Prepositions, Identification, Features and Functions for JSS 2

Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 6
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Language Studies
Curriculum Theme: Grammatical Accuracy
Previous Lesson: Descriptive Composition, Structure and Steps
Topic: Grammatical Accuracy
Subject Matter: Prepositions, Identification, Features and Functions

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify prepositions from selected passages.
• State the function features of prepositions.
• Construct grammatically correct sentences using prepositions.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the role of prepositions in conveying clear meaning.
• Develop an interest in using prepositions accurately in writing and speech.

Psychomotor Domain

• Underline prepositions in given sentences or passages.
• Write sentences correctly using various prepositions.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• English Language for Junior Secondary Schools, Book 2
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Charts showing common prepositions
• Various passages for identification practice
• Sentence strips for practical sentence construction
• Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding prepositions is essential for building grammatically correct and clear sentences. This lesson helps students grasp how prepositions connect words and phrases, thereby improving their overall written and spoken English. Accurate use of prepositions enhances precision and coherence in communication.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have a basic understanding of parts of speech, especially nouns and pronouns, and be able to form simple sentences.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Prepositions

What are Prepositions?

Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. They often indicate position, direction, time, or manner.

Examples of common prepositions include:

1. in
2. on
3. at
4. under
5. over
6. behind
7. in front of
8. between
9. among
10. to
11. from
12. with
13. for
14. of
15. by
16. during
17. after
18. before

Identification of Prepositions

To identify a preposition, look for words that link a noun or pronoun (called the object of the preposition) to another part of the sentence, showing a relationship.

Consider the following passage:

The cat sat on the mat. It jumped over the fence and ran into the garden. The children played with their toys in the house before dinner. They walked to the park after school.

In this passage, the prepositions are: on, over, into, with, in, before, to, after.

Features and Functions of Prepositions

Prepositions serve several key functions:

1. Show Position/Location: They tell us where something is.

Example: The book is on the table.

2. Show Direction: They indicate movement towards a place.

Example: She walked to the market.

3. Show Time: They specify when an event occurs.

Example: We will meet at noon.

4. Show Manner: They describe how something is done.

Example: He writes with a pen.

5. Show Relationship: They connect a noun or pronoun to another part of the sentence, clarifying their connection.

Example: The girl with red hair is my sister.

Making Sentences with Prepositions

Here are examples of sentences using different prepositions:

1. The bird flew above the clouds.
2. She lives in Lagos.
3. The boy hid behind the door.
4. We travelled by bus.
5. He waited for his friend.
6. The ball rolled under the chair.
7. They talked about their holiday.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Individual Practice

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them to identify some linking words in simple sentences like “The cat is ___ the mat.” (e.g., on, under). The teacher then introduces the topic: Prepositions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Introduction to prepositions

Step 2: Identification of Prepositions

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a passage on a chart or writes it on the board. The teacher then guides students to identify and underline prepositions within the passage, providing examples of common prepositions.

Pupils’ Activity: Students actively participate in identifying prepositions from the passage and underline them as guided.

Learning Point: Spotting prepositions in text

Step 3: Explanation of Preposition Features and Functions

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining concepts

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what prepositions are and their main features, such as showing relationships of place, time, direction, and manner. The teacher uses simple examples to illustrate each function.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and ask questions for clarification regarding the features and functions of prepositions.

Learning Point: Understanding preposition roles

Step 4: Examples of Preposition Functions

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Illustrative examples

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides various sentences on sentence strips or the board, highlighting how different prepositions function to show specific relationships (e.g., “The book is on the shelf” for position, “She went to school” for direction).

Pupils’ Activity: Students observe the examples and discuss the different functions of prepositions as demonstrated by the teacher.

Learning Point: Preposition function examples

Step 5: Guided Practice (Identification)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Facilitating practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides another short passage or a set of sentences and asks students to work in pairs to identify and circle all the prepositions. The teacher walks around to provide support.

Pupils’ Activity: Students work in pairs to identify and circle prepositions in the given sentences/passage.

Learning Point: Practising preposition identification

Step 6: Guided Practice (Sentence Making)

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Encouraging application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher gives students a list of common prepositions (e.g., ‘with’, ‘for’, ‘under’) and asks them to individually construct one sentence for each. The teacher monitors and offers assistance.

Pupils’ Activity: Students construct sentences using the given prepositions, applying what they have learned.

Learning Point: Constructing sentences with prepositions

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

1. What is a preposition?
2. Identify the prepositions in the sentence: “The cat slept under the table for an hour.”
3. Mention two functions of prepositions.
4. Make a sentence using the preposition “between”.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Assessment of understanding

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on prepositions, their features, and functions into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarising

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reviews the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of using prepositions correctly for clear communication. The teacher encourages students to pay attention to prepositions in their reading and writing.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen to the summary and prepare for the next lesson.

Learning Point: Lesson consolidation

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Read the following passage and complete the tasks below:

Our school is located near the market. Students walk to school from their homes every morning. During break time, they play football on the field with their friends. The principal’s office is beside the library. Classes usually end at 2:00 PM.

1. List all the prepositions found in the passage.
2. Choose three prepositions from the passage and use each in a new, original sentence.
3. Explain in your own words what a preposition does in a sentence.

Lesson Keywords

• Preposition – A word that shows the relationship between a noun/pronoun and other words.
• Relationship – The connection or link shown by a preposition (e.g., time, place, direction).
• Position – The location of something, often indicated by prepositions like ‘on’, ‘under’, ‘in’.
• Direction – The path or course of movement, shown by prepositions like ‘to’, ‘from’, ‘into’.
• Object – The noun or pronoun that follows a preposition.

Differentiation

For students who struggle, provide simpler sentences and passages for identification and sentence construction. For advanced learners, challenge them to identify prepositional phrases and explain their role in more complex sentences.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, students can search on YouTube for: prepositions for jss2 english

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have prepared clear charts of common prepositions, selected passages for identification, and sentence strips for practical exercises. Begin by briefly reviewing parts of speech to set the context for prepositions. Guide students through identifying prepositions in passages, then clearly explain their features and functions with varied examples. Encourage active participation during guided practice for both identification and sentence making. Pay attention to common errors, such as confusing prepositions with adverbs. Students should copy the Board Summary notes after the main teaching and practice activities. Conclude by reinforcing the importance of accurate preposition use in everyday communication.