Class: Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS 3 / JS3)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 1
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: National Values Education
Curriculum Theme: Social Studies
Previous Lesson: Third Term Social Studies Examination.
Topic: CONTROLLING CULTISM IN OUR SOCIETY
Subject Matter: Meaning and causes of cultism: Home/family background, Peer group influence, Proliferation of aims, drug abuse, Poor leadership, Injustice, Marginalization

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define cultism in simple terms.
Identify at least five causes of cultism in society.
Explain how different factors contribute to the rise of cultism.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the negative impact of cultism on individuals and society.
Develop a strong dislike for cult activities and associations.
Show a willingness to avoid cult groups and influence.

Psychomotor Domain:

Discuss practical ways to resist peer pressure related to cultism.
Demonstrate refusal skills when approached by cult members.

Promote awareness about the dangers of cultism among peers.
Advocate for peaceful coexistence and positive social values.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
National Values Education for Junior Secondary Schools 3
https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/
https://www.youthpolicy.org/

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing images related to cultism (e.g., symbols, victims).
Pictures depicting the consequences of cultism.
Whiteboard and markers.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand what cultism is and its various causes, enabling them to make informed decisions and avoid involvement in such dangerous groups. It is important for pupils to recognize the signs and dangers of cultism to protect themselves and promote a safer school and community environment.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are expected to have basic knowledge of social groups and community living.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

CONTROLLING CULTISM IN OUR SOCIETY

Meaning of Cultism

Cultism refers to membership in a secret society, especially one that uses secret rituals, oaths, and often engages in illegal, violent, and harmful activities. Cult groups operate outside the law and pose threats to peace and order in society.

Causes of Cultism

The following are some of the major causes of cultism in society:

Home/Family Background: Lack of proper parental care, broken homes, poor moral upbringing, and child abuse can push individuals to seek belonging and identity in cult groups.
Peer Group Influence: Pressure from friends to join a cult, desire to fit in, or fear of being left out can lead young people into cultism.
Proliferation of Aims: Individuals may join cults seeking power, protection, wealth, popularity, or academic success, often through unlawful means.
Drug Abuse: The use of illicit drugs and alcohol can impair judgment, making individuals vulnerable to recruitment and participation in cult activities.
Poor Leadership: Bad leadership in schools or communities, which fails to address grievances or provide positive role models, can create an environment where cultism thrives.
Injustice: Feelings of being unfairly treated, marginalized, or seeking revenge for perceived wrongs can drive individuals to join cults for a sense of power or to fight back.
Marginalization: When individuals or groups feel excluded, neglected, or discriminated against in society, they may turn to cults to find a sense of belonging, identity, and importance.

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 if they have heard about “cultism” and what they think it means.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and share their ideas.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the topic and activate prior knowledge.

Step 2: Meaning of Cultism

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of cultism using simple language and gives examples of cult activities.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively, ask questions for clarity, and write down the definition.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the definition of cultism.

Step 3: Causes of Cultism (Home/Family & Peer Group)

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how home/family background and peer group influence can lead to cultism, encouraging pupils to share their thoughts.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, contribute to the discussion, and identify these causes.
Learning Point: Pupils identify home/family background and peer group influence as causes of cultism.

Step 4: Causes of Cultism (Proliferation of Aims & Drug Abuse)

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher further explains how the proliferation of aims (seeking power, protection) and drug abuse contribute to individuals joining cults.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils pay attention, ask questions, and discuss the impact of these causes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand how seeking various aims and drug abuse lead to cultism.

Step 5: Causes of Cultism (Poor Leadership, Injustice, Marginalization)

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Examples
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the roles of poor leadership, injustice, and marginalization in promoting cultism, providing real-life examples where possible.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, identify these causes, and relate them to societal issues.
Learning Point: Pupils recognize poor leadership, injustice, and marginalization as causes of cultism.

Step 6: Discussion/Recap

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarizing/Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a brief recap of all the causes of cultism discussed.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in the recap, reinforcing their understanding.
Learning Point: Pupils review and consolidate their understanding of the causes of cultism.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What is cultism?
Mention three causes of cultism.
Explain how peer group influence can lead to cultism.
List two ways home/family background can contribute to cultism.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Closing/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson by emphasizing the dangers of cultism and encourages pupils to always report any suspicious activities. The teacher then gives pupils homework.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and copy the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils are reminded of the dangers of cultism and receive homework.

Lesson Keywords

Cultism – Membership in a secret society that often engages in illegal and harmful activities.
Peer Group – A group of people of approximately the same age, status, and interests.
Marginalization – The process of treating a person or group as insignificant or peripheral.
Injustice – Lack of fairness or justice.
Proliferation – Rapid increase in numbers.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher will encourage them to research and present additional effects of cultism. For those who need more support, the teacher will provide simplified definitions and more guided questions during class discussions.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should create a safe and open classroom environment where pupils feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics like cultism. Encourage active participation and critical thinking. Use local examples where appropriate to make the lesson more relatable to the pupils’ experiences.