Class: Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3, JSS 3)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 7
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: History
Curriculum Theme: History
Previous Lesson: Reasons
Topic: Early European Contact With Africa
Subject Matter: General Nature and Purpose, Nature of the Early European Contact with Africa, How It All Began, and Why Europeans Decided to Explore Africa from Portugal, Germany, etc.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:
(a) Describe the general nature of the early European contact with Africa.
(b) Explain the reasons why Europeans decided to explore Africa.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the significance of early European contact in shaping Africa’s history.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Identify early European explorers and locate the regions they visited on a map.
Social Domain:
(a) Work cooperatively in groups to discuss the motives and effects of European exploration.

Reference Materials

The following resources was used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
Lagos State Unified Scheme of work for Junior Secondary Schools
Britannica – “Age of Discovery: European Exploration” (https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration)
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Wall map of Africa showing European exploration routes
Pictures or charts of early explorers like Prince Henry the Navigator, Bartholomew Diaz, and Vasco da Gama
Timeline of early European voyages
Globe or atlas
Textbooks and notes

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the background, purpose, and early nature of European contact with Africa, which shaped trade, culture, and later colonization.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have already learned about African kingdoms and trade before European contact, so they can relate how early trade attracted Europeans to Africa.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Early European Contact With Africa

General Nature and Purpose of Early European Contact

The early European contact with Africa began in the 15th century, led mainly by the Portuguese. It started as exploration and trade along the West African coast before other European nations joined.

The following are the main purposes of the early European contact with Africa:

To discover new trade routes to Asia for spices and gold.
To expand trade in gold, ivory, and slaves.
To spread Christianity and Western civilization.
To gain political and economic power for their countries.
To satisfy the spirit of adventure and curiosity about the world.

How the Early European Contact Began

The first major European contact with Africa began with the Portuguese in the 15th century. They explored the West African coast under Prince Henry the Navigator, leading to discoveries and new trade relations.

The following are key points on how the contact began:

Prince Henry of Portugal sponsored voyages to explore the West African coast.
Bartholomew Diaz reached the Cape of Good Hope in 1488.
Vasco da Gama later sailed around the Cape to India in 1498.
Other European nations such as Spain, Britain, France, and Germany followed, establishing trading posts and missions.
The contact gradually moved from trade to political control and colonization.

Reasons Why Europeans Decided to Explore Africa

Europeans explored Africa for many reasons related to economic gain, adventure, and religion.

The following are the reasons why Europeans explored Africa:

To find a sea route to India and the East for trade.
To obtain African gold, ivory, and slaves.
To spread Christianity and stop the spread of Islam.
To gain wealth and fame through exploration.
To discover new lands for their empires.
To collect information and knowledge about the world.

European Countries Involved in Early Exploration

Several European countries took part in the early exploration of Africa. Each had different motives and areas of interest.

They include:

Portugal – First to explore Africa and control coastal trade.
Spain – Explored parts of North and West Africa.
Britain – Later became involved in trade and colonization.
France – Engaged in trade and established posts along the coast.
Germany – Joined later during the scramble for Africa.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Discussion, Lecture, Storytelling, Explanation, Question and Answer, Visual Aids, Group Work

Instructional Procedures

To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher asks pupils what they know about early explorers or how foreigners came to Africa in the past, linking responses to the lesson.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by mentioning explorers or traders they have heard about.
Learning Point: Pupils become curious and ready to learn about early European contact with Africa.

Step 2: General Nature and Purpose of Early Contact

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher explains the nature and main purposes of early European contact with Africa using maps and charts.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and ask questions.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the major reasons for European interest in Africa.

Step 3: How the Early European Contact Began

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Storytelling and Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher narrates how Portuguese explorers like Prince Henry, Diaz, and Vasco da Gama started African exploration.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and discuss how the exploration spread to other nations.
Learning Point: Pupils understand how European exploration of Africa started.

Step 4: Reasons and Nations Involved in Exploration

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation and Visual Aids
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher uses the map to show countries involved and their routes.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the countries and trace exploration paths on the map.
Learning Point: Pupils can name the countries and reasons for exploration.

Step 5: Note-Taking

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher dictates or writes the board summary for pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the notes neatly.
Learning Point: Pupils have a complete record of the lesson.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Mention two reasons why Europeans explored Africa.
Who was Prince Henry the Navigator?
Name two European countries involved in early exploration.
State two purposes of early European contact with Africa.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer questions orally.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher summarizes the key points and emphasizes the importance of understanding the beginning of European contact with Africa.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask questions.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that early European contact shaped African history.

Lesson Keywords

Exploration – traveling to discover new places.
Navigator – a person who directs or leads exploration voyages.
Colonization – taking control of another land and its people.
Trade – exchange of goods between people or nations.
Empire – a group of territories controlled by one powerful nation.

Differentiation

Provide simpler explanations and visuals for slower learners, while advanced learners locate exploration routes and discuss effects of contact on African societies.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Emphasize key explorers and their motives. Use storytelling to engage pupils. Ensure learners can connect exploration to later colonization and African resistance.