Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, prepare a variety of clear pictures or charts showing different Nigerian ethnic groups, their traditional attire, and popular food items. The central idea for pupils is that Nigeria has many different people who dress, eat, and live in unique ways, and we should appreciate this diversity. Successful learning will be observed when pupils can identify at least two ethnic groups and describe one traditional dress or food item.
Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: Second Term
Week: 4
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Social Habits
Curriculum Theme: Social Habits
Previous Lesson: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Topic: People in Our Country
Subject Matter: People in Our Country.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify at least two major ethnic groups in Nigeria from pictures.
- Name one traditional food from a chosen ethnic group.
- Describe one traditional dress from a chosen ethnic group.
Affective Domain
- Show appreciation for the diversity of people in Nigeria.
- Participate respectfully in discussions about different cultures.
Psychomotor Domain
- Point to pictures of different traditional attires and food.
- Attempt to mimic simple actions from a cultural dance (if shown in video/demonstrated).
Social Domain
- Share simple observations about different ethnic groups.
- Engage in group discussions about Nigerian people.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
- Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources
- Early-years social habits workbook/textbook
Instructional Materials
- Charts and posters showing different Nigerian ethnic groups
- Pictures of traditional Nigerian attire (e.g., Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba)
- Pictures of popular Nigerian traditional foods (e.g., Jollof Rice, Tuwo Shinkafa, Akpu, Amala)
- Audio recordings of traditional Nigerian music (optional)
- Video clips showing Nigerian cultural diversity
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson helps 4-year-olds understand that Nigeria is home to many different groups of people, each with their own unique ways of dressing and eating. Learning about these differences promotes respect, appreciation for diversity, and a sense of national identity from an early age, helping children build a foundation for positive social interactions within their community and country.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can identify different people in their family and immediate community. They know that people look different and wear different types of clothes.Lesson Content/Board Summary
People in Our Country
Nigeria is a big country with many different people. These people belong to different groups called ethnic groups. Each ethnic group has its own special way of life, including how they dress and the food they eat. Some major ethnic groups in Nigeria are:- Yoruba: Many Yoruba people live in the South-West of Nigeria. They often wear beautiful clothes like ‘Aso Oke’ and ‘Buba and Iro’ for women, and ‘Agbada’ for men. A popular food is ‘Amala’ with ‘Ewedu’ soup.
- Hausa: Many Hausa people live in the North of Nigeria. They often wear flowing robes like ‘Babban Riga’ for men and colourful wrappers with head ties for women. A popular food is ‘Tuwo Shinkafa’ with ‘Miyan Kuka’.
- Igbo: Many Igbo people live in the South-East of Nigeria. They often wear traditional shirts and trousers for men, and blouses with wrappers for women, often adorned with coral beads. A popular food is ‘Akpu’ or ‘Garri’ with ‘Egusi’ soup.
Key Words
- Nigeria – Our country.
- Ethnic groups – Different groups of people in our country.
- Dress – The clothes people wear.
- Food – What people eat.
- Culture – The way people live, dress, and eat.
Our Nigerian Friends Song
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Lyrics:
Different people, big and small,
In our country, one and all.
Different clothes and different food,
Being neighbours, oh so good!
Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo too,
Friends in Nigeria, me and you!
Actions: Point to self and friends, make ‘big’ and ‘small’ gestures, hug self, point to different directions, clap hands.
Watch and Learn About Our Clothes
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Introduce Nigeria as our country. Use the charts and posters to show pictures of the different ethnic groups as you name them. Emphasize that all these groups are part of Nigeria. Keep explanations simple and focus on visual differences.
What to show or demonstrate: Point to the pictures of traditional attire for Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba people. Ask pupils to describe what they see. Show pictures of the mentioned traditional foods and ask if anyone has eaten them. Encourage pupils to share if they belong to any of these groups or know someone who does.
How to use the rhyme/song: Introduce “Our Nigerian Friends Song” after discussing the different groups. Sing it slowly with actions, repeating it two to three times. Encourage pupils to join in the actions and sing along, especially the names of the ethnic groups.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a chance to see more beautiful Nigerian clothes. Play the video “Nigerian Traditional Attires for Kids”. After watching, ask pupils what kinds of clothes they saw and if they can name any. Encourage them to point to similar clothes on the charts or posters.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils can identify the different attires and show interest in the cultural differences. Correct any misconceptions about one culture being “better” than another, emphasizing that all are good and unique.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Storytelling, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Role-play, Repetition, Practical Activity.Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and leads a short “Good Morning” song. The teacher then asks pupils to name some people they know (e.g., Mummy, Daddy, friends) and what makes them special.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils greet the teacher, sing along, and name people they know, sharing simple observations.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and recall that people are different and special.
Step 2: Presentation – Our Diverse Country
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining/Visual Aid Use
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces Nigeria as our country and explains that many different groups of people live here. The teacher shows charts with pictures of people from different ethnic groups (e.g., Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo) and names them simply. “This is a Yoruba person, this is a Hausa person, this is an Igbo person.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, look at the pictures, and repeat the names of the ethnic groups after the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils begin to recognise that Nigeria has different ethnic groups.
Step 3: Discussion – Traditional Dress
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Describing/Comparing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher focuses on the traditional clothes of each group shown in the pictures. “Look at what the Yoruba person is wearing. It’s called Aso Oke. See the Hausa person’s big gown, a Babban Riga. And the Igbo person’s beautiful beads.” The teacher asks pupils to point to the different clothes.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils point to the different clothes in the pictures and describe what they see (e.g., “It’s colourful,” “It’s long”).
Learning Point: Pupils identify and describe different traditional dresses.
Step 4: Discussion – Traditional Food
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining/Relating
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows pictures of popular foods from the ethnic groups discussed (e.g., Amala, Tuwo Shinkafa, Akpu). “The Yoruba people love Amala. The Hausa people enjoy Tuwo Shinkafa. The Igbo people eat Akpu.” The teacher asks if anyone has eaten these foods.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the food pictures, name any they recognise, and share if they have eaten them.
Learning Point: Pupils recognise different traditional Nigerian foods.
Step 5: Rhyme Time – Our Nigerian Friends Song
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Singing/Action
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces and leads the pupils in singing “Our Nigerian Friends Song” with actions. The teacher repeats the song two to three times to help pupils learn the lyrics and actions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, sing along, and perform the actions for the song.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce the idea of unity and diversity through song.
Step 6: Video Reinforcement
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the video “Nigerian Traditional Attires for Kids” for the pupils. After the video, the teacher asks pupils what they saw and what they liked about the different clothes.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video and respond to the teacher’s questions about the traditional attires shown.
Learning Point: Pupils visually reinforce their understanding of diverse Nigerian traditional clothing.
Step 7: Evaluation/Review
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.
- Point to a picture of a Hausa person.
- Name one type of traditional dress you saw today.
- Name one type of traditional food from a Nigerian ethnic group.
- Say “We are all Nigerians.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarising/Encouraging
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the lesson by reminding pupils that Nigeria has many wonderful people with different ways of dressing and eating, and that we must respect everyone. The teacher leads a closing song about friendship.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and sing the closing song.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the importance of respecting diverse people in Nigeria.
Lesson Keywords
- Nigeria – Our country.
- Ethnic groups – Different groups of people in our country.
- Dress – The clothes people wear.
- Food – What people eat.
- Culture – The way people live, dress, and eat.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who are struggling, use larger, very distinct pictures. Focus on identifying just one ethnic group, one dress, and one food. Provide hand-over-hand guidance to point to pictures. Use more repetition of key words and phrases.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, ask them to identify more than one dress or food item. Encourage them to share if they know anyone from other ethnic groups and what they know about their way of life. Ask them to draw a simple picture of a traditional dress they saw.
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