Descriptive Essay: A Vibrant Local Festival

Composition English Grammar JSS 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 4

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Subject: English Grammar
Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 12–14 years
Topic: Descriptive Essay – A Local Festival
Sub-topic: Writing a Descriptive Essay on a Local Festival
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives

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

1. Describe a local festival in detail.
2. Use sensory details to make their description interesting.
3. Write a well-organized descriptive essay.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural significance of festivals.

Keywords

• Descriptive: Using vivid details to describe something.
• Festival: A celebration or event that often involves local culture and traditions.
• Sensory details: Describing how things look, sound, smell, taste, or feel.

Set Induction

The teacher will start by asking students to mention any festivals they have attended and share some of their experiences. This will lead into the topic of describing a local festival in detail.

Entry Behaviour

Students have attended local festivals and are familiar with basic essay structure.

Learning Resources and Materials

• Pictures of different local festivals
• Audio-visual clips showing festivals
• Whiteboard and markers

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

Students have likely attended local festivals and participated in community celebrations. This lesson builds on their experiences and helps them organize their thoughts into a descriptive essay.

Embedded Core Skills

• Communication: Writing descriptive essays using sensory details.
• Cultural Awareness: Understanding the significance of local festivals.

Reference Books

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• English Language Textbook for JSS 2

Instructional Materials

• Sample descriptive essays
• Pictures and videos of local festivals

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Content

Sample Composition: A Local Festival

One of the most memorable events in my community is the Egungun Festival, a vibrant celebration that honors the ancestors. Every year, people from near and far gather in the town square to partake in the lively festivities.

The festival always begins with the sound of drums echoing through the air, calling everyone to the main arena. The drummers, dressed in colorful attires, play rhythms that make your heart race. As I stood among the crowd, I could feel the excitement growing as the music filled the air. The vibrant colors of the costumes worn by the masqueraders were dazzling, with red, yellow, and green fabric twirling in the wind. Each Egungun masquerader wore elaborate masks that covered their entire faces, creating an air of mystery around them.

The smell of freshly prepared food added to the atmosphere, as stalls around the festival ground sold traditional dishes like jollof rice, pounded yam, and suya. The aroma of grilled meat mixed with the scent of spices, making it impossible to resist. People stood in line, eagerly waiting for their turn to grab a plate of food and enjoy it with their families.

In the middle of the square, the Egungun masqueraders performed intricate dances. Their movements were quick and precise, and the crowd cheered every time a new performer entered the circle. The drums, flutes, and gongs added a rhythmic beat to the performance, making the dancers move faster and faster. At one point, a particularly agile masquerader leaped into the air, spinning and landing gracefully, much to the delight of the audience. The spectators clapped and sang along, their voices blending with the sound of the instruments.

As the day turned to evening, the fireworks began. The night sky lit up with flashes of light, and the crowd oohed and aahed at the display. The fireworks marked the end of the festival, but the spirit of the celebration lingered in the air.

The Egungun Festival is more than just a celebration; it is a time for the community to come together, to remember the ancestors, and to celebrate the rich culture that binds us all. I look forward to the festival every year, as it reminds me of the beauty and unity in our traditions.

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15 Fill-in-the-blank Questions with Options

1. The Egungun Festival is celebrated to honor ______.
   a) Farmers
   b) Kings
   c) Ancestors
   d) Leaders
2. The festival begins with the sound of ______.
   a) Flutes
   b) Bells
   c) Drums
   d) Singing
3. The masqueraders at the Egungun Festival wear ______.
   a) Plain clothes
   b) Elaborate costumes
   c) School uniforms
   d) Traditional beads
4. The Egungun masks cover the ______ of the masqueraders.
   a) Hands
   b) Faces
   c) Feet
   d) Legs
5. People enjoy traditional dishes like ______ during the festival.
   a) Jollof rice
   b) Pasta
   c) Burgers
   d) Pizza
6. The music at the festival includes the sound of ______.
   a) Drums, flutes, and gongs
   b) Pianos and guitars
   c) Bells and whistles
   d) Trumpets and violins
7. The festival takes place in the ______.
   a) Town hall
   b) Market square
   c) Stadium
   d) Town square
8. The dancers at the festival perform ______ dances.
   a) Slow
   b) Energetic
   c) Simple
   d) Ballet
9. The festival ends with a display of ______.
   a) Traditional music
   b) Fireworks
   c) Street parades
   d) Riddles
10. The Egungun Festival is a time for the community to ______.
    a) Fight
    b) Eat
    c) Come together
    d) Compete

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15 FAQs with Answers

1. What is the Egungun Festival?
   It is a festival that honors the ancestors and celebrates the culture of the people.
2. When is the Egungun Festival held?
   It is held annually in many communities in Nigeria.
3. What do the Egungun masqueraders wear?
   They wear colorful costumes and masks that cover their faces.
4. Why are drums important in the festival?
   Drums signal the beginning of the festival and provide the rhythm for the dancers.
5. What traditional foods are served at the festival?
   Foods like jollof rice, pounded yam, and suya are served.
6. What kind of performances take place at the festival?
   Masqueraders perform intricate dances accompanied by music.
7. How does the crowd participate in the festival?
   The crowd cheers, claps, and sings along with the performers.
8. What happens at the end of the festival?
   The festival ends with a spectacular fireworks display.
9. Why is the Egungun Festival important?
   It is important because it brings the community together and celebrates tradition.
10. How do the masqueraders perform?
    They perform fast and energetic dances to the beat of the drums.
11. What sensory details make the festival come alive?
    The sound of drums, the sight of colorful costumes, the smell of food, and the fireworks.
12. What are the main highlights of the Egungun Festival?
    The masquerade performances, traditional foods, and fireworks.
13. How do people feel during the festival?
    They feel excited, joyful, and connected to their culture.
14. What role does food play in the festival?
    Food is a way to bring people together and enjoy traditional meals.
15. Why do people look forward to the Egungun Festival every year?
    Because it is a time of celebration, community, and tradition.

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Presentation (Steps 1-3)

Step 1: The teacher revises the concept of descriptive essays.
Step 2: The teacher introduces the topic by showing pictures of local festivals and explains how to use sensory details in writing.
Step 3: The teacher asks students to describe a festival they have attended or heard of, and then guides them in organizing their ideas for a descriptive essay.

Teacher’s Activities

• Introduce the elements of a descriptive essay.
• Provide examples of sensory details.
• Guide students through writing an essay outline.

Learners’ Activities

• Listen to the explanation and take notes.
• Describe a festival they know about using sensory details.
• Write their own descriptive essays.

Assessment

Students will write a descriptive essay about a local festival, ensuring that they include sensory details and organize their ideas well.

Ten Evaluation Questions

1. What is the purpose of a descriptive essay?
2. Name three sensory details used in a descriptive essay.
3. What is the significance of the Egungun Festival?
4. How do masqueraders perform at the festival?
5. What types of food are served at local festivals?
6. How does the crowd participate in the festival?
7. What is the role of music in the festival?
8. Describe the costumes of the Egungun masqueraders.
9. What happens at the end of the festival?
10. Why are festivals important in a community?

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Conclusion

The teacher will go around to mark students’ essays and provide feedback on how they used sensory details to make their description come alive.