Class: Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS 1 / JS1)
Term: Third Term
Week: 7
Age: 12 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies (CRS)
Curriculum Theme: Christian Religion Studies
Previous Lesson: School Relationships Continued.
Topic: RELATIONSHIP IN THE SCHOOL CONT II
Subject Matter: Friendship between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-5) and The Friend at Midnight (Luke 11:5-8).

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Recall the story of David and Jonathan.
Explain the characteristics of their friendship.
Identify the lessons from the parable of the friend at midnight.
State the importance of good friendship in school.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the value of true friendship.
Develop a desire to be a good friend to others.
Show empathy and helpfulness towards friends.
Cultivate positive relationships with peers.

Psychomotor Domain:

Demonstrate acts of kindness and support towards classmates.
Practice effective communication with friends.
Relate biblical principles of friendship to their daily interactions.
Participate actively in discussions about friendship.

Interact positively with classmates and teachers.
Build harmonious relationships within the school community.
Promote peace and understanding among peers.
Collaborate with others in group activities.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Christian Religious Studies.
State Unified Scheme of Work for Christian Religious Studies JSS 1.
Christian Religious Studies for Junior Secondary Schools 1.
The Holy Bible (King James Version/New International Version).

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

A Holy Bible.
Pictures depicting friends helping each other.
A chart showing key characteristics of good friendship.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the importance of building positive and supportive relationships with their peers in school. It enables them to learn from biblical examples how to be a true friend, fostering a sense of community and mutual respect among students.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with the concept of relationships and have some basic knowledge of biblical stories.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Friendship in the School

Friendship between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-5)

David and Jonathan had a special friendship. Jonathan, the son of King Saul, loved David as himself. He made a covenant with David, giving him his robe, sword, bow, and belt as a sign of their loyalty and commitment. Their friendship showed deep affection, loyalty, and selflessness.

Characteristics of their friendship:

Love and affection: Jonathan loved David as his own soul.
Loyalty: Jonathan remained loyal to David even when his father, King Saul, sought to kill David.
Selflessness: Jonathan was willing to sacrifice his own claim to the throne for David’s sake.
Covenant: They made a lasting agreement to support each other.

The Friend at Midnight (Luke 11:5-8)

Jesus told a parable about a man who went to his friend at midnight to ask for three loaves of bread because a visitor had arrived. Even though the friend initially refused because it was late, he eventually gave the bread due to the man’s persistent knocking. This parable teaches about persistence in prayer and helping friends in need.

Lessons from the parable:

Helpfulness: A true friend helps another in need, even if it’s inconvenient.
Persistence: The parable encourages persistent prayer and persistent effort in seeking help for others.
Hospitality: It highlights the importance of being hospitable to guests.

Memory Verse

Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Bible Reading

1 Samuel 18:1-5
Luke 11:5-8

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 recall the previous lesson on relationships in school. The teacher then introduces the topic: “Relationship in the School Cont. II,” focusing on friendship.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greetings, recall the previous lesson, and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the new lesson and connect it to prior knowledge.

Step 2: Explanation of David and Jonathan’s Friendship

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher narrates the story of David and Jonathan from 1 Samuel 18:1-5, highlighting their deep love, loyalty, and selflessness. The teacher explains the characteristics of their friendship.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the story and identify the qualities of David and Jonathan’s friendship.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the biblical example of a strong and loyal friendship.

Step 3: Pupils’ Discussion on David and Jonathan

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher facilitates a brief discussion, asking pupils what they learned from the friendship of David and Jonathan and how they can apply these lessons in their own lives.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils share their thoughts and discuss how they can demonstrate loyalty and selflessness to their friends.
Learning Point: Pupils internalize the values of loyal friendship.

Step 4: Explanation of the Friend at Midnight

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher narrates the parable of the friend at midnight from Luke 11:5-8, explaining its context and the lessons of persistence and helping friends in need.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the parable and understand the importance of being helpful and persistent for friends.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about the importance of persistence and helpfulness in friendship.

Step 5: Bible Reading and Memory Verse

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reading/Recitation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to read 1 Samuel 18:1-5 and Luke 11:5-8 from their Bibles. The teacher then introduces and writes the memory verse (Proverbs 17:17) on the board for pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils read the Bible passages and copy the memory verse into their notes.
Learning Point: Pupils engage directly with the biblical text and memorize a relevant scripture.

Step 6: Characteristics of Good Friendship

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Brainstorming/Listing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to brainstorm and list other characteristics of good friendship based on the stories and their own experiences.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute ideas such as trust, honesty, forgiveness, and encouragement.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their understanding of what constitutes good friendship.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

Who were David and Jonathan, and what made their friendship special?
Mention two characteristics of David and Jonathan’s friendship.
Briefly narrate the parable of the friend at midnight.
What lesson can we learn from the friend at midnight?

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 key points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of being a good friend and seeking good friends. The teacher gives pupils an assignment to practice one act of kindness towards a classmate before the next lesson.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and note down the assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their learning and are encouraged to apply it practically.

Home Task: Write three lessons learned about RELATIONSHIP IN THE SCHOOL CONT II and one suitable way to apply the teaching responsibly.

Lesson Keywords

Friendship – A close relationship between two people who share affection and support.
Loyalty – Being faithful and committed to a person or cause.
Selflessness – Concern for others more than for oneself.
Persistence – Continuing to do something despite difficulty or opposition.
Helpfulness – Giving assistance or support to others.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can encourage them to research other biblical examples of friendship. For pupils who need more support, the teacher can provide simplified summaries of the stories and guide them with specific questions during discussions.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage pupils to share their personal experiences of friendship (both good and bad) in a respectful environment to make the lesson more relatable. Emphasize that true friendship involves both giving and receiving. Ensure that the biblical stories are told in an engaging manner to capture pupils’ attention.