Class: Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1, JSS 1)
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 2
Age: 12 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: National Values Education
Curriculum Theme: Civic Education
Previous Lesson: Benefits of Cooperation, Harmony, Progress and Good Achievement
Topic: Self Reliance (Part 1)
Subject Matter: Meaning of self-reliance and examples of self-reliance.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:
(a) Explain the concept of self-reliance.
(b) Identify examples of self-reliance in daily life.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the value of being independent and responsible.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Demonstrate simple actions that show self-reliance at school and home.
Social Domain:
(a) Cooperate with classmates in group discussions on how to be self-reliant.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
Lagos State Unified Scheme of Work for Junior Secondary Schools
Britannica – “Self-Reliance and Individual Responsibility” (https://www.britannica.com/topic/self-reliance)
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Pictures showing people engaging in self-reliant activities (e.g., tailoring, farming, or trading)
Flash cards with examples of self-reliant acts
Short story or chart illustrating self-reliant individuals
Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson will help pupils understand the importance of being self-reliant in their personal growth and encourage them to develop a sense of responsibility and independence.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have learned about personal responsibilities and can describe ways they help their families or take care of themselves without depending on others.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Self-Reliance

Self-reliance means the ability to depend on oneself for the things needed in life. It involves using one’s skills, knowledge, and effort to solve problems and achieve goals without depending too much on others.

The following are the main ideas about self-reliance:

It is the act of being independent in thought and action.
It means taking responsibility for one’s success and failure.
It encourages hard work and determination.
It helps individuals make decisions confidently.
It reduces laziness and dependence on others.

Examples of Self-Reliance

People show self-reliance in different areas of life such as school, home, and work.

Examples include:

A student reading and preparing for exams without being forced.
A young person learning a trade or skill such as tailoring, carpentry, or baking.
A farmer growing crops instead of waiting for others to feed him.
A pupil washing his or her clothes without help from parents.
An entrepreneur starting a small business with personal savings.
A person making wise choices and accepting the results of those choices.

Self-Reliance With Responsible Interdependence

Self-reliance means using one’s knowledge, effort and judgement to carry out suitable responsibilities without unnecessary dependence. It does not mean rejecting cooperation, expert help or lawful public services. A self-reliant learner prepares, attempts a task, seeks appropriate help when needed and remains accountable for the result.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Discussion, Lecture, Explanation, Storytelling, Demonstration, Group Work, Question and Answer

Instructional Procedures

To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher begins by telling a short story about a young person who learned to earn money through personal effort and asks pupils if they know anyone like that.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and respond by sharing similar experiences.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the need for self-reliance through relatable examples.

Step 2: Explanation of Self-Reliance

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher explains the meaning of self-reliance using simple examples and flash cards.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and ask questions for better understanding.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the meaning and importance of self-reliance.

Step 3: Examples of Self-Reliance

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher discusses examples of self-reliance and encourages pupils to identify how they practice it in school and at home.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils mention personal examples and participate in the discussion.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify real-life examples of self-reliance.

Step 4: Group Activity on Self-Reliance

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Group Work
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher divides the class into groups to discuss how self-reliance can help them become better students and citizens.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss in groups and share ideas with the class.
Learning Point: Pupils learn teamwork and practical application of self-reliance in everyday life.

Step 5: Note-Taking

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher writes the lesson summary on the board for pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils write the notes neatly in their exercise books.
Learning Point: Pupils have a complete record of the day’s lesson.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What is self-reliance?
Mention three examples of self-reliance.
How can you show self-reliance at school?
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the questions orally.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of self-reliance.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher summarizes the lesson and encourages pupils to practice self-reliance daily.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and make personal resolutions to be self-reliant.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate the importance of being independent and responsible.

Home Task: Write a short, evidence-based paragraph about one safe and relevant example of Self Reliance (Part 1).

Lesson Keywords

Self-Reliance – ability to depend on oneself to meet needs.
Independence – freedom from depending on others.
Responsibility – being accountable for one’s actions.
Determination – the will to continue working toward goals.
Confidence – belief in one’s ability to succeed.

Differentiation

The teacher supports slower learners with simpler examples and oral explanations, while faster learners help to lead group discussions and identify creative examples.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage pupils to practice self-reliance by assigning small independent tasks. Use local and relatable examples to make the concept practical and meaningful.