Meaning and Importance of History for Primary 4 Pupils

Table of Contents

HISTORY LESSON NOTE FOR PRIMARY 4 – FIRST TERM, WEEK 1

Subject: History

Class: Primary 4

Term: First Term

Week: 1

Age: 8 – 9 years

Topic: The Meaning and Importance of History

Sub-topic: Understanding the Past and Its Lessons

Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives

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

Explain the meaning of History in their own words.
Mention reasons why we study History.
Identify examples of historical events in Nigeria.
State the importance of learning about the past.
Appreciate the value of remembering people and events that shaped our nation.

Keywords and Meanings

History: The study of past events and people.
Past: Things that have already happened.
Event: Something that takes place or happens.
Ancestors: The people who lived before us in our family or society.
Heritage: The traditions and values passed down from our forefathers.
Record: A written or spoken account of something that happened.
Nation: A group of people living together under one government.
Culture: The way of life of a group of people.
Tradition: Customs or beliefs handed down from older generations.
Monument: A statue or building that reminds us of an important person or event.

Set Induction (Attention Grabber)

The teacher begins with a story:

“Children, have you ever heard of how Lagos got its name? Long ago, when Portuguese traders came to this area, they saw a place full of water and called it ‘Lagos’, meaning ‘Lakes’ in their language. But before then, our people already called it Eko! That is part of our History — the story of how things began.”

The teacher then asks:
“Do you know other stories about where your family or town came from?”
Learners respond and share briefly.

Entry Behaviour

The pupils have heard stories from their parents, grandparents, or social studies lessons. They are familiar with people and places from the past, such as independence celebrations or local festivals.

Learning Resources and Materials

Pictures of historical places (e.g., National Museum, Olumo Rock, Zuma Rock).
Nigerian flag.
Short video clip or poster showing Nigeria’s Independence Day.
Whiteboard and markers.

Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher recalls last term’s lesson on Our Community and Leaders, linking it to how leaders and communities also have history — their beginnings, struggles, and achievements.

Embedded Core Skills

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Communication and Collaboration
Citizenship Education
Personal Development

Reference Materials

Lagos State Scheme of Work for History (Primary 4, First Term)
Nigerian History Textbook for Basic Education
Nigeria’s National Curriculum (NERDC)

Instructional Materials

Charts, pictures, maps, video clips, flashcards, historical symbols.

CONTENT: MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY

1. Meaning of History

History is the story of what happened in the past.
It helps us understand how people lived long ago.
It tells us about great men and women who helped to build our country.
It teaches us about changes in our society over time.

2. Importance of History

It helps us learn from past mistakes.
It makes us appreciate our ancestors.
It helps us know how our country started.
It helps us become better citizens.
It helps us understand our culture and traditions.
It reminds us of important people and events.
It helps us plan for a better future.
It encourages unity and love for our nation.
It helps us remember heroes and their works.
It builds pride in our identity as Nigerians.

Examples of Historical Events in Nigeria

Nigeria’s Independence (October 1, 1960).
Aba Women’s Riot (1929).
The Coming of the Europeans.
The Slave Trade Period.
The Amalgamation of 1914.
The Civil War (1967–1970).
Discovery of Oil in Oloibiri (1956).
The Establishment of Lagos as Capital.
Return to Democracy (1999).
Naming of Nigeria by Flora Shaw (1897).

1. Deeper Definition & Explanation

While earlier we defined history simply, here’s a more nuanced, layered view — in easy language — that bridges to deeper thinking:

History is the organized record of things that have happened in the past—people, places, events, ideas—and how those shaped our present and may shape our future.
It is narrative + evidence: stories constructed from facts, records, artifacts, oral traditions.
It is interpretation: historians choose which facts to emphasize; different people may tell a past event differently depending on perspective.
It is change over time: history is about how things evolve, how societies transform, and how people respond to change.
It is memory and identity: a people’s history becomes part of their identity, values, pride, and lessons.

So, history is not just “what happened” — it is how we understand what happened, why it matters, and how it connects to today.

2. More Examples of Meaning & Importance

Below are 5 deeper examples for meaning (showing how history works) and 5 importance examples (showing why it matters), contextualized for Nigeria / Africa / general:

2.1. **Examples illustrating the Meaning of History**

Oral Traditions of the Yoruba Kingdoms
- The stories of Oduduwa or Oyo Empire passed orally for centuries before being written down. These oral histories help us reconstruct early Yoruba civilization.
Artifacts like Nok Terracotta
- Archaeologists find terracotta figurines in Nok hills (Nigeria). These artifacts tell us about art, beliefs, technology in that ancient society.
Colonial-era Records in Archives
- British colonial administration letters, maps, and reports stored in Lagos Archives. From those, historians learn about how colonial rule was organized.
Photographs & Newspapers from Independence Era
- Newspapers of 1959–1960, photographs of the independence celebrations—they are pieces of evidence that help us narrate what life was like at Nigeria’s birth.
Personal Diaries / Letters of Nigerian Leaders
- For example, letters written by Chief Obafemi Awolowo or Nnamdi Azikiwe. These primary documents show their thoughts, hopes, struggles—beyond just “what they did”.

These examples show how historians gather evidence (oral, material, written) and build narratives from them.

2.2. **Examples showing the Importance of History**

Avoiding Repetition of Mistakes
- By learning about conflicts, governance failures (e.g. military coups in Nigeria), future leaders can make better decisions.
Strengthening National Unity & Identity
- Teachers tell pupils about how different ethnic groups contributed to Nigeria’s story (Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba). That helps build respect and shared identity.
Appreciating Heritage & Culture
- Festivals, languages, arts, traditional beliefs—history helps pupils understand why their community celebrates certain rites.
Inspiring Role Models & Heroes
- Learning about figures like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Herbert Macaulay, or Queen Amina can motivate children to dream big.
Supporting Civic Awareness & Participation
- Knowing how laws, democracy, and governance evolved helps citizens understand rights, responsibilities, and power.

From the Nigerian perspective, as one article argues, making history compulsory helps “nurture a generation of critical thinkers and informed citizens.” (The Guardian Nigeria)

Also, historians emphasize that understanding how past educational systems succeeded or failed helps teachers improve today’s schools. (Scribd)

3. Why These Deeper Perspectives Matter for Pupils

Pupils stop seeing history as a boring list of dates. They begin to see stories of real people.
They learn to ask why: “Why did this event happen?”, “Who benefited?”, “Could it have been different?”
They gain historical empathy: they imagine how people in past conditions felt, thought, acted.
They see connections: how past events influence present realities (for example, colonial rule influencing modern borders or institutions).
They begin to develop critical skills: evaluating sources, questioning narratives, comparing accounts.

Class Activity Discussion (10 FAQs with Answers)

Q: What is History?
A: History is the story of past events and people.
Q: Why do we study History?
A: To learn from the past and plan for the future.
Q: Who are ancestors?
A: They are people who lived before us.
Q: Mention one example of a historical event in Nigeria.
A: Nigeria’s Independence in 1960.
Q: What can we learn from studying History?
A: We can learn good lessons from past mistakes.
Q: What is a monument?
A: A statue or building that reminds us of an event or person.
Q: What is our national heritage?
A: The customs, culture, and traditions passed from our ancestors.
Q: Who named Nigeria?
A: Flora Shaw.
Q: When was Nigeria amalgamated?
A: In 1914.
Q: Why should we respect our past heroes?
A: Because they worked hard to make Nigeria better.

Teacher’s Activities

Lead pupils in storytelling about old events.
Display pictures and ask pupils what they see.
Explain the meaning of History using simple terms.
Ask pupils to name important past events.
Summarize and write key points on the board.

Learners’ Activities

Listen to the teacher’s story.
Ask and answer questions about History.
Mention events they know from Nigeria’s past.
Copy notes into their books.
Participate in the class discussion.

Evaluation Questions (Objective Type)

(Choose the correct answer: a, b, c, or d)

History is the study of ________.
a) the future
b) the past
c) the present
d) tomorrow
People who lived before us are called ________.
a) children
b) ancestors
c) teachers
d) friends
A statue that reminds us of great people is a ________.
a) school
b) house
c) monument
d) car
The study of History helps us to ________.
a) forget the past
b) learn from mistakes
c) ignore the future
d) avoid culture
The woman who named Nigeria was ________.
a) Mary Slessor
b) Queen Elizabeth
c) Flora Shaw
d) Margaret Ekpo
History teaches us about our ________.
a) food
b) culture
c) games
d) toys
One example of a historical event in Nigeria is ________.
a) Christmas
b) Independence Day
c) Valentine’s Day
d) Children’s Day
The study of History helps us become good ________.
a) dancers
b) citizens
c) players
d) singers
Our culture is our ________.
a) way of life
b) school work
c) fun time
d) sport
The amalgamation of Nigeria took place in ________.
a) 1900
b) 1914
c) 1960
d) 1999

Short Answer Evaluation Questions

What is History?
Mention one reason why we study History.
Who are our ancestors?
Name one example of a historical event in Nigeria.
When did Nigeria gain independence?
Mention one thing History teaches us.
Who named Nigeria?
What is a monument?
State one importance of History.
What year was Nigeria amalgamated?

Conclusion

The teacher summarizes the lesson, emphasizing that History helps us remember who we are and where we come from.
The teacher checks pupils’ work, gives feedback, and encourages them to ask their parents one story from the past to share in the next class