Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 8
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Office Practice
Curriculum Theme: Office Practice
Previous Lesson: Organizational Structure.
Topic: Organizational Charts
Subject Matter: Meaning of organizational charts; types of organizational charts.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

define an organizational chart.
state the uses of an organizational chart.
list common types of organizational charts.
describe the features of vertical, horizontal, and circular organizational charts.

Affective Domain:

show interest in orderly arrangement of roles and reporting lines in an organization.
appreciate the importance of clear authority and responsibility in reducing confusion.

Psychomotor Domain:

interpret a simple organizational chart and identify positions and reporting lines.
draw a basic organizational chart using a selected format and label it correctly.

participate in class discussion by giving examples of charts used in school and organizations.
work in small groups to create a simple chart for a familiar organization such as a school club.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Office Practice Textbook for Senior Secondary Schools
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Organization
MindTools: Organization Charts
GCFLearnFree: Using SmartArt Graphics (Organization Charts)

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

organizational chart posters (vertical, horizontal, circular examples)
classroom charts and chalkboard summary notes
card strips showing positions for chart arrangement activity
drawing paper, pencils, and rulers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how organizations present roles and reporting lines using charts. It supports clear communication, teamwork, and proper understanding of authority in school and future workplaces.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have basic knowledge of organizational structure and can mention positions and reporting relationships in school and offices.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Organizational Charts

Meaning of Organizational Charts

An organizational chart is a diagram that shows the structure of an organization by displaying positions, lines of authority, and reporting relationships.

Uses of Organizational Charts

The following are uses of organizational charts:

shows who is responsible to whom in an organization.
clarifies authority and reporting lines.
helps new staff understand the organization quickly.
shows division of labour and distribution of duties.
helps in planning, supervision, and coordination of work.

Types of Organizational Charts

The following are common types of organizational charts:

Vertical (top-down) chart: positions are arranged from top to bottom, with the highest authority at the top.
Horizontal (left-to-right) chart: positions are arranged from left to right, with the highest authority on the left.
Circular chart: the highest authority is placed at the centre, with other positions arranged in circles around it.

Vertical Organizational Chart

A vertical chart presents authority from top to bottom, showing the chain of command clearly.

The following are features of a vertical chart:

highest position is placed at the top.
lower positions are placed beneath higher positions.
lines or connectors show reporting relationships.
easy to understand in most organizations.

Horizontal Organizational Chart

A horizontal chart presents authority from left to right, showing levels across the page.

The following are features of a horizontal chart:

highest position is placed on the left.
other levels extend to the right.
useful where many units are on the same level.
reduces long downward layout when there are many levels.

Circular Organizational Chart

A circular chart presents authority with the top position at the centre and other positions around it.

The following are features of a circular chart:

highest position is placed at the centre.
other positions are arranged in rings around the centre.
shows how units relate to the central authority.
emphasizes teamwork and connection among units.

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 asks pupils to mention school leadership positions and how they can be arranged in a diagram, then links responses to organizational charts.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils mention positions and suggest how the positions can be arranged and connected.
Learning Point: Organizational charts present positions and reporting lines in a clear diagram.

Step 2: Meaning of Organizational Chart

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines organizational chart and writes the meaning on the board while pointing to a sample poster.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions, and copy the definition into their notebooks.
Learning Point: An organizational chart shows positions and authority relationships.

Step 3: Uses of Organizational Charts

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to list uses of organizational charts and records correct points on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute points and copy the summary notes.
Learning Point: Organizational charts help in understanding roles, reporting lines, and division of labour.

Step 4: Types of Organizational Charts

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Visual Aids
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays posters of vertical, horizontal, and circular charts and explains the layout of each type.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the posters and identify each type correctly.
Learning Point: Organizational charts can be vertical, horizontal, or circular.

Step 5: Drawing Practice

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to draw a simple organizational chart for a school club using one format and labels the positions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils follow the steps and draw their own charts in notebooks.
Learning Point: Drawing and labeling organizational charts correctly.

Step 6: Class Activity

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Activity-Based Learning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils in groups to arrange position cards into one chart type and explain the reporting lines briefly.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils arrange the cards and state the reporting relationships.
Learning Point: Interpreting reporting lines from a chart.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

Define an organizational chart.
State three uses of an organizational chart.
List three types of organizational charts.
Explain one feature each of vertical and circular organizational charts.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Recap/Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the meaning, uses, and types of organizational charts and gives an assignment to draw a chart for school administration using any one type.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask final questions, and copy the assignment.
Learning Point: Organizational charts show structure and reporting relationships in different formats.

Lesson Keywords

Organizational chart – a diagram showing positions and reporting relationships in an organization.
Authority – the right to give instructions and make decisions.
Reporting line – the path showing who reports to whom.
Vertical chart – a chart arranged from top to bottom.
Horizontal chart – a chart arranged from left to right.
Circular chart – a chart arranged around a centre authority.

Differentiation

Pupils who learn faster will draw two chart types for the same organization and compare them, while pupils who need support will complete a partially drawn chart by filling in missing positions and connectors.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Use clear posters and keep the charts simple and familiar, such as school administration or a club structure. Emphasize exam-ready points by focusing on definition, uses, and types, and allow pupils to practice drawing at least one chart format.