The Tailor – Primary 1 Vocational Aptitude Week 4 Lesson Note

Subject: Vocational Aptitude

Class: Primary 1

Term: Second Term

Week: 4

Age: 5–6 years

Topic: Occupations in Our Community

Sub-topic: The Tailor – Who They Are, What They Do, and Tools They Use

Duration: 45 minutes

Introductory Story (From the Teacher’s Lens)

I remember standing in Mama Tolu’s small tailoring shop one rainy morning, watching her pedal that old sewing machine with such rhythm you’d think it was music. Her hands moved fast—snipping, folding, pinning—and all around her were boys and girls like my pupils, huddled in uniform pieces and church clothes waiting to be “adjusted.”

That day, Tolu whispered, “My mummy sews everybody’s agbada and ankara. She’s a tailor!” And that was the spark. A teachable moment was born.

So when I teach this lesson, it’s not just about jobs—it’s about dignity. It’s about the art, the hustle, and the thread that ties our communities together. Tailors don’t just sew fabric—they stitch identity.

Behavioral Objectives

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

Say who a tailor is in their own words.
List at least 3 things tailors sew.
Identify common tools tailors use.
Talk about the role tailors play in the community.
Appreciate tailors as important professionals, not just “mummy’s emergency fixers.”

Key Terms and Definitions

Tailor: A person who sews and repairs clothes.
Sewing Machine: A machine used to stitch clothes.
Needle and Thread: Tools for sewing by hand.
Scissors: Used to cut cloth.
Tape Rule: Measures body size.
Fabric: The cloth used to make clothes.

Set Induction (Real Classroom Moments)

Teacher: “Children, who stitched your school uniform?”
Ireti: “My mummy said one tailor sewed it, but she made it tight!”
Chidi: “Me, my grandma is a tailor. She sewed my church native!”
Teacher (smiling): “So tailors are not just clothes people—they are fashion heroes! Let’s talk about them today…”

Entry Behavior

Many children have seen tailors at home or in shops. Some have even watched their uniforms or party clothes being sewn or mended. We’ll build on those familiar experiences.

Learning Materials and Resources

Real or toy sewing machine
Fabric samples (ankara, lace, school uniform)
Needles, thread, scissors
Measuring tape
Picture chart of a tailor’s shop
Chalkboard sketches of tailor tools

Background Knowledge

In previous weeks, we looked at mechanics and plumbers—people who fix cars and water. This week, we focus on a more familiar profession that dresses the whole community.

Embedded Core Skills

Appreciation of local work
Identification of tools
Communication and description
Community interaction
Creativity and imagination

Main Content

1. Who is a Tailor?

A tailor is someone who sews clothes for people. Tailors can make new clothes, fix old ones, or change the size of clothes.

2. What Does a Tailor Do?

Sews school uniforms, native wear, shirts, trousers, etc.
Repairs torn clothes
Makes clothes fit better
Designs clothes for parties, weddings, and special days

3. Tools Tailors Use

Sewing Machine – for fast stitching
Needle and Thread – for small or quick sewing
Scissors – for cutting fabric
Tape Rule – for measuring body parts
Chalk – for marking lines
Pins – for holding cloth before sewing

4. Where Do Tailors Work?

Tailors work in small shops, markets, homes, or kiosks. Some even come to your house—like Mama Funke who sews under the mango tree!

Classroom Story (Mini Case Study)

Uche had a wedding to attend with his mum. But the day before, his native cloth was still untouched. “Mummy, my cloth o!” he cried. They rushed to the tailor, Aunty Bisi, who was sitting by her machine. “No fear,” she smiled. “I will finish it before you blink.” By evening, Uche was shining in his blue agbada. Everyone called him “small chairman.”

Moral? Tailors save the day.

Classroom Discussion

Teacher: “Who has seen a tailor before?”
Pupils: “Meeeee!”
Teacher: “Where do tailors work?”
Chiamaka: “In shop… behind my house!”
Teacher: “What do they use to sew clothes?”
Emmanuel: “Needle and machine and thread!”
Teacher: “Can we wear fine clothes without tailors?”
Pupils: “Nooooo!”
Teacher: “So we must always thank them!”

Activity – Fill-in-the-Blank (Multiple Choice)

Choose the correct answer:

A tailor works with ____.
a. books
b. thread
c. food
Answer: b
Tailors sew ____.
a. rice
b. beds
c. clothes
Answer: c
A tailor uses a ____ to cut fabric.
a. spoon
b. scissors
c. pencil
Answer: b
Clothes are made from ____.
a. paper
b. fabric
c. sand
Answer: b
The tool used to measure the body is ____.
a. fork
b. tape rule
c. ruler
Answer: b

Theory Questions

Who is a tailor?
What do tailors do in our community?
Name 3 tools used by tailors.
What kind of clothes can a tailor sew?
Why are tailors important in our lives?

Teacher’s Role

Show tools and name each one
Explain the importance of tailors
Engage pupils with real examples
Encourage classroom storytelling
Lead role-play of a tailor at work

Pupils’ Role

Share experiences of seeing tailors
Answer questions about tools and clothes
Play the role of tailor and customer
Point to pictures or real tools
Sing tailor songs and chants

Assessment (Games & Interaction)

Pupils act like tailors and “measure” each other
Matching game (tool → use)
Quiz: “What tool is this?”
Singing: “Sew me my cloth oh tailor, tailor, tailor…”

Conclusion (Reflective & Inspirational)

Every stitch a tailor makes is a symbol of care. Our children must learn that community work is noble—from the lawyer to the seamstress. We don’t just wear clothes, we wear the love and labor of our neighbors.

Let’s raise a generation that respects all hands that serve—whether on chalkboards or sewing tables. Tailors are not background workers—they’re backbone workers.