Retelling Folktales and Understanding Drama for JSS 2 Literature in English JSS 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 9

Literature in English JSS 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 9

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Subject: Literature in English
Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 9
Age: 12-13 years
Duration: 40 minutes
Topic: Retelling a Folktale and Exploring its Theme, and Analysis of Drama in the Recommended Text
Sub-topic: Retelling a Folktale and Discussing its Theme, Understanding Drama through Recommended Text
Reference Book: Lagos State Scheme of Work, Recommended Text (Drama)

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Behavioural Objectives

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

1. Retell a selected folktale and explain its theme.
2. Identify key features of folktales, such as lessons and entertainment.
3. Discuss the theme and setting in the recommended drama text.
4. Explain the importance of themes in both folktales and drama.

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Keywords

• Folktale: A traditional story passed down through generations.
• Theme: The central idea or message in a story.
• Drama: A play or performance with dialogues and characters.
• Lesson: A moral or message to be learned from a story.

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Set Induction

The teacher begins by asking students to share any folktales they know from their culture. This will spark interest and create a connection to the topic. The teacher then introduces a familiar folktale to engage students in today’s lesson.

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Entry Behaviour

Students are familiar with simple stories and may have heard some folktales from home. They have also been introduced to drama from earlier lessons.

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Learning Resources and Materials

• Folktale storybooks
• Text of recommended drama
• Chalkboard/Whiteboard
• Flashcards with key terms (Theme, Drama, Lesson)

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Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

Students have previously learned about features of prose and drama. This lesson builds on that knowledge by focusing on the themes found in folktales and drama.

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Embedded Core Skills

• Critical thinking: Understanding themes in folktales and drama.
• Communication: Sharing and retelling folktales.

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Instructional Materials

• Selected folktale for retelling
• The recommended text (Drama)

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Content

I. Retelling a Folktale and Explaining its Theme

Definition of a Folktale:
A folktale is a traditional story passed down orally from one generation to another. It often teaches lessons or entertains the audience.

Example Folktale: The Tortoise and the Hare
A well-known folktale about a race between a slow-moving tortoise and an overconfident hare. The hare, believing he will win easily, becomes careless and takes a nap during the race. Meanwhile, the tortoise, slow but determined, keeps moving and eventually wins the race.

Theme:
The theme of this folktale is perseverance and humility. It teaches that slow and steady wins the race and that being overconfident can lead to failure.

Other Common Themes in Folktales:

• Wisdom over strength
• Good versus evil
• Importance of community

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II. Using the Recommended Text on Drama

Drama in Literature:
Drama is a genre that involves the performance of a story by actors through dialogue and action. It is written to be performed on stage.

Elements of Drama:

• Characters: The people who act in the play.
• Dialogue: The conversation between characters.
• Plot: The sequence of events in the play.
• Setting: The time and place where the play occurs.
• Theme: The underlying message or central idea of the play.

Exploring the Recommended Text:
In this section, students are asked to read and analyze a scene from the recommended drama text. The teacher will guide them through identifying the characters, plot, and setting. The focus will be on understanding the theme of the drama, similar to how themes are important in folktales.

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Evaluation

1. A folktale is a ______ story passed down through generations.
   a) new
   b) traditional
   c) fictional
   d) non-fictional
2. The main lesson in “The Tortoise and the Hare” is ______.
   a) speed is important
   b) overconfidence is good
   c) perseverance wins
   d) friendship matters
3. Drama is performed by ______ on stage.
   a) animals
   b) dancers
   c) actors
   d) writers
4. A folktale usually teaches a ______.
   a) song
   b) lesson
   c) poem
   d) recipe
5. The setting of a play is the ______.
   a) characters
   b) lesson
   c) location and time
   d) dialogue
6. The characters in a play communicate through ______.
   a) songs
   b) gestures
   c) dialogue
   d) silence
7. The plot of a drama refers to the ______.
   a) location
   b) sequence of events
   c) dialogue
   d) background
8. Folktales are mainly passed down by ______.
   a) writing
   b) speech
   c) email
   d) performance
9. The theme of a folktale is the ______.
   a) moral lesson
   b) plot
   c) character’s name
   d) setting
10. The tortoise in “The Tortoise and the Hare” represents ______.
    a) patience
    b) speed
    c) laziness
    d) intelligence
11. A drama is primarily performed in a ______.
    a) book
    b) theatre
    c) street
    d) stadium
12. One feature of a folktale is that it is ______.
    a) educational
    b) modern
    c) boring
    d) formal
13. The central idea in a drama or folktale is called the ______.
    a) theme
    b) setting
    c) plot
    d) dialogue
14. In “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the hare represents ______.
    a) arrogance
    b) determination
    c) slowness
    d) strength
15. A folktale typically includes ______ to teach lessons.
    a) riddles
    b) magic
    c) actions
    d) songs

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Class Activity Discussion

1. What is a folktale?
   A folktale is a traditional story passed down orally from one generation to another.
2. What lesson is taught in “The Tortoise and the Hare”?
   Perseverance and humility are taught.
3. What is the theme of a folktale?
   The theme is the main idea or lesson the story tries to convey.
4. What is drama in literature?
   Drama is a play written for performance by actors on stage.
5. How is a folktale different from drama?
   A folktale is a traditional story, while drama is meant to be performed on stage.
6. What are the main elements of drama?
   Characters, dialogue, plot, setting, and theme.
7. What is the setting in drama?
   The setting is the time and place where the events of the play happen.
8. What is the purpose of a folktale?
   To teach lessons or entertain.
9. What does the hare represent in the folktale?
   The hare represents overconfidence.
10. What does the tortoise represent in the folktale?
    The tortoise represents patience and perseverance.
11. How are folktales passed down?
    They are passed down orally from generation to generation.
12. What is the importance of the theme in a drama?
    The theme is the central idea that the play tries to communicate.
13. Why are folktales important in literature?
    They help preserve cultural values and teach important life lessons.
14. What is the difference between plot and theme?
    The plot is the sequence of events, while the theme is the message of the story.
15. Can folktales be performed like dramas?
    Yes, some folktales can be adapted for performance on stage.

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Presentation (Steps 1-3)

Step 1:

Teacher revises the previous lesson on drama and figures of speech.

Step 2:

The teacher retells a folktale and explains its theme, asking students for examples of folktales they know.

Step 3:

Teacher discusses the recommended text on drama, guiding students through the plot, characters, and theme.

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Teacher’s Activities

• Retell a popular folktale to the class.
• Discuss the theme of the folktale.
• Lead a discussion on the theme and setting of the recommended drama text.
• Ask students to identify themes in both the folktale and the drama text.

Learners’ Activities

• Listen attentively to the folktale and drama discussion.
• Retell folktales they know.
• Participate in analyzing the theme and plot of the recommended drama text.
• Answer questions on the theme and setting.

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Assessment

• Ask students to retell a folktale of their choice and explain its theme.
• Ask students to identify the theme of the recommended drama text.

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Evaluation Questions

1. What is a folktale?
2. How are folktales passed down through generations?
3. What lesson does “The Tortoise and the Hare” teach?
4. What is the theme of a drama?
5. What are the key elements of drama?
6. Name a folktale you know and explain its theme.
7. What is the setting in a play?
8. Why is the theme important in both folktales and drama?
9. What does the plot of a drama refer to?
10. How does dialogue help in drama?

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Conclusion

The teacher goes around to check students’ work, ensuring they have understood the key elements of folktales and drama. Corrections are made where necessary.

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