Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 6
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Visual Art
Curriculum Theme: Visual Art
Previous Lesson: Visual Arts: Meaning and Classification.
Topic: Visual Arts
Subject Matter: Utilitarian functions of visual arts; advertising posters as a function of visual arts; aesthetic function of visual arts; religious functions such as carved images and masks; political functions such as chiefly stools; symbols in visual arts; educational function of visual arts.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define the functions of visual arts as the purposes artworks serve in society.
List major functions of visual arts: utilitarian, advertising, aesthetic, religious, political, symbolic, and educational.
Explain utilitarian function with examples of household and everyday items.
Explain advertising function using posters and sign designs as examples.
State examples of religious and political functions of visual arts.

Affective Domain:

Show interest in appreciating artworks and their purposes in the community.
Value the role of visual arts in communication, culture, and learning.
Demonstrate respect for cultural symbols and traditional artworks.

Psychomotor Domain:

Match pictures of artworks to their correct functions during class activity.
Create a simple poster sketch with a clear message for a school event or product.
Draw and label at least three common symbols used in visual communication.

Work in groups to classify displayed artworks according to their functions.
Participate in discussion by giving examples of artworks and their uses.
Present group findings clearly and listen to other groups respectfully.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
New Practical Fine Art for Senior Secondary Schools (chapter on visual arts and their functions)
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Visual Arts
Tate: Art Terms
The Met: Resources for Educators

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Pictures of artworks showing different functions (posters, masks, stools, symbols, decorative items)
Household materials and craft items (pot, bowl, woven basket, fabric sample, beadwork, calabash)
Posters and sign designs (school notices, product posters, public health posters)
Chart paper for classification (Function and Examples)
Board and markers/chalk
Notebooks and writing materials

Rationale for the Lesson

Visual arts are used daily in the home, school, religion, politics, and business. Understanding the functions of visual arts helps pupils to interpret artworks correctly and use art to communicate messages and solve simple needs.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can define visual art and mention examples of fine arts and applied arts such as drawing, painting, textiles, and ceramics.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Functions of Visual Arts

Meaning of Functions of Visual Arts

Functions of visual arts are the purposes or uses that artworks and designs serve in society.

Utilitarian Function of Visual Arts

The utilitarian function refers to artworks that are made mainly for practical use.

The following are examples of utilitarian functions of visual arts:

Pots, bowls, and plates used for cooking and serving food.
Woven baskets and trays used for storage and carrying items.
Textiles and clothing materials used for dressing and protection.
Furniture designs and decorated household items used daily.
Ceramic tiles and building decorations used in homes and public places.

Advertising Function of Visual Arts (Posters)

The advertising function uses visual art to inform, persuade, or promote goods, services, and events.

The following are ways posters serve advertising functions:

Announcing products and their benefits to customers.
Promoting school events such as inter-house sports, drama, and cultural day.
Giving public messages such as health and safety campaigns.
Directing people using signboards and notices in markets and streets.
Creating brand identity through logos, colours, and slogans.

Aesthetic Function of Visual Arts

The aesthetic function refers to the use of visual arts for beauty, decoration, and enjoyment.

The following are examples of aesthetic functions of visual arts:

Decorating homes and offices with paintings and wall hangings.
Beautifying public places with sculptures and murals.
Designing attractive patterns on textiles, pottery, and crafts.
Improving appearance of objects through good design and finishing.

Religious Functions of Visual Arts

The religious function refers to artworks used in worship, rituals, and religious ceremonies.

The following are examples of religious functions of visual arts:

Carved images used in shrines or religious settings.
Masks used during festivals and spiritual ceremonies.
Symbolic items used in religious processions and rites.
Decorations and sacred patterns used to mark religious spaces.

Political Functions of Visual Arts

The political function refers to artworks used to show authority, leadership, and community identity.

The following are examples of political functions of visual arts:

Chiefly stools and regalia that represent leadership and status.
Official symbols such as coats of arms and emblems.
Monuments and statues that honour leaders or heroes.
Banners and posters used during campaigns and public announcements.

Symbols in Visual Arts

Symbols in visual arts are signs or images that represent ideas, messages, or identity.

The following are examples of symbols used in visual communication:

Traffic signs such as stop, no parking, and pedestrian crossing.
Religious symbols used to identify beliefs and worship places.
National and state symbols such as flag, coat of arms, and seals.
School symbols such as badges, mottos, and house colours.
Warning symbols such as danger, fragile, and keep off.

Educational Function of Visual Arts

The educational function refers to how visual arts support teaching and learning.

The following are ways visual arts perform educational functions:

Illustrations in textbooks to explain ideas and processes.
Charts, diagrams, and maps used for classroom teaching.
Models and drawings used to teach science, technology, and history.
Pictures and posters used for public education and awareness.
Learning skills such as observation, creativity, and problem-solving through art activities.

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 displays a poster, a picture of a mask, and a decorative household craft and asks pupils to state what each item is used for.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe and state possible uses such as promotion, ceremony, decoration, or daily use.
Learning Point: Artworks and designs serve different purposes in society.

Step 2: Meaning of Functions of Visual Arts

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of functions of visual arts and lists the major functions on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy notes and mention two functions of visual arts.
Learning Point: Functions of visual arts refer to the uses and purposes of artworks and designs.

Step 3: Utilitarian and Advertising Functions

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher uses household items and posters to explain utilitarian and advertising functions with clear examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils mention examples from home and community and identify which items are utilitarian or advertising.
Learning Point: Visual arts can be used for practical needs and for promotion through posters and signs.

Step 4: Aesthetic Function

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads discussion on beauty and decoration in visual arts and shows examples of decorative designs and artworks.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils describe how artworks beautify spaces and objects and give examples they have seen.
Learning Point: Visual arts beautify objects and environments and provide enjoyment.

Step 5: Religious and Political Functions

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation with Visual Aids
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains religious and political functions using pictures of carved images, masks, chiefly stools, monuments, and official symbols.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils match the pictures to either religious or political function and state one example for each.
Learning Point: Visual arts support religion and politics through symbols, objects, and cultural practices.

Step 6: Symbols and Educational Function (Classification Activity)

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains symbols and educational functions, then guides group work where pupils classify pictures into the correct function and justify their choices.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils classify items, present group answers, and draw three simple symbols with meanings in their notebooks.
Learning Point: Symbols carry messages, and visual arts support teaching and learning through illustrations and charts.

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 functions of visual arts.
List five functions of visual arts.
State three examples of utilitarian function and two examples of advertising function.
Explain two ways visual arts perform educational function.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summary and Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the main functions with examples and gives an assignment for pupils to draw a simple poster for a school event and write its function and message.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the assignment and ask questions where necessary.
Learning Point: Visual arts serve many purposes including practical use, communication, culture, and education.

Lesson Keywords

Function – The purpose or use of an artwork or design.
Utilitarian – Made mainly for practical use.
Advertising – Promoting goods, services, or events using visual messages.
Poster – A printed design used to inform or persuade people.
Aesthetic – Related to beauty and enjoyment.
Religious function – Use of art in worship, rituals, and ceremonies.
Political function – Use of art to show authority, leadership, and identity.
Symbol – A sign or image that represents an idea or message.
Educational function – Use of art to support teaching and learning.

Differentiation

Pupils who need support will use a prepared table to match pictures to functions with guided choices. Pupils who progress faster will create a poster sketch, label its parts (title, image, slogan), and explain the function and target audience.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Use familiar local examples such as posters in markets, school notices, religious symbols, and decorated household items to make functions clear. Keep points short and examinable, and reinforce learning through picture matching and simple poster drawing.