Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, prepare a simple story that clearly illustrates a cultural value such as respect for elders or helping others. Also, familiarise yourself with the “Iya Ni Wura” folk song and its actions. The central idea for pupils is to understand that folk songs and stories teach us good ways to behave. Successful learning will be observed when pupils actively participate in the story discussion, sing the song with enthusiasm, and can identify a cultural value from the lesson.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: First Term
Week: 6
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Civic Education
Curriculum Theme: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Previous Lesson: Pupils have learned about simple rules at home and school.
Topic: CULTURAL VALUES: FOLK SONGS
Subject Matter: Learning cultural values through folk songs and stories.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify cultural values like respect and helping from stories and songs.
- Recall simple messages from a story or song.
Affective Domain
- Show appreciation for parents and elders.
- Express willingness to practise good cultural values.
Psychomotor Domain
- Participate in singing folk songs with actions.
- React appropriately to stories (e.g., nodding, smiling).
Social Domain
- Listen attentively when stories are told.
- Take turns and share ideas during discussion.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3.
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources.
Instructional Materials
- Storybook with simple cultural stories or teacher-prepared story.
- Picture cards showing different cultural values (e.g., helping, greeting elders).
- Chart with lyrics of “Iya Ni Wura” song.
- Audio player for music (optional).
- Video display for “Iya Ni Wura” folk song.
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 4-year-olds because it introduces them to the foundational cultural values of our society in an engaging and memorable way. Through stories and folk songs, children learn about good behaviour, respect for others, and the importance of family, which helps them develop into responsible and well-mannered individuals within their community.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can listen to simple stories, sing familiar songs, and understand basic instructions about good behaviour.
Lesson Content/Board Summary
CULTURAL VALUES: FOLK SONGS
Cultural values are the good ways we learn to behave from our families and community. They teach us to be kind, respectful, honest, and helpful.
Folk songs and stories are special songs and tales that tell us about our culture and teach us these good values. They help us remember how to be good children and good people.
Examples of cultural values:
- Respect: Showing honour to elders, parents, and teachers.
- Helping: Lending a hand to others when they need it.
- Honesty: Always telling the truth.
- Kindness: Being nice to everyone.
Key Words
- Culture – Our way of life, including our traditions and how we behave.
- Values – Good ways of behaving that we learn.
- Folk Song – An old song from our people that tells a story or teaches something.
- Story – A tale that teaches us a lesson.
- Respect – Showing honour and care for others, especially elders.
“Iya Ni Wura” (Mother is Gold) Folk Song
This is a popular Yoruba folk song that teaches us to love and respect our mothers because they are very precious and take good care of us.
Tune: Traditional Yoruba folk song
Lyrics:
Iya ni wura, iyebiye ni
(Mother is gold, she is precious)
Iya ni wura, iyebiye ni
(Mother is gold, she is precious)
Bi o l’iya, o l’alaafia
(If you have a mother, you have peace)
Bi o l’iya, o l’alaafia
(If you have a mother, you have peace)
Iya ni wura, iyebiye ni
(Mother is gold, she is precious)
Actions:
- “Iya ni wura, iyebiye ni”: Hug yourself or point to your heart, then spread hands wide.
- “Bi o l’iya, o l’alaafia”: Nod head gently, then make a peaceful gesture with hands.
- Repeat actions for each line.
Watch and Sing Along
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Introduce cultural values by giving simple examples children can relate to, like greeting elders or sharing toys. Explain that stories and songs help us learn these values. Use the picture cards to illustrate each value.
What to show or demonstrate: Show pictures of children demonstrating cultural values (e.g., a child greeting an elder, a child helping a friend). Demonstrate the actions for the “Iya Ni Wura” song clearly and slowly.
How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce the “Iya Ni Wura” song as a special way our culture teaches us to love and respect our mothers. Sing the song line by line, allowing pupils to repeat. Guide them through the actions. Sing it several times to help them learn and enjoy.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as another way to learn the “Iya Ni Wura” song. Play the video, encouraging pupils to watch the actions and sing along. After watching, ask pupils what the song is about and why mothers are special.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils are actively listening during the story and song. Check if they can identify simple values from the story and participate in the song’s actions. Correct any misconceptions about what “values” mean with simple examples.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Storytelling
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Play-based Learning
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and asks them about good things they do at home, like helping their parents or greeting elders. The teacher introduces the idea that we learn good ways to behave from our culture.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings and share simple examples of good behaviour they practice.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and connect to the idea of good behaviour.
Step 2: Story Time – Introducing Cultural Values
Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Observation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher tells a simple, engaging story about a child who shows respect to an elder or helps a friend in need. The story should clearly illustrate a cultural value.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively to the story, watching the teacher’s expressions and gestures.
Learning Point: Pupils are exposed to a cultural value through a relatable story.
Step 3: Discussion and Identification
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks simple questions about the story: “What did the child do in the story?” “Was it a good thing to do?” “Why is it good?” The teacher introduces the term “cultural value” and explains that the story teaches us a value like respect or helping.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer questions about the story and identify the good behaviour shown.
Learning Point: Pupils begin to identify cultural values from stories.
Step 4: Introducing Folk Song – “Iya Ni Wura” theme
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Introduction/Connection
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains that just like stories, songs can also teach us good values. The teacher introduces the “Iya Ni Wura” song, explaining it’s a special song about mothers and how important they are in our culture.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and show interest in the new song.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that songs also teach cultural values.
Step 5: Singing and Actions
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher sings the “Iya Ni Wura” song, demonstrating the actions. The teacher then guides the pupils to sing along and perform the actions together, repeating several times.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song with the teacher and imitate the actions.
Learning Point: Pupils learn the song and its associated cultural value (respect for mothers) through active participation.
Step 6: Reinforcement through Video
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Aid/Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the “Iya Ni Wura” video, encouraging pupils to watch the animation and sing along. After the video, the teacher asks pupils what they learned about mothers from the song.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video, sing along, and share what they learned about mothers.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of the song’s message and cultural value.
Step 7: Evaluation/Review
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.
- “What good thing did the child do in our story?”
- “What does ‘Iya Ni Wura’ mean?”
- “Why should we respect our mothers?”
- “Can you show me an action from our song?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 1 minute
Teaching Skill: Summarisation/Praise
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them to always remember the good values they learned from the stories and songs, especially respecting their parents. The teacher dismisses the class.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the teacher’s concluding remarks and prepare for dismissal.
Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to practice the learned values.
Lesson Keywords
- Culture – Our way of life.
- Values – Good ways to behave.
- Folk Song – A special song from our people.
- Story – A tale that teaches a lesson.
- Respect – Showing honour to others.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who struggle to identify values, the teacher can use very simple, concrete examples and pictures, repeating the key message of the story and song. They can be prompted to point to pictures that show respect or helping.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, the teacher can ask them to name another good thing they do at home or ask them to draw a picture of themselves showing respect or helping someone. They can also be encouraged to lead the actions for the song.
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