Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before the lesson, prepare charts or pictures showing children greeting adults (e.g., kneeling, prostrating, shaking hands). Ensure you have a clear space for pupils to practice the greeting actions. The central idea is for pupils to understand that greetings show respect and to be able to demonstrate simple local greeting customs. Successful learning will be observed when pupils can explain what greeting means and demonstrate kneeling (girls) and prostrating (boys) respectfully.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: First Term
Week: 1
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Civic Education
Curriculum Theme: Civic Education
Previous Lesson: Understanding self and family members
Topic: GREETINGS
Subject Matter: Meaning of greetings and local ways boys and girls greet.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Discuss the simple meaning of greeting.
- Identify local ways boys and girls greet in Nigeria.
Affective Domain
- Appreciate the importance of greeting elders respectfully.
- Show willingness to practice polite greetings.
Psychomotor Domain
- Demonstrate kneeling down (girls) as a form of greeting.
- Demonstrate prostrating (boys) as a form of greeting.
Social Domain
- Interact politely with peers and adults using appropriate greetings.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources
Instructional Materials
- Charts showing different greeting gestures (e.g., kneeling, prostrating, waving)
- Pictures of children greeting adults
- Audio recording of simple greetings (e.g., “Good morning,” “Good afternoon”)
- Video on cultural greetings (if available and appropriate)
- Toys (dolls or puppets for role-play)
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 4-year-olds as it introduces them to fundamental social etiquette and cultural values. Learning about greetings helps children understand how to show respect and politeness, fostering positive social interactions and building a foundation for good character development within their community and beyond.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify familiar people in their environment like parents, teachers, and friends. They also know how to say “hello” or “good morning” in a simple way.
Lesson Content/Board Summary
GREETINGS: Meaning and Local Ways Boys and Girls Greet
What is Greeting?
Greeting means saying “hello” or showing respect when you meet someone. It is a way to be friendly and polite.
Why Do We Greet?
- To show respect to older people.
- To show we are happy to see someone.
- To be polite and friendly.
Local Ways Boys and Girls Greet in Nigeria
In many Nigerian cultures, boys and girls greet elders in special ways to show deep respect:
- Boys: Prostrate (lie flat on the ground, face down, with hands stretched forward).
- Girls: Kneel down (bend both knees to the ground).
When we greet, we also say polite words like “Good morning, Ma/Sir” or “Good afternoon, Uncle/Aunty.”
Key Words
- Greeting – saying hello or showing respect.
- Respect – showing honour to someone, especially elders.
- Prostrate – for boys to lie flat on the ground to greet.
- Kneel – for girls to bend knees to the ground to greet.
Greeting Song
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
When you meet someone today,
A nice “hello” you should say.
Boys will prostrate on the floor,
Girls will kneel, then ask for more.
Greeting shows respect and care,
Polite children everywhere!
Actions:
- “When you meet someone today” – wave hand.
- “A nice ‘hello’ you should say” – put hand to mouth like speaking.
- “Boys will prostrate on the floor” – boys pretend to prostrate.
- “Girls will kneel, then ask for more” – girls pretend to kneel.
- “Greeting shows respect and care” – hug self.
- “Polite children everywhere!” – point around the room.
Watch and Practise
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Begin by asking pupils how they greet their parents or teachers. Use the charts and pictures to illustrate different ways of greeting. Explain the simple meaning of greeting as being polite and showing respect. Emphasize the specific actions for boys (prostrating) and girls (kneeling) as common Nigerian cultural practices.
What to show or demonstrate: Clearly demonstrate the actions of prostrating and kneeling. Use dolls or puppets to role-play greeting scenarios. Show pictures of children performing these greetings respectfully. Model saying polite greeting phrases like “Good morning, Ma” or “Good afternoon, Sir.”
How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce the “Greeting Song” after explaining the local ways of greeting. Sing it slowly with actions, repeating it several times. Encourage pupils to join in the singing and perform the actions. This reinforces the lesson in a fun, active way.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as showing children greeting in a respectful way. Ask pupils to watch carefully for how the children greet adults. After watching, discuss what they observed, focusing on the respectful actions and words used. Encourage them to try out some of the greetings they saw.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils understand why we greet and if they can correctly differentiate between prostrating for boys and kneeling for girls. Ensure they perform the actions respectfully, not playfully.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Role-play
- Imitation
- Video Presentation
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly, “Good morning, children!” and asks them how they greet their parents when they wake up or their teacher when they come to school.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s greeting and share how they greet people (e.g., “Good morning,” “Hello”).
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and recall simple greetings they already know.
Step 2: Meaning of Greetings
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Visual Aid
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows charts/pictures of people greeting. The teacher explains that greeting means saying “hello” or showing respect when you meet someone. It makes people feel happy and shows you are polite.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures and listen to the explanation. They repeat “Greeting means saying hello and showing respect.”
Learning Point: Pupils understand the simple meaning of greeting.
Step 3: Why We Greet
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks, “Why do we greet people?” and guides pupils to understand that we greet to show respect, to be friendly, and to show we care. The teacher emphasizes greeting elders.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute ideas and repeat after the teacher, “We greet to show respect.”
Learning Point: Pupils understand the importance of greeting, especially elders.
Step 4: Local Ways to Greet (Demonstration)
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Modelling
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains that in Nigeria, we have special ways to greet elders. The teacher demonstrates how boys prostrate (lie flat) and how girls kneel down. The teacher uses a doll or puppet to show the actions clearly.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the teacher’s demonstration carefully, observing the actions for boys and girls.
Learning Point: Pupils observe and identify the specific local greeting actions.
Step 5: Guided Practice of Local Greetings
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Correction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks boys to practice prostrating and girls to practice kneeling. The teacher provides gentle guidance and correction to ensure they perform the actions correctly and respectfully.
Pupils’ Activity: Boys practice prostrating, and girls practice kneeling, under the teacher’s guidance.
Learning Point: Pupils physically practice the local greeting gestures.
Step 6: Reinforcement (Song and Video)
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Audio-Visual/Singing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Greeting Song” with actions. The teacher then plays the video on greetings, asking pupils to observe how children greet respectfully.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song with actions and watch the video, paying attention to the greeting behaviours.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding through song and visual examples.
Step 7: Evaluation/Review
Time: 4–5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.
- What does it mean to greet someone?
- Why is it important to greet our elders?
- Boys, show us how you greet an elder respectfully.
- Girls, show us how you greet an elder respectfully.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 1 minute
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Encouragement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for participating and reminds them to always greet people politely, especially their elders, using the appropriate local customs. The teacher ends the lesson with a polite farewell.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and say goodbye politely.
Learning Point: Pupils are encouraged to apply the learned social habits in their daily lives.
Lesson Keywords
- Greeting – saying hello or showing respect to someone.
- Respect – showing honour and good manners, especially to older people.
- Prostrate – a way boys greet by lying flat on the ground.
- Kneel – a way girls greet by bending their knees to the ground.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who find it difficult to perform the actions, the teacher can provide hand-over-hand guidance for kneeling or prostrating. Use larger pictures and repeat the explanations more slowly. Encourage them to just say “Good morning” if the actions are too challenging initially.
- Extension: Encourage pupils who grasp the concept quickly to name other people they should greet (e.g., neighbours, visitors). Ask them to demonstrate greeting using both the action and a polite phrase (e.g., “Good morning, Ma,” while kneeling).
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