Students state moral lessons and cultural values found in folktales.

Learning Point: Folktale moral lessons

Step 6: Guided Practice in Retelling

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided practice/Group work

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher divides students into pairs or small groups. Each group is given a very short, simple folktale passage or a pictorial sequence of a folktale. The teacher guides them to practice retelling the story to each other, focusing on clarity and expression.

Pupils’ Activity: Students work in pairs/groups to practice retelling a folktale, taking turns to narrate.

Learning Point: Retelling folktales practice

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 knowledge assessment

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 the meaning, features, characters, and moral lessons of folktales into their notebooks.

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

Learning Point: Folktale notes recording

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the key points about folktales and encourages students to listen to and share more folktales at home. The teacher reminds them of the importance of these stories to their culture.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen to the summary and prepare for the next lesson.

Learning Point: Folktale concept consolidation

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. Ask an elder (parent, grandparent, or guardian) to tell you a folktale. Write down the title of the story and briefly summarise its plot.
2. Identify one moral lesson from the folktale you heard and explain it in your own words.
3. Draw one character from the folktale you heard.

Lesson Keywords

• Folktale – A traditional story passed down orally through generations.
• Oral tradition – The passing of stories, songs, and information by word of mouth.
• Moral lesson – A teaching or message about good behaviour or principles.
• Trickster – A clever character, often an animal, who uses cunning to achieve goals.
• Narrate – To tell a story.

Differentiation

For weaker learners: Provide simpler, shorter folktales with clear plots and fewer characters. Pair them with stronger learners for retelling activities. Use more visual aids and repeat key definitions.

For faster learners: Encourage them to identify more complex themes or symbolism in folktales. Challenge them to create a short, original folktale based on the features learned, or to research folktales from different Nigerian ethnic groups.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, students can search for videos on YouTube using the terms: Nigerian folktales for JSS1 English

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Teachers should begin by ensuring they have selected an appropriate folktale to model for the students, preferably one with clear features and a moral lesson. The use of audiobooks, interactive videos, or pictorial aids will greatly enhance student engagement. Guide students through the definition and features of folktales, linking them to real-world examples or stories they might already know. Encourage active participation during discussions about characters, events, and moral lessons. During the guided practice, circulate among groups to provide support and constructive feedback on their storytelling efforts. Ensure students copy the Board Summary notes accurately after the main teaching points have been covered. Pay attention to common misconceptions, such as confusing folktales with fables or myths, and clarify as needed. Support weaker learners with simplified tasks and extra guidance, while providing extension activities for faster learners to deepen their understanding and creativity.