Planning a Nigerian History lesson every week takes time. This Primary 4 Nigerian History first term lesson note gives you ready-made notes for the whole term. Each week follows the same clear layout, so you can teach with confidence from the first day.

First Term Scheme of Work

The notes follow the NERDC scheme of work for Primary 4. Here is the full term at a glance:

Weeks 1 to 6

Week	Topic	Content
1	Geography and Environment I	Location of Nigeria in Africa and the world; Nigeria’s neighbours (Benin, Niger, Chad, Cameroon); physical features: mountains (Chappal Waddi), rivers, Jos Plateau; climate and vegetation zones: rainforest (south), savanna (middle), semi-arid (north)
2	Geography and Environment II	Map reading basics: compass directions, key or legend, scale; major rivers: Niger, Benue, Cross River; landforms and their uses; natural resources in Nigeria (oil, coal, iron ore, farmland)
3	Nigerian Peoples I	Major ethnic groups: Hausa (north), Igbo (south-east), Yoruba (south-west); location, traditional occupations and cultural characteristics; simple greetings in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba; cultural diversity and respect
4	Nigerian Peoples II	Other ethnic groups: Fulani, Ijaw, Kanuri, Tiv, Ibibio; traditional dressing (Aso-Oke, Agbada, Babariga) and traditional foods; unity in diversity; Nigeria as one nation
5	Mid-term examination	Assessment of topics covered in Weeks 1 to 4 (written and oral)
6	Mid-term break	Rest and relaxation

Weeks 7 to 13

Week	Topic	Content
7	Nigerian Peoples III	Traditional occupations: farming, fishing, trading, craft-making; market systems: periodic markets, daily markets, barter trade; traditional economic activities
8	Traditional Rulers and Governance	Types of traditional rulers: Obas (Yoruba), Emirs (Hausa-Fulani), Igwe or Eze (Igbo); role of traditional rulers; respect for authority; simple palace structures and their functions
9	Family and Community Living	The Nigerian family: nuclear and extended family, roles of each member; community leaders: ward councillors, village heads, elders; living together peacefully
10	Our Cultural Heritage	Traditional festivals: New Yam Festival (Igbo), Durbar (Hausa), Eyo (Lagos), Calabar Carnival; why we celebrate festivals; traditional music and dance; preserving our culture
11	Revision	Review of all topics: geography, peoples, occupations, governance, family, culture; practice exercises; preparation for the end-of-term examination
12	Examination	End of term written and oral assessment
13	Closing and vacation	Report card distribution; vacation assignment

Free Sample: Weeks 1 and 2

Read the full lesson notes for the first two weeks below. Every other week uses the same layout.

WEEK 1: Geography and Environment I

Class: Primary 4   |   Subject: Nigerian History   |   Duration: 40 minutes

Topic: Geography and Environment I   |   Sub-topic: Nigeria’s location, neighbours, physical features, climate and vegetation zones

Instructional material

• A large political map of Africa showing Nigeria’s position and neighbouring countries
• A physical map of Nigeria showing mountains, rivers and the Jos Plateau
• A climate and vegetation zones chart showing the three main zones of Nigeria
• A globe or world map showing Nigeria in relation to other continents

Learning objectives

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

• Locate Nigeria on a map of Africa and state which part of Africa it is in.
• Name all four of Nigeria’s neighbouring countries.
• Identify at least three physical features of Nigeria.
• Describe the three main climate and vegetation zones of Nigeria.

Entry behaviour / prior knowledge

Pupils know that Nigeria is a country in Africa and that they are Nigerians. They have seen maps of Nigeria in their atlases or textbooks. They also know that different parts of Nigeria look different, with lush vegetation in the south and a drier, more open landscape in the north.

Content

Location of Nigeria in Africa and the world

Nigeria is a country in West Africa, in the western part of the African continent. On the world map, it lies just above the equator, within the tropics. Nigeria is one of the largest countries in Africa by both area and population, so people often call it the ‘Giant of Africa.’

The country covers an area of about 923,768 square kilometres. It lies between latitudes 4 degrees North and 14 degrees North, and longitudes 3 degrees East and 15 degrees East.

Nigeria’s neighbours

Nigeria shares its borders with four countries:

• Benin Republic: to the west of Nigeria
• Niger Republic: to the north of Nigeria (the longest border)
• Chad: to the north-east of Nigeria, near Lake Chad
• Cameroon: to the east and south-east of Nigeria

To the south, the country faces the Atlantic Ocean (the Gulf of Guinea). This coastline is over 850 kilometres long.

Physical features of Nigeria

Nigeria has many different types of physical features (landforms):

• Mountains: Chappal Waddi in Taraba State is the highest mountain, at about 2,419 metres above sea level. The Mandara Hills lie along the Cameroon border.
• Plateau: The Jos Plateau is a large highland area in Plateau State, central Nigeria. It is cooler than the surrounding areas because of its height, and it is important for tin mining and farming.
• Rivers: The most important rivers are the River Niger and River Benue, which meet at Lokoja, and the Cross River in the south-east.
• Coastal areas: The southern coast includes the Niger Delta, a large wetland where the River Niger empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The delta is rich in crude oil.

Climate and vegetation zones

Nigeria is large and stretches from the coast to the interior, so climate and vegetation differ from place to place:

• Rainforest zone (south): The south receives heavy rainfall throughout the year. It has dense forest with tall trees, rich biodiversity and mangrove swamps along the coast. States include Lagos, Cross River, Edo and Rivers.
• Savanna zone (middle and north): This zone has a wet season and a long dry season. The vegetation is grass with scattered trees, and the land suits farming. States include Benue, Kogi, Niger, Kano and Kaduna.
• Semi-arid or Sahel zone (far north): Borno, Yobe and Sokoto get very little rainfall and feel the Harmattan wind from the Sahara Desert. The vegetation is sparse, mainly short grasses, thorny shrubs and few trees.

Lesson presentation

Introduction (Step 1): The teacher shows the class a globe or world map and asks, ‘Can anyone find Nigeria?’ After pupils point it out, the teacher zooms in to the map of Africa and then to the map of Nigeria, and introduces the lesson.

Explanation (Step 2): The teacher explains Nigeria’s location in West Africa and points to each neighbouring country on the map. The teacher then identifies the physical features (mountains, plateau, rivers, coast) and explains the three vegetation zones with the climate chart.

Pupil participation (Step 3): Pupils take turns to come to the board and point out Nigeria’s neighbours on the map. They also sort picture cards of Nigerian landscapes (rainforest, savanna, semi-arid) into the correct zones.

Evaluation and conclusion (Step 4): The teacher asks oral questions such as ‘Which country is to the west of Nigeria? What is Nigeria’s highest mountain? Which vegetation zone is found in the south?’ Then the teacher corrects errors, summarises the lesson and gives the assignment.

Lesson evaluation

1. Nigeria is located in which part of Africa?

a. North Africa   b. East Africa   c. South Africa   d. West Africa

2. Which country shares Nigeria’s western border?

a. Niger Republic   b. Cameroon   c. Chad   d. Benin Republic

3. Nigeria’s highest mountain is called ____.

a. Olumo Rock   b. Obudu Cattle Ranch   c. Chappal Waddi   d. Mandara Hills

4. The Jos Plateau is located in ____.

a. Lagos State   b. Plateau State in central Nigeria   c. Borno State in the north-east   d. Rivers State in the south

5. Nigeria shares a land border with how many countries?

a. two   b. three   c. five   d. four

6. The vegetation zone in the southern part of Nigeria is mainly ____.

a. semi-arid desert fringe   b. savanna with tall grasses only   c. rainforest and mangrove swamp   d. tundra vegetation

7. The River Niger and the River Benue meet at the city of ____.

a. Abuja   b. Lagos   c. Kano   d. Lokoja

8. Which of these best describes the climate of far northern Nigeria?

a. heavy rainfall all year round   b. dense forest with many tall trees   c. very little rainfall with sparse vegetation   d. always wet and swampy

Theory

1. Name all four countries that share a border with Nigeria. State the direction (north, south, east or west) of each one.
2. Describe the three main vegetation zones of Nigeria. Name one state found in each zone.

Assignment

• (Drawing and map) Draw a simple outline map of Nigeria and mark your state. Also label the four neighbouring countries.
• (Written) Name the three vegetation zones of Nigeria and write two features of each zone.
• (Written) What are two physical features of Nigeria? Describe each one in one sentence.

WEEK 2: Geography and Environment II

Class: Primary 4   |   Subject: Nigerian History   |   Duration: 40 minutes

Topic: Geography and Environment II   |   Sub-topic: Map reading, major rivers, landforms and natural resources

Instructional material

• A physical map of Nigeria showing all major rivers and their courses
• A simple map with a compass rose, key (legend) and scale for map reading practice
• A chart showing Nigeria’s major natural resources with pictures and locations
• Pictures of different landforms: river, valley, plateau and plain

Learning objectives

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

• Identify basic features of a map (compass, key, scale).
• Name three major rivers in Nigeria and locate them on a map.
• Explain the importance of at least two landforms.
• Name four natural resources found in Nigeria.

Entry behaviour / prior knowledge

The class learned about Nigeria’s location, neighbours, physical features and vegetation zones in the previous lesson. Pupils have seen maps of Nigeria and can identify the neighbouring countries. They are now ready to develop map reading skills and to learn more about Nigeria’s rivers and resources.

Content

Map reading basics

A map is a flat drawing that shows the features of an area of the earth as seen from above. Maps show where places are and help us understand our world. To read a map correctly, you need to know these features:

• Compass rose: It shows direction on the map. The four main directions are North (N), South (S), East (E) and West (W). The in-between directions are North-East (NE), North-West (NW), South-East (SE) and South-West (SW).
• Key (legend): This list explains what the symbols and colours on the map mean. For example, blue usually stands for water such as rivers, lakes and the sea.
• Scale: The scale shows how distance on the map relates to the actual distance on the ground. For example, 1 centimetre on the map might equal 100 kilometres on the ground.

Major rivers in Nigeria

Rivers are very important in Nigeria for transport, fishing, farming (irrigation) and drinking water. The three most important rivers are:

• River Niger: This is Nigeria’s longest river and one of the longest in Africa. It enters Nigeria from the north-west, flows southward and empties into the Atlantic Ocean through the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta is one of the largest river deltas in the world and is rich in crude oil.
• River Benue: The Benue is a major tributary (branch) of the Niger. It flows from Cameroon across central Nigeria and joins the Niger at Lokoja in Kogi State. Its valley is one of Nigeria’s most fertile farming areas.
• Cross River: This river flows through the south-eastern part of Nigeria, through Benue, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, before it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. It is an important resource for fishing communities.

Landforms and their importance

A landform is a natural shape or feature of the earth’s surface. Nigeria has several important landforms:

• Plains and river valleys: Flat, low-lying areas along rivers are very fertile and good for farming. The Benue valley and parts of the Niger valley are major farming areas.
• Plateaus: High flat areas such as the Jos Plateau are cooler than the lowlands. They suit vegetables and temperate crops, and they have been important for tin and columbite mining.
• Coastal areas and the Niger Delta: The coastline gives access to the sea for fishing and trade. The Niger Delta is Nigeria’s most important oil-producing region.

Natural resources of Nigeria

Natural resources are gifts of nature that people use to meet their needs and develop the country. Nigeria has many of them:

• Crude oil (petroleum): It is found mainly in the Niger Delta (Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states). Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest oil producers, and oil is the country’s main source of income.
• Coal: Enugu State (Iva Valley) has coal. It was Nigeria’s first major mineral resource and serves for electricity and industry.
• Iron ore: Kogi and Enugu states have iron ore, which is used to make steel and other metals for construction and industry.
• Agricultural land: Nigeria has some of the most fertile farmland in Africa. Farmers produce groundnuts, cocoa, palm oil, yam, cassava and cotton in large quantities.

Lesson presentation

Introduction (Step 1): The teacher holds up a map of Nigeria and asks, ‘What is this? What do the colours and symbols mean?’ After pupils respond, the teacher introduces the lesson on map reading and Nigeria’s rivers and resources.

Explanation (Step 2): The teacher explains the three map reading features (compass, key and scale) with a sample map on the board. Next, the teacher traces the courses of the Niger, Benue and Cross Rivers, explains key landforms and introduces Nigeria’s major natural resources.

Pupil participation (Step 3): Pupils use the compass on the map to name the direction of each neighbouring country. The class then traces the River Niger’s path from north to south, and each pupil lists the natural resources they know. The teacher adds any that pupils missed.

Evaluation and conclusion (Step 4): In a quick quiz, the teacher points to map features and pupils name them. A fill-in exercise follows: ‘The River Niger and River Benue meet at ____.’ Finally, the teacher corrects errors, summarises the lesson and gives the assignment.

Lesson evaluation

1. The two longest rivers in Nigeria are the ____.

a. Niger and Cross River   b. Kaduna and Sokoto   c. Benue and Cross River   d. Niger and Benue

2. The River Niger and River Benue meet at the city of ____.

a. Abuja   b. Lagos   c. Kano   d. Lokoja in Kogi State

3. A map is best described as ____.

a. a painting of a place   b. a clay model of the earth   c. a flat drawing showing the features of an area as seen from above   d. a photograph taken from an aeroplane

4. Which of these is a natural resource found in large quantities in Nigeria?

a. plastic   b. glass   c. crude oil   d. concrete

5. The River Benue flows mainly through which part of Nigeria?

a. the south-west   b. the far north   c. the middle belt region   d. the south coast

6. A compass rose on a map shows ____.

a. the height of mountains   b. the names of all the rivers   c. how old the map is   d. the direction: North, South, East and West

7. Nigeria’s most important crude oil region is the ____.

a. Kano State area in the north   b. Jos Plateau area   c. Niger Delta region in the south   d. River Benue valley

8. Natural resources are important to Nigeria because they ____.

a. are only useful in other countries   b. make Nigeria look beautiful but have no economic value   c. provide income, jobs and raw materials for development   d. are found only in the north

Theory

1. Name three major rivers in Nigeria and describe the importance of ONE of them.
2. What is a natural resource? Name four natural resources found in Nigeria and state where each one is mainly found.

Assignment

• (Drawing and map) Draw a simple map of Nigeria showing the River Niger and River Benue. Mark the point where they meet (Lokoja).
• (Written) Explain three features of a map (compass rose, key and scale) in your own words.
• (Written) List four natural resources of Nigeria and write one use for each.

Weeks 3 to 13 (Locked)

The remaining weeks are in the full lesson note. Each one has objectives, content, the four-step lesson presentation, evaluation questions, theory questions and an assignment.

What You Get

• Thirteen weeks of lesson notes, from Geography and Environment to Revision, Examination and Closing
• Learning objectives, instructional materials and entry behaviour for every week
• Clear content in simple English that suits Primary 4 pupils
• A four-step lesson presentation: introduction, explanation, pupil participation, evaluation
• Evaluation questions, theory questions and an assignment each week
• An editable Word file, so you can add your school name and change any part

Price and How to Order

The full Primary 4 Nigerian History first term lesson note costs ₦1,000. After payment, we send your file on WhatsApp.

Related Lesson Notes

Teaching other Primary 4 subjects this term? These first term lesson notes follow the same layout:

• Primary 4 PHE first term lesson note
• Primary 4 CRS first term lesson note
• Primary 4 English Language first term lesson note
• Primary 4 Cultural and Creative Arts first term lesson note
• Primary 4 Social and Citizenship Studies first term lesson note

Frequently Asked Questions

Which class and term is this lesson note for?

It is for Primary 4, first term, and it follows the NERDC curriculum.

What format do I receive?

You receive an editable Word file. You can print it or change it to suit your school.

Can I read a sample before I buy?

Yes. Weeks 1 and 2 are free on this page, so you can check the quality first.

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Do you also have exam questions for this subject?

Yes. The Primary 4 Nigerian History exam paper costs ₦500, and the bundle of all 12 subjects costs ₦2,000.