• Class: Primary 5
  • Term: 1st Term
  • Week: 3
  • Age: 10 years
  • Duration: 40 minutes
  • Subject: History
  • Curriculum Theme: History
  • Previous Lesson: British Rule In Nigeria: Protectorate And Amalgamation
  • Topic: Nationalists And Nationalism In Nigeria
  • Content: Meaning of nationalism and nationalists, Some Nationalists In Nigeria e.g Herbert Macauley, background of Herbert Macauley’s life, nationalist activities, Lesson from Herbert Macauley’s life

Performance Objectives

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

  • Cognitive Domain: Define nationalism and identify prominent nationalists in Nigeria.
  • Affective Domain: Appreciate the role of nationalists in Nigeria’s independence.
  • Psychomotor Domain: Dramatize key events in Herbert Macaulay’s life.
  • Social Domain: Discuss the importance of unity in achieving national goals.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

  • 9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum
  • Abuja Educational Resource Centre Scheme of Work
  • NAPPS National Unified Scheme of Work
  • Online Information from Blackpast – Herbert Macauley (1864-1946)
  • Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

  • A poster of Herbert Macaulay
  • Flashcards with key terms (e.g., Nationalism, Unity, Herbert Macaulay)
  • A map showing Nigeria’s colonial boundaries
  • A brief biography of Herbert Macaulay

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding nationalism and the contributions of nationalists like Herbert Macaulay is crucial for pupils to appreciate the history of Nigeria’s independence. It helps them understand the importance of unity and the role individuals play in shaping the nation.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with the concept of colonialism and the key events leading to the formation of Nigeria as learned in the previous lesson.

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

Learning Area: Nationalists And Nationalism In Nigeria

To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:

Content DevelopmentTimeTeaching MethodTeaching StrategyTeacher’s ActivityPupils’ ActivityLearning Point
Step 1: Introduction Set Induction: The teacher asks pupils if they have heard of the word “Nationalism” and relates it to Nigeria’s independence struggle.5 minsQuestion and answerEngage pupils with questions to connect prior knowledge to the new topicAsks pupils to explain what they know about Nigeria’s independencePupils respond based on previous knowledgeUnderstanding the connection between past lessons and the new topic
Step 2: Explain the Meaning of Nationalism and Nationalists The teacher defines nationalism and explains who nationalists are.10 minsExplanationUse flashcards and visual aidsThe teacher explains nationalism as the strong desire to achieve independence from colonial rule.Pupils listen and ask questionsUnderstanding the concept of nationalism
Step 3: Background of Herbert Macaulay’s Life The teacher discusses Herbert Macaulay’s early life, education, and how he became a nationalist.7 minsStorytellingRelate historical events to a personal narrativeThe teacher narrates key events in Herbert Macaulay’s life, emphasizing his role as a leader.Pupils listen and take notesLearning about historical figures through storytelling
Step 4: Nationalist Activities by Herbert Macaulay The teacher describes the various activities undertaken by Herbert Macaulay to promote nationalism.7 minsDiscussionFacilitate a discussion on the impact of these activitiesThe teacher highlights Macaulay’s activities such as founding political organizations and protests against colonial policies.Pupils participate in discussionUnderstanding the impact of individual actions on national history
Step 5: Lessons from Herbert Macaulay’s Life The teacher lists five lessons learned from Herbert Macaulay’s life.5 minsDirect instructionSummarize key pointsThe teacher outlines the lessons such as perseverance, leadership, and patriotism.Pupils take notes and reflect on the lessonsLearning moral and civic values from historical figures
Note-taking3 minsNote dictationGuide pupils in copying notesThe teacher dictates important notes for pupils to copy.Pupils write down notesReinforcement of key concepts
Evaluation and Conclusion The teacher concludes by asking pupils questions to assess their understanding.3 minsOral assessmentEngage pupils in a quick reviewThe teacher asks questions related to the topic and provides feedback.Pupils answer the questionsAssessing understanding and reinforcing learning

Lesson Content

Nationalists And Nationalism In Nigeria


Nationalism is the strong desire of people to be free from foreign control and to govern themselves. Nationalists are individuals who actively work towards achieving this independence.

Background of Herbert Macaulay’s Life:

Herbert Macaulay was born in Lagos in 1864. He studied civil engineering in England and returned to Nigeria, where he became a prominent leader in the fight against colonial rule.

Nationalist Activities by Herbert Macaulay:

Herbert Macaulay founded the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) in 1923, the first political party in Nigeria. He also led protests and wrote articles criticizing colonial policies.

Lessons from Herbert Macaulay’s Life:

  1. Leadership: Macaulay showed strong leadership qualities in mobilizing Nigerians against colonial rule.
  2. Perseverance: He never gave up on the goal of achieving independence for Nigeria.
  3. Patriotism: Macaulay was deeply committed to the welfare of his country.
  4. Courage: He boldly confronted colonial authorities and policies.
  5. Unity: He worked to unite Nigerians under a common cause for independence.

Lesson Evaluation

To evaluate the learning, the teacher asks pupils to:

  1. Define nationalism and nationalists.
  2. Mention two nationalist activities carried out by Herbert Macaulay.
  3. List three lessons learned from Herbert Macaulay’s life.
  4. Why is Herbert Macaulay considered a significant figure in Nigerian history?