Identifying moral lessons in folktales for Primary 1

Class: Primary 1
Term: Third Term
Week: 9
Age: 6 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Cultural & Creative Arts
Curriculum Theme: Performing Arts and Entertainment
Focal competence: Identifying moral lessons from folktales
Key competencies/values: Critical Thinking
Skills:

• Listening and deriving meaning from folktales

Previous Lesson: Listening to and understanding an age-appropriate folktale
Topic: Folktales: Moral Lessons
Subject Matter: Identifying moral lessons in folktales

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify a moral lesson from a folktale.
• Explain how a moral lesson from a folktale applies to everyday life.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of good choices and actions.
• Show interest in listening to and discussing folktales.

Psychomotor Domain

• Sing a simple song heard in a folktale.
• Interpret the simple meaning of a song from a folktale.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Cultural and Creative Arts for Primary 1, Pupil’s Book
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• A storybook containing a simple folktale (e.g., “The Tortoise and the Hare”)
• Teacher-made chart showing pictures of characters from the folktale
• Pencils, crayons or colours

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils develop critical thinking by identifying moral lessons in stories, which is essential for character development. It encourages them to understand the consequences of actions and apply positive values in their daily lives. Learning from folktales also enhances their listening skills and cultural awareness.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have previously listened to simple stories and can identify characters in a story.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Folktales: Moral Lessons

What is a Folktale?

A folktale is a traditional story passed down from generation to generation. It often teaches us important lessons about life.

Example Folktale: The Tortoise and the Hare

This is a story about a proud Hare who challenged a slow Tortoise to a race. The Hare was very fast but decided to sleep during the race because he thought the Tortoise was too slow. The Tortoise, however, kept moving slowly but steadily until he won the race.

Actions of Main Characters

1. Hare: Was boastful, overconfident, and lazy. He underestimated the Tortoise.
2. Tortoise: Was humble, determined, and persistent. He kept trying even though he was slow.

Good and Bad Choices

1. Bad Choice (Hare): Sleeping during the race and underestimating his opponent.
2. Good Choice (Tortoise): Not giving up and continuing to move towards the finish line.

Moral Lesson from “The Tortoise and the Hare”

The moral lesson is “Slow and steady wins the race.” It teaches us not to be overconfident or lazy, and not to give up easily.

Applying the Lesson in Everyday Life

Pupils can apply this lesson by:

1. Not giving up on their schoolwork, even if it seems difficult.
2. Doing their tasks carefully and steadily, instead of rushing.
3. Not making fun of others who may be slower or different.

Song from a Folktale

A simple song can help us remember the lesson. For “The Tortoise and the Hare,” we can sing:

(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

Steady, steady, don’t give up,

You can win if you keep up.

Tortoise showed us how it’s done,

Slow and steady, won the run.

Steady, steady, don’t give up,

You can win if you keep up.

Meaning of the Song

The song means that if you keep trying and don’t give up, you can achieve your goals, just like the Tortoise won the race by being steady.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Storytelling, Question and Answer, Explanation, Singing, Guided Practice

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them if they remember the last story they heard. The teacher then introduces the topic by telling them they will listen to another interesting story today and learn important lessons from it.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings and share memories of past stories.

Learning Point: Introduction to folktales

Step 2: Reading the Folktale

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Reading Aloud

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reads the chosen folktale (e.g., “The Tortoise and the Hare”) clearly and expressively, showing pictures from the storybook or chart.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively to the story and observe the pictures.

Learning Point: Listening to a folktale

Step 3: Identifying Characters and Actions

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Analysis

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to identify the main characters in the story and describe what each character did. For example, “Who are the characters?” “What did the Hare do?” “What did the Tortoise do?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils name the characters and describe their actions in simple words.

Learning Point: Characters and their actions

Step 4: Discussing Good and Bad Choices

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Guidance

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to discuss the choices made by the characters. “Was it good for the Hare to sleep?” “Was it good for the Tortoise to keep moving?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify good and bad choices made by the characters and explain why.

Learning Point: Character choices and consequences

Step 5: Identifying the Moral Lesson

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Facilitating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher helps pupils to understand the main lesson the story teaches. “What did we learn from the Hare’s mistake?” “What did we learn from the Tortoise’s effort?” The teacher states the moral lesson: “Slow and steady wins the race.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils suggest possible lessons and repeat the moral lesson.

Learning Point: Moral lesson identification

Step 6: Application and Song

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application/Singing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils how they can use the lesson in their own lives (e.g., in schoolwork, playing). The teacher then introduces and teaches the simple song related to the folktale’s moral, explaining its meaning.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils share ideas on applying the lesson and sing the song with the teacher, interpreting its meaning.

Learning Point: Lesson application and song

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. Name the two main characters in the story “The Tortoise and the Hare.”
2. What bad choice did the Hare make?
3. What is the moral lesson of the story?
4. Sing the song we learned today.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding folktale morals

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to copy the essential Board Summary notes, especially the moral lesson and its application, into their notebooks.

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

Learning Point: Recording moral lessons

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reminds pupils that stories teach us good lessons and encourages them to always think about the moral of any story they hear. The teacher praises their participation and ends the lesson.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and respond positively.

Learning Point: Reinforcing lesson importance

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Ask your parents or guardians to tell you another folktale. Listen carefully and draw a picture of your favourite character. Then, tell your teacher the moral lesson of the story the next day.

1. Listen to a folktale from home.
2. Draw a picture of a character from the story.
3. Identify the moral lesson from the story.

Lesson Keywords

• Folktale – A traditional story passed down through generations.
• Character – A person or animal in a story.
• Moral Lesson – The teaching or message a story gives us.
• Choices – Decisions made by characters in a story.

Differentiation

For pupils who struggle to identify the moral lesson, the teacher can provide simpler stories with very obvious morals and use more direct questions. For faster learners, the teacher can ask them to explain how a different folktale they know teaches a similar lesson or to think of more ways to apply the lesson in different situations.

Suggested Lesson Videos

Search on YouTube for: Primary 1 folktales moral lessons Nigeria

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, select a simple, engaging folktale with a clear moral, such as “The Tortoise and the Hare,” and have a storybook or pictorial chart ready. Begin by engaging pupils with a familiar story to prepare them for listening. Read the chosen folktale with expression, pausing to ask simple questions about the characters and their actions. Guide pupils to identify the good and bad choices made by the characters and the consequences of these choices. Help them articulate the moral lesson in simple terms. Encourage them to relate the lesson to their own experiences. Teach the simple song to reinforce the moral. During Step 8, ensure pupils copy the main moral lesson and its application from the Board Summary. Check for understanding throughout the lesson by asking questions and observing their participation. Provide extra support for struggling learners by simplifying explanations and offering more visual aids, while challenging faster learners with additional questions or applications.