Class: Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS 1 / JS1)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 8
Age: 12 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Basic Science and Technology
Curriculum Theme: Social Studies / Cultural Heritage
Previous Lesson: Mouse Techniques, Clicking Double-clicking.
Topic: Culture: Meaning, Components, and Characteristics
Subject Matter: Characteristics of Culture, Meaning and components of culture: Culture, Total way of life, Components: Material and non-material, Features of culture: Language, food, dressing, religion, craft, technology

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define culture in their own words.
Identify the two main components of culture.
List at least three characteristics of culture.
Mention at least four features of culture.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of understanding different cultures.
Value cultural diversity and respect other people’s ways of life.

Psychomotor Domain:

Illustrate examples of material and non-material culture.
Draw simple representations of cultural items like traditional attire or craft.

Discuss how culture influences daily life and interactions.
Promote respect and tolerance for people from different cultural backgrounds.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Basic Science and Technology for Junior Secondary Schools 1
https://www.google.com/search?q=meaning+of+culture+for+jss1&oq=meaning+of+culture+for+jss1&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCTEwMTk5ajBqMTWoAgiAAg&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://nigerianscholars.com/lesson-notes/basic-science-and-technology-jss1-second-term-lesson-notes/

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing different cultural groups and their practices.
Pictures of various cultural items (e.g., traditional attire, food, crafts).
Realia such as local craft items or traditional fabrics.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand their own cultural identity and appreciate the diverse cultures within Nigeria and beyond. It enables them to recognize how culture shapes people’s lives and promotes respect for different ways of living.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have a basic understanding of society, community, and different groups of people around them.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Culture: Meaning, Components, and Characteristics

Meaning of Culture

Culture refers to the total way of life of a group of people. It includes their beliefs, values, customs, traditions, language, food, dressing, arts, and social habits. Culture is learned and passed down from one generation to another.

Components of Culture

Culture is generally divided into two main components:

Material Culture: These are the physical objects or artifacts created and used by a society. They are tangible things that can be seen and touched.
- Examples: Clothes, food, houses, tools, cars, crafts, technology, utensils.
Non-material Culture: These are the abstract or intangible aspects of culture that guide people’s behavior. They cannot be seen or touched directly.
- Examples: Beliefs, values, norms, language, religion, customs, traditions, laws, ideas.

Characteristics of Culture

Culture has several key characteristics:

Learned: Culture is not inherited; it is acquired through learning and socialization within a group.
Shared: Culture is common to a group of people, not just an individual. It provides a common understanding.
Dynamic: Culture is not static; it changes and adapts over time due to various influences like technology, migration, or external contact.
Integrated: The different parts of culture (beliefs, values, customs) are connected and form a consistent whole.
Symbolic: Culture uses symbols (words, gestures, objects) to represent meanings and ideas.

Features of Culture

Some common features that define a culture include:

Language: The system of communication (spoken or written) used by a group of people.
Food: The types of dishes, cooking methods, and eating habits common to a group.
Dressing: The traditional attire, styles, and clothing preferences of a people.
Religion: The system of beliefs and worship concerning a spiritual power or God.
Craft: Skills in making objects by hand, often for practical or artistic purposes (e.g., pottery, weaving, carving).
Technology: The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, including tools and methods used by a group.

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 mention some things that make their community different from another community they know.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by mentioning differences in food, dressing, language, or celebrations.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the idea of different ways of life among people.

Step 2: Meaning of Culture

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of culture as the total way of life of a group of people, including their beliefs, customs, and practices. The teacher writes the definition on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively, ask questions for clarity, and copy the definition into their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils understand and can define culture.

Step 3: Components of Culture

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elucidation/Categorization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the two main components of culture: material and non-material culture, providing examples for each. The teacher uses charts or realia to show examples of material culture.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify examples of material and non-material culture from their environment and note them down.
Learning Point: Pupils can distinguish between material and non-material components of culture.

Step 4: Characteristics of Culture

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Listing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the characteristics of culture, such as being learned, shared, and dynamic, explaining each point with simple examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions, and list the characteristics in their notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that culture is not static and is passed down.

Step 5: Features of Culture

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Examples
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on various features of culture, including language, food, dressing, religion, craft, and technology, asking pupils to provide examples from different Nigerian cultures.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate in the discussion, sharing examples and making notes.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify and provide examples of different features of culture.

Step 6: Class Activity/Discussion

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Group Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher divides pupils into small groups and asks them to discuss one aspect of their own culture they are proud of.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss within their groups and one or two groups share their points with the class.
Learning Point: Pupils engage in peer learning and reinforce their understanding of cultural identity.

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 culture in your own words.
Mention two components of culture and give one example for each.
State three characteristics of culture.
List four features of culture.

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
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of respecting diverse cultures. The teacher assigns homework: “Draw and label two items that represent your material culture.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: The lesson is concluded, and pupils have follow-up work.

Home Task: Record two correct examples of Culture: Meaning, Components, and Characteristics from the lesson or home environment and explain each in your own words.

Lesson Keywords

Culture – The total way of life of a group of people.
Material Culture – Tangible objects created and used by people.
Non-material Culture – Intangible beliefs, values, and customs of a people.
Characteristics – Distinguishing qualities or features.
Features – Prominent or distinguishing parts of something.
Language – A system of communication.
Dressing – Traditional attire or clothing style.
Religion – A system of faith and worship.
Craft – Skills in making objects by hand.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can challenge them to compare and contrast two different Nigerian cultures based on the features discussed. For those who need more support, the teacher will provide more visual aids and simplified explanations, focusing on defining culture and identifying basic components.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage pupils to share examples from their own cultural backgrounds throughout the lesson to make it more relatable and engaging. Emphasize respect for all cultures. Ensure the examples used are inclusive of the diverse cultures present in the classroom and Nigeria as a whole.