Lesson Plan: Comprehending a Narrative Passage (With Nigerian Story)

1. General Information

• Subject: Reading and Comprehension
• Class: JSS 2
• Term: Second Term
• Week: 1
• Age Group: 11–13 years
• Topic: Comprehending a Narrative Passage
• Sub-topic: Understanding the main idea, characters, and sequence of events in a story
• Duration: 40 minutes

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2. Behavioral Objectives

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

1. Define a narrative passage and its key elements.
2. Identify the main idea, characters, and sequence of events in a given passage.
3. Answer comprehension questions based on the passage.
4. Relate the story to real-life situations and moral lessons.

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3. Keywords

• Narrative
• Plot
• Characters
• Main idea
• Moral lesson

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4. Set Induction (Engagement Activity)

• Begin the lesson by narrating a short Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa folktale that has a moral lesson.
• Ask students: “What do you think the lesson in this story is?”
• Show an image of a well-known Nigerian folktale character, such as Tortoise or Hare, and ask students to guess the story.
• Relate the activity to today’s lesson: “Today, we will read and analyze a Nigerian story and learn how to understand its meaning.”

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5. Entry Behavior

• Ask students if they have ever heard a story from their grandparents or elders.
• Allow them to share a favorite Nigerian folktale and discuss what they learned from it.
• Link their responses to the importance of understanding narratives.

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6. Learning Resources and Materials

• A short Nigerian narrative passage.
• Flashcards with key literary terms.
• Story sequencing chart (to arrange events in order).
• Audio clip (if available) of a Nigerian folktale for listening comprehension.

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7. Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge

• Discuss different types of stories (folktales, fiction, biographies).
• Ask students how they know the difference between a story and a factual report.
• Relate storytelling to their daily experiences (e.g., listening to stories from parents).

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8. Embedded Core Skills

• Critical thinking (Analyzing a story’s meaning).
• Communication (Reading aloud, explaining answers).
• Collaboration (Working in pairs for comprehension exercises).
• Problem-solving (Identifying the message of the story).

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9. Learning Materials and References

• Lagos State Scheme of Work for JSS 2
• Approved English Language textbook
• Relevant online resources (e.g., BBC Bitesize, Reading Rockets, African Storybook Project).

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10. Instructional Materials

• A printed or digital version of the story.
• Flashcards with key vocabulary.
• A story sequencing activity sheet.

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Lesson Presentation

Step 1: Previous Knowledge Revision

• Ask students to recall a story they read recently.
• Discuss its main idea and characters.

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Step 2: Introduction of the New Topic

• Define narrative passage: A story with characters, a plot, and a sequence of events.
• Explain its importance: “Narratives entertain, teach lessons, and help us understand different cultures.”

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Step 3: Teacher’s Explanation and Students’ Contributions

• Read a short Nigerian narrative passage aloud (modeling good pronunciation).
• Discuss the story’s setting, characters, and plot.
• Ask students to predict the next part of the story.

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Step 4: Reading the Short Nigerian Narrative Passage

Story Title: “The Honest Farmer”

(A Nigerian folktale from the Hausa tradition that teaches honesty and kindness.)

**Once upon a time, in a small village in Northern Nigeria, there lived a poor but hardworking farmer named Mallam Musa. Every day, he worked tirelessly on his small piece of land, planting and harvesting crops to feed his family.

One day, while digging his farmland, Mallam Musa found a small bag filled with gold coins buried in the soil. He was surprised but immediately thought, “This must belong to someone else.” Instead of keeping the money, he took it to the village chief.

The chief, impressed by Mallam Musa’s honesty, made an announcement in the village square. After a few days, an old man named Alhaji Bello came forward, claiming the gold belonged to his late father. To reward Mallam Musa’s honesty, Alhaji Bello gave him five gold coins and a plot of land.

Mallam Musa’s honesty brought him unexpected blessings. From that day, he became a respected and wealthy farmer, proving that honesty always pays in the end.**

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Step 5: Practical Demonstrations and Examples

• Guide students in identifying the main idea and moral lesson.
• Introduce a story sequencing chart to arrange the passage’s events.
• Highlight keywords (e.g., honesty, hardworking, reward).

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Evaluation Section

1. Class Activity Discussion (FAQs & Answers)

1. What is a narrative passage? → A story with characters and a sequence of events.
2. How do you find the main idea? → By identifying the most important message in the story.
3. What was Mallam Musa’s main virtue? → Honesty.
4. What reward did Mallam Musa receive? → Five gold coins and a plot of land.
5. What lesson does this story teach? → Honesty always brings rewards.

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2. Assessment Questions

Provide 10 multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions based on the passage.

1. The main character in the story is ___________.
   a) Alhaji Bello
   b) The village chief
   c) Mallam Musa
   d) A dishonest farmer

2. Why did Mallam Musa return the gold?
   a) He wanted a reward
   b) He was afraid
   c) He was an honest man
   d) The chief forced him

(Include more questions testing key concepts.)

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3. Evaluation Questions

Provide 10 short-answer questions, such as:

1. Define a narrative passage.
2. Identify three key elements of a story.
3. Who was the main character in today’s passage?
4. Write a short summary of the passage in your own words.
5. What lesson did you learn from Mallam Musa?

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4. Conclusion

• Recap the key points of the lesson.
• Encourage students to write a short story with a moral lesson at home.
• Provide feedback on their participation and comprehension skills.

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