Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1 / SSS 1)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 3
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Language Studies
Curriculum Theme: English Language Studies
Previous Lesson: Oral Composition, Advertising Vocabulary and Summary Writing.
Topic: Speech
Subject Matter: Speech: Intonation patterns continued using rising tones in questions and falling tones in statements, Vocabulary Development: Stock exchange vocabulary and register, Comprehension: Reading a passage on investment and answering questions, Structure: Complex sentences and subordinating conjunctions, Writing: Oral descriptive composition

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Identify rising tones in questions and falling tones in statements.
Define key stock exchange vocabulary.
Answer questions based on a given comprehension passage.
Identify complex sentences and subordinating conjunctions.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of correct intonation in communication.
Show interest in learning new vocabulary related to finance.
Participate actively in class discussions.

Psychomotor Domain:

Use appropriate rising and falling intonation patterns in speech.
Formulate sentences using stock exchange terms correctly.
Construct complex sentences using various subordinating conjunctions.
Present a short oral descriptive composition.

Collaborate with peers during group activities.
Engage respectfully in question and answer sessions.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for English Language.
State Unified Scheme of Work for Senior Secondary Schools.
New Oxford English Course for Senior Secondary School 1.
https://www.waecdirect.org/
https://nce.edu.ng/

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Intonation cards showing rising and falling patterns.
Newspaper business section with stock exchange terms.
Reading passages on investment.
Sentence charts displaying complex sentences and subordinating conjunctions.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils to speak clearly and understand how different tones change meaning. It also introduces them to important financial words and helps them to read and write better, which are useful skills for everyday communication and understanding the world around them.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have a basic understanding of simple sentences, different types of questions, and general vocabulary.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Speech: Intonation, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Structure, and Writing

Intonation Patterns

Intonation refers to the rise and fall of the voice in speaking. It helps to convey meaning and emotion.

The two main intonation patterns discussed are:

Rising Tone: Used for yes/no questions, incomplete thoughts, and showing uncertainty. The voice goes up at the end of the sentence.
Falling Tone: Used for statements, commands, and ‘wh-‘ questions (e.g., who, what, where, when, why). The voice goes down at the end of the sentence.

Vocabulary Development: Stock Exchange

The stock exchange is a market where shares of publicly listed companies are bought and sold. Understanding its vocabulary is important for discussing finance and investments.

Common stock exchange terms include:

Share: A unit of ownership in a company.
Stock: The capital raised by a company through the issue of shares. Often used interchangeably with ‘shares’.
Investor: An individual or entity that puts money into financial schemes, shares, or property with the expectation of achieving a profit.
Broker: A person who buys and sells shares for others.
Dividend: A portion of a company’s profits paid to shareholders.
Market: The overall system where shares are traded.

Comprehension: Reading and Answering Questions

Comprehension involves understanding a text and being able to extract information and ideas from it.

To improve comprehension:

Read the passage carefully to grasp the main idea.
Identify key details and supporting facts.
Formulate answers based directly on the text.

Structure: Complex Sentences and Subordinating Conjunctions

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause. The dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete thought.

Subordinating conjunctions are words that introduce dependent clauses and link them to independent clauses. They show the relationship between the two clauses (e.g., time, cause, condition, contrast).

Examples of subordinating conjunctions include:

After, although, as, because, before, if, since, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while, why.

Writing: Oral Descriptive Composition

An oral descriptive composition is a spoken account that creates a vivid picture in the listener’s mind using sensory details.

Characteristics of good oral description:

Uses precise and evocative language.
Appeals to the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch).
Presents details in a clear and logical order.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to pronounce a few simple questions and statements. The teacher then asks them to observe how their voice rises or falls at the end of each. This leads to the topic of intonation.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greetings and pronounce the sentences as instructed, observing their voice patterns.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of intonation and its relevance.

Step 2: Intonation Patterns

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains rising and falling tones, demonstrating each using intonation cards and common questions/statements. Pupils are asked to practice these patterns.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation, observe the demonstrations, and practice pronouncing sentences with correct rising and falling intonation.
Learning Point: Pupils learn to identify and produce rising tones in questions and falling tones in statements.

Step 3: Vocabulary Development

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Word Definition/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the concept of the stock exchange and presents key vocabulary terms from the newspaper business section. The teacher defines each term and provides example sentences.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the new vocabulary, ask questions for clarification, and attempt to use the terms in simple sentences.
Learning Point: Pupils acquire new vocabulary related to the stock exchange and understand their meanings.

Step 4: Comprehension

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Reading/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes a short passage on investment and guides pupils to read it silently. The teacher then asks a few comprehension questions based on the passage.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils read the passage and answer the comprehension questions orally.
Learning Point: Pupils practice reading for understanding and extracting information from a text.

Step 5: Complex Sentences and Subordinating Conjunctions

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what complex sentences are, differentiating between independent and dependent clauses. The teacher then introduces various subordinating conjunctions using sentence charts and provides examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation, identify clauses in example sentences, and mention other subordinating conjunctions they know.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about the structure of complex sentences and the function of subordinating conjunctions.

Step 6: Oral Descriptive Composition

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Modeling
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the characteristics of a good oral descriptive composition. The teacher provides a simple topic (e.g., “Describe your school playground”) and guides pupils to think of sensory details.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the guidelines and attempt to give short oral descriptions, focusing on using descriptive language.
Learning Point: Pupils practice the skill of oral description using sensory details.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

Explain the difference between a rising tone and a falling tone, providing an example for each.
Mention three common terms used in the stock exchange and define one of them.
What is a complex sentence?
List three subordinating conjunctions and use one in a sentence.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of clear communication. The teacher assigns homework: “Write five complex sentences using different subordinating conjunctions.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils review the lesson and receive further practice.

Lesson Keywords

Intonation – The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
Rising Tone – An intonation pattern where the voice goes up, often used for yes/no questions.
Falling Tone – An intonation pattern where the voice goes down, often used for statements.
Stock Exchange – A market where shares of companies are bought and sold.
Share – A unit of ownership in a company.
Complex Sentence – A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Subordinating Conjunction – A word that introduces a dependent clause and connects it to an independent clause.
Oral Descriptive Composition – A spoken account that uses sensory details to create a vivid picture.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can challenge them to create a short dialogue incorporating both rising and falling tones, or to use more complex stock exchange terms in sentences. For pupils who need more support, the teacher will provide additional guided practice with intonation patterns and simpler examples of complex sentences.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure active pupil participation in all activities, especially during intonation practice and oral descriptions. Using real-life examples from newspapers or current affairs when discussing stock exchange vocabulary can make the lesson more engaging. Encourage pupils to ask questions and provide constructive feedback on their spoken English.