The Concept of Compassion in Civic Education for Primary 6

CIVIC EDUCATION LESSON PLAN

PRIMARY 6 – SECOND TERM
WEEK 10

Lesson Details

• Subject: Civic Education
• Class: Primary 6
• Term: Second Term
• Week: 10
• Age: 10–11 years
• Topic: The Concept of Compassion
• Sub-topic: Meaning, Attributes, and Importance of Compassion
• Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioral Objectives

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

1. Define compassion.
2. List the attributes of compassion.
3. Explain the importance of compassion in building good relationships.
4. Provide examples of compassionate behavior in daily life.

Keywords

• Compassion
• Empathy
• Kindness
• Sympathy
• Care

Set Induction

The teacher asks the pupils:

• “How do you feel when someone helps you when you are sad or in trouble?”
• “Have you ever helped a friend who was feeling hurt or upset?”
  The teacher explains that compassion means showing care and kindness to others who are in need.

Entry Behavior

Pupils have a basic understanding of kindness, forgiveness, and tolerance from previous lessons.

Learning Resources and Materials

• Pictures showing acts of compassion (e.g., helping someone who fell).
• Short videos or stories about compassionate acts.
• Flashcards with keywords (e.g., kindness, care, empathy).

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher connects the lesson to previous topics such as forgiveness, self-control, and tolerance, explaining that compassion helps people live peacefully and show concern for others.

Embedded Core Skills

• Emotional intelligence
• Social awareness
• Communication skills
• Teamwork

Content

Meaning of Compassion

Compassion is the feeling of care and concern for others, especially when they are in need or going through difficult times. It means being kind and showing love to people.

Attributes of Compassion

1. Empathy: Understanding how others feel and caring about their emotions.
2. Kindness: Being gentle and helpful to others.
3. Patience: Taking time to support others even when it is not convenient.
4. Generosity: Sharing what you have with others who are in need.
5. Forgiveness: Letting go of anger and being kind to those who may have wronged you.

Importance of Compassion

1. Builds strong relationships: Compassion helps people trust and care for one another.
2. Promotes peace: It reduces conflicts and creates harmony in society.
3. Encourages kindness: Compassion inspires others to help and care for those in need.
4. Helps those in need: Compassion ensures that people get support during difficult times.
5. Fosters unity: It brings people together and strengthens communities.

Examples of Compassion

1. Helping a friend who is feeling sad or upset.
2. Sharing food with someone who has none.
3. Comforting someone who has lost something important to them.
4. Donating clothes or money to people in need.
5. Offering help to someone who is struggling with their schoolwork.

Class Activity Discussion

The teacher asks the pupils to share examples of compassion they have shown or received. Then, the class discusses the following scenarios:

• What will you do if you see a classmate crying during break?
• How can you show compassion to someone who is sick?
• Why is it important to care for others when they are in need?

Teacher’s and Learners’ Activities

Teacher’s Activities:

1. Introduce the topic and define compassion with examples.
2. List and explain the attributes of compassion.
3. Share stories or scenarios showing compassionate behavior.
4. Guide pupils in discussing how they can show compassion in their daily lives.

Learners’ Activities:

1. Listen to the explanation of compassion and its attributes.
2. Share personal examples of compassionate acts.
3. Participate in the class discussion and group activities.

Evaluation (Assessment Questions)

Objective Questions (Choose the correct option):

1. Compassion means ______.
   a. Ignoring others’ needs
   b. Caring for and helping others
   c. Fighting with others
   d. Avoiding responsibilities
2. Which of these is NOT an attribute of compassion?
   a. Kindness
   b. Forgiveness
   c. Generosity
   d. Greed
3. One importance of compassion is ______.
   a. Building strong relationships
   b. Promoting anger
   c. Ignoring people’s feelings
   d. Causing conflicts
4. ______ is an example of compassion.
   a. Sharing food with someone who is hungry
   b. Laughing at someone who is crying
   c. Refusing to help someone in need
   d. Fighting with a friend
5. Compassion promotes ______ in society.
   a. Greed
   b. Peace
   c. Hatred
   d. Conflict

Theory Questions:

1. Define compassion in your own words.
2. List three attributes of compassion.
3. Explain two reasons why compassion is important in society.
4. Give two examples of how you can show compassion to your classmates.
5. How does compassion help to promote peace in the community?

Conclusion

The teacher concludes the lesson by emphasizing the importance of compassion in creating a peaceful and caring environment. Pupils are encouraged to show compassion to their friends, family, and others in need.

Reference Materials

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Relevant Civic Education textbooks