Features of Nok Culture: Art, Technology & Lifestyle

History JSS 1 Second Term Lesson Notes – Week 3

Topic: Features of Nok Culture

Lesson Details

Subject: History
Class: JSS 1
Term: Second Term
Week: 3
Age: 10–13 years
Duration: 40 Minutes

Behavioural Objectives

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

Identify the major features of the Nok culture.
Describe the artistic and technological advancements of the Nok people.
Explain the significance of Nok terracotta sculptures.
Discuss how the Nok civilization contributed to later West African cultures.

Keywords

Culture
Features
Terracotta
Iron smelting
Civilization

Set Induction

The teacher asks students to name some traditional Nigerian cultures they know and describe any ancient artifacts they have heard of.

Entry Behaviour

Students have learned about the Nok people’s way of life, their occupations, and their settlements.

Learning Resources and Materials

Pictures of Nok terracotta sculptures
Diagrams of ancient iron tools
Map of Nigeria showing Nok culture locations

Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge

Students have learned about the Nok people’s economic activities and how they used iron tools and pottery. This lesson focuses on the key features of their culture.

Embedded Core Skills

Critical thinking
Visual analysis
Historical reasoning

Learning Materials

History textbooks
Online images of Nok artifacts
Classroom discussions

Reference Books

“Junior Secondary History” by A. O. Anjorin
“Nigerian History for Schools” by F.K. Ekechi

Lesson Explanation

The Nok culture is one of the earliest known civilizations in Nigeria. It is famous for its advanced iron technology, terracotta sculptures, and well-organized society.

1. Features of Nok Culture

The major features of the Nok culture include:

a) Terracotta Sculptures

The Nok people are famous for their terracotta (baked clay) sculptures.
These sculptures depict human and animal figures with elaborate hairstyles and facial expressions.
They were possibly used for religious or ceremonial purposes.

b) Advanced Iron Technology

The Nok people were among the first in Africa to develop iron smelting and metalworking.
They made iron tools such as hoes, knives, and spears, which improved farming, hunting, and warfare.

c) Agriculture and Economy

They practiced subsistence farming, growing crops like millet, sorghum, and yams.
They kept animals like goats, sheep, and cattle.
They engaged in trade with neighboring communities, exchanging iron tools, pottery, and food items.

d) Settlement and Social Organization

Nok settlements were small, organized villages.
They had a hierarchical leadership structure, likely ruled by chiefs or elders.
They lived in mud houses with thatched roofs.

e) Religious and Cultural Practices

They believed in ancestor worship and possibly nature spirits.
Their terracotta sculptures may have had spiritual or ceremonial significance.

f) Influence on Later Nigerian Cultures

The Nok culture influenced later West African civilizations like Ife and Benin, especially in art and metalworking.
Some features of Nok terracotta can be seen in Yoruba and Igbo art today.

Evaluation Questions (Fill in the Blanks with a, b, c, or d)

The Nok people are best known for their ____ sculptures.
a) Bronze
b) Marble
c) Terracotta
d) Gold
Nok iron tools helped improve ____.
a) Music
b) Agriculture
c) Literature
d) Medicine
The Nok people used terracotta sculptures for ____.
a) Cooking
b) Decoration
c) Religious and cultural purposes
d) Trading with Europeans
The Nok civilization influenced later cultures like ____.
a) Ancient Rome
b) Ife and Benin
c) Ancient Egypt
d) The British Empire
The Nok people lived in ____.
a) Cities
b) Castles
c) Small villages
d) Forest camps
One of the economic activities of the Nok people was ____.
a) Shipbuilding
b) Iron smelting
c) Coal mining
d) Electricity generation
The Nok people practiced ____ farming.
a) Subsistence
b) Mechanized
c) Commercial
d) Industrial
The Nok people built their houses using ____.
a) Bricks
b) Cement
c) Mud and thatch
d) Metal
The Nok society was ruled by ____.
a) Kings
b) Soldiers
c) Chiefs or elders
d) Traders
The Nok culture flourished between ____.
a) 500 BC – 200 AD
b) 1500 AD – 1800 AD
c) 1000 AD – 1300 AD
d) 2000 BC – 1000 BC

Class Activity Discussion (10 FAQs with Answers)

What is the Nok culture best known for?
- Their terracotta sculptures and early iron technology.
Where was the Nok culture located?
- In present-day Kaduna, Plateau, and Niger States in central Nigeria.
What was the main material used in Nok sculptures?
- Terracotta (baked clay).
What was the Nok people’s major technological achievement?
- Iron smelting and metalworking.
What kind of farming did the Nok people practice?
- Subsistence farming, growing millet, sorghum, and yams.
Did the Nok people have kings?
- No, they were ruled by chiefs or elders.
How did Nok iron tools help them?
- They made farming, hunting, and warfare easier.
What were the Nok people’s houses made of?
- Mud and thatch.
What happened to the Nok culture?
- It declined around 300 AD, possibly due to climate change or migration.
Which later Nigerian cultures were influenced by the Nok?

The Ife and Benin civilizations.

Presentation Steps

Introduction: Teacher revises the previous lesson on the Nok people.
Class Discussion: Ask students what they know about ancient Nigerian artifacts.
Teacher’s Explanation: Describe the major features of the Nok culture.
Visual Learning: Show images of Nok terracotta and iron tools.
Student Engagement: Students discuss similarities between Nok culture and modern Nigerian traditions.
Conclusion: Summarize key points and answer students’ questions.

Teacher’s and Learners’ Activities

Teacher: Explains, shows pictures, moderates discussions.
Learners: Observe, ask questions, participate in discussions, take notes.

Evaluation Questions (Short Answers)

What are the key features of the Nok culture?
Name two crops the Nok people grew.
What was Nok terracotta used for?
How did iron tools help the Nok people?
Who ruled the Nok society?

Conclusion

The teacher marks students’ work, provides corrections, and assigns further reading on the features of the Nok culture.