LESSON PLAN PRESENTATION
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Subject: Literature
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Class: Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS 3)
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Term: First Term
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Week: 9
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Age: 13–15 years
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Topic: The Village Headmaster – Chapter 3: The New Term
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Sub-topic: Characterization, Themes, and Setting
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Duration: 45 minutes
Behavioural Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
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Narrate the major events in Chapter 3 of The Village Headmaster.
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Describe the characters of Ishmael, Tunji, and Mr Mozie with evidence from the text.
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Identify the key themes (e.g. tradition, friendship, school life).
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Discuss the setting and its cultural significance (e.g., flogging Judas during Easter).
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Express personal opinions about the actions of characters using classroom discussion.
Keywords
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Effigy
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Betrayal
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Good Friday
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Innovation
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Tradition
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Jealousy
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Continuity
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Characterisation
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Discipline
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Setting
Set Induction (Warm-Up Activity)
Teacher Activity:
Walk into the classroom with a raffia sack and a makeshift stick. Say:
“Imagine you were betrayed by someone you trusted. How would you feel? What if every year, your community acted out revenge for that betrayal?”
Tell students this activity was traditionally practiced in some Nigerian communities on Good Friday using a figure called Judas. Invite them to describe any Easter traditions in their community, then connect it to the chapter’s events.
Instructional Materials
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Textbook: The Village Headmaster
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Excerpt printouts of Chapter 3
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Visuals: photo or drawing of an effigy
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Flashcards with keywords
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Whiteboard/marker
Lesson Presentation
Step 1: Introduction (5 mins)
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Brief recap of Chapter 2.
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Ask: “Who remembers how Chapter 2 ended? What do you expect in a new term?”
Step 2: Reading & Narration (10 mins)
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Read a selected portion of the text aloud (students may take turns).
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Highlight Ishmael and Tunji’s dialogue about Judas and the railway escapade.
Step 3: Analysis (15 mins)
Character Study:
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Ishmael – Curious, expressive, a little jealous.
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Tunji – Adventurous, imaginative, possibly exaggerates.
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Mr Mozie – Strategic, resourceful, avoids conflict for long-term gain.
Themes:
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Tradition vs. Modern Education – “Flogging Judas” vs. “Better teaching without the cane”
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Friendship & Envy – Ishmael envies Tunji’s experience
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Adaptation in School System – Mr Mozie making do with what he has
Setting:
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Railway compound, village life, Easter time.
Step 4: Discussion (5 mins)
Prompt questions:
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“Why do you think the boys enjoyed flogging the Judas effigy?”
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“How does Mr Mozie handle the teacher shortage?”
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“Have you ever exaggerated a story like Tunji?”
Class Activities
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Group Work (10 mins):
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Group 1: Dramatize the flogging of Judas.
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Group 2: Draw and label a scene from the railway compound.
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Group 3: List challenges Mr Mozie faced and his creative solutions.
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Evaluation (5 mins)
Ask students the following questions orally or in their notes:
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What does the flogging of Judas represent?
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Who is Mr Dewar and what is his role?
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How did Ishmael react to Tunji’s story?
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Describe one theme in the chapter.
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Why was Mr Mozie short one teacher?
Assignment
Write a short diary entry from the point of view of:
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Ishmael, narrating his feelings about not being part of the Judas celebration.
Chalkboard Summary
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Judas Tradition
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Ishmael & Tunji’s Friendship
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Mr Mozie’s Leadership
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Themes: Tradition, Friendship, Education Reform
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Setting: Village, Railway Compound, School
FAQs (for your site SEO block)
Q1: What is the significance of flogging Judas in this story?
It represents community justice and a playful way to engage children with history and tradition.
Q2: Why was Ishmael jealous of Tunji?
Because Tunji participated in a fun tradition that Ishmael missed out on.
Q3: What theme is shown in Mr Mozie’s approach to solving problems?
Leadership and adaptability in difficult circumstances.
Q4: What makes Standard Four difficult to teach?
It’s a challenging academic year, and Mr Agomuo also has a stammer.
Q5: How is discipline handled differently in this chapter?
There’s a shift towards “Better teaching without the cane,” a new educational philosophy.
SEO Optimization Block (for Lessonshabitat.com)
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SEO Title: The Village Headmaster Chapter 3 Summary | JSS 3 Literature Lesson Plan
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Focus Keyphrase: The New Term – The Village Headmaster
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Slug:
village-headmaster-chapter-3-the-new-term-jss3 -
Meta Description: Dive into the summary and themes of The Village Headmaster Chapter 3 – The New Term. Explore traditional Easter practices, school life, and character development in this engaging JSS 3 Literature lesson plan.
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Category: JSS 3 Literature
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Tags: Village Headmaster, Nigerian Literature, JSS 3, Literature Notes, Easter Tradition, Judas Effigy, School Stories