JSS 2 Reading and Comprehension: The Importance of Handcraft and Personal Skills

Lesson Plan: The Importance of Handcraft and Personal Skills (Week 9)

1. General Information

• Subject: Reading and Comprehension
• Class: JSS 2
• Term: Second Term
• Week: 9
• Age Group: 11–13 years
• Topic: The Importance of Handcraft and Personal Skills
• Sub-topic: Understanding the value of vocational skills like barbing, hairdressing, carpentry, and bricklaying
• Duration: 40 minutes

2. Behavioral Objectives

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

1. Read and comprehend a passage about vocational skills.
2. Identify different handcraft and personal skills.
3. Explain how these skills contribute to economic growth and self-reliance.
4. Answer comprehension questions based on the passage.

3. Keywords

• Handcraft
• Vocational skills
• Entrepreneurship
• Self-reliance
• Trade

4. Set Induction (Engagement Activity)

• Ask: “What jobs can people do without attending a university?”
• Show a short video clip or narrate a story of a successful Nigerian artisan.
• Discuss: “Why are skills like barbing, tailoring, and carpentry important?”

5. Entry Behavior

• Ask: “Do you know anyone who is skilled in barbing, tailoring, or carpentry?”
• Discuss how vocational skills can be turned into profitable businesses.

6. Learning Resources and Materials

• A short Nigerian passage on handcraft and vocational skills.
• Pictures illustrating different trades and their importance.
• Role-playing materials.

7. Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge

• Ask students: “Have you ever fixed something at home or helped a skilled worker?”
• Discuss the importance of learning a skill aside from formal education.

8. Embedded Core Skills

• Critical thinking (Understanding career opportunities in handcraft).
• Communication (Expressing the benefits of vocational skills).
• Entrepreneurial skills (Identifying how vocational skills create wealth).

9. Learning Materials and References

• Lagos State Scheme of Work for JSS 2
• Approved English Language textbook
• Books and articles on vocational education

10. Instructional Materials

• Printed/digital version of the story.
• Role-play scripts.

Lesson Presentation

Step 1: Previous Knowledge Revision

• Ask students to recall last week’s topic on teamwork and honesty.
• Discuss: “Why do people respect skilled workers?”
• Relate this to the importance of learning a craft.

Step 2: Introduction of the New Topic

• Define handcraft and personal skills: “Handcraft refers to skills like tailoring, carpentry, barbing, and other trades that require manual work.”
• Explain: “These skills are valuable because they help people earn a living and contribute to society.”

Step 3: Teacher’s Explanation and Students’ Contributions

• Read a short Nigerian passage on vocational skills.
• Discuss key lessons from the passage.
• Allow students to share examples of skilled workers in their community.

Step 4: Reading the Short Nigerian Passage

Story Title: “Ayo, the Young Barber”

(A passage about the benefits of vocational skills.)

Passage:
Ayo was a 14-year-old boy who loved to watch his uncle cut hair in their small barbershop. Every day after school, he would visit the shop and observe how his uncle handled different hairstyles. One day, his uncle allowed him to trim a customer’s hair under his supervision.

Ayo practiced regularly and soon became very skilled. When his uncle traveled, Ayo took over the shop and earned money. By the time he was 18, he had saved enough to open his own barbershop. His business grew, and he employed two assistants.

Many young people in his community admired him. He later expanded his skills to hairdressing and opened a salon for women. His business provided jobs, and he trained young boys and girls in hair care.

Moral Lesson: Learning a skill can make a person independent and successful.

Step 5: Practical Demonstrations and Examples

• Identify different vocational skills in the passage.
• Discuss real-life examples of successful artisans in Nigeria.
• Role-play a scenario where a student learns a trade and earns money.

Evaluation Section

1. Class Activity Discussion (FAQs & Answers)

1. What skill did Ayo learn? → Barbing.
2. Who taught Ayo how to cut hair? → His uncle.
3. How did Ayo improve his skills? → By practicing regularly.
4. What did Ayo do when his uncle traveled? → He managed the shop.
5. Why was Ayo able to open his own shop? → He saved money and became skilled.

2. 15 Fill-in-the-Blank Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Ayo learned the skill of __________.
   a) Tailoring
   b) Barbing
   c) Bricklaying
   d) Carpentry

2. His uncle was a __________.
   a) Farmer
   b) Barber
   c) Carpenter
   d) Driver

3. Ayo practiced cutting hair after __________.
   a) School
   b) Church
   c) Football
   d) Market

4. He saved money and later opened __________.
   a) A food shop
   b) A barbershop
   c) A market stall
   d) A tailoring shop

5. Learning a skill helps people become __________.
   a) Independent
   b) Lazy
   c) Jobless
   d) Poor

(Continue until Question 15.)

3. 10 Evaluation Questions

1. What did Ayo learn from his uncle?
2. Why is learning a skill important?
3. How did Ayo’s skill help him become successful?
4. What are other examples of handcraft skills?
5. Why do some people prefer skilled work over office jobs?
6. How does vocational training help reduce unemployment?
7. What is the role of apprenticeship in learning a trade?
8. Give an example of a successful Nigerian artisan.
9. How can handcraft skills contribute to community development?
10. If you could learn any vocational skill, which one would you choose and why?

4. Conclusion

• Recap the story and key lessons on vocational skills.
• Encourage students to explore different skills for self-reliance.
• Provide feedback on participation and comprehension skills.