Primary 4 Cultural and Creative Arts First Term Lesson Plan/Note

Complete Lesson Notes • NERDC Scheme 2026

This Primary 4 Cultural and Creative Arts First Term Lesson Note follows the NERDC scheme of work and covers all 13 weeks of the first term

Scheme of Work – First Term

1. Week 1: Introduction to Art — Meaning of art; importance of art in daily life; forms of art (drawing, painting, crafts, modelling, weaving, printing); safety and cleanliness rules
2. Week 2: Nigerian Arts — Nigerian traditional art and cultural significance; Benin bronze, Yoruba wood carving, Igbo Uli art, Tiv weaving; famous Nigerian artists: Aina Onabolu, Ben Enwonwu, El Anatsui
3. Week 3: Drawing — Meaning and types of drawing (observational, imaginative, still-life); materials for drawing; simple still-life drawing of fruits, books, and everyday objects
4. Week 4: Printing — Meaning of printing in art; materials (leaves, foam, fabric, paint, ink); leaf printing; producing repeated patterns through printing
5. Week 5: Mid-Term Examination — Assessment of Weeks 1–4
6. Week 6: Mid-Term Break — Holiday/Rest
7. Week 7: Modelling — Meaning of modelling as three-dimensional art; materials: clay, plasticine, paper-mache; making simple models (pots, fruits, animals, human figures)
8. Week 8: Crafts and Design — Nigerian crafts: beadwork, paper craft, mat making; designing patterns and motifs; practical: making a simple paper flower or decorative item
9. Week 9: Weaving — Meaning and materials for weaving (raffia, paper strips, wool); steps in simple paper weaving (warp and weft); importance in Nigerian culture (Aso-oke, Akwete cloth)
10. Week 10: Art Tools and Equipment — Identification of brushes, pencils, scissors, palette, ruler, compass; proper care and storage; safe use of art tools; classroom rules
11. Week 11: Revision — Review of all topics; practice activities and display of pupils’ work; preparation for examination
12. Week 12: Examination — End of term assessment
13. Week 13: Closing/Vacation — Term ends

Week 1

Instructional Materials

• Charts showing different art forms (drawing, painting, craft)
• Sample artworks and pictures of famous Nigerian artists
• Art materials: pencils, crayons, scissors, paper
• Coloured pictures and objects for display

Learning Objectives

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

• Define art and mention its importance in daily life.
• Identify and name different forms of art.
• Explain safety and cleanliness rules in art activities.

Entry Behaviour / Prior Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with making drawings and craft items at home or in lower primary classes. They have coloured pictures, cut out paper shapes, and seen artwork around their school environment. This lesson builds on those experiences to introduce them to a formal understanding of art.

Content

A. Meaning of Art

Art is the use of skill and imagination to create beautiful or meaningful things. It includes drawing, painting, sculpture, weaving, and many other creative activities. Art allows people to express their feelings, tell stories, and share ideas through pictures, shapes, and designs.

B. Importance of Art in Daily Life

Art plays an important role in our everyday lives. Some key benefits include:

• Art helps us express our feelings and ideas.
• It decorates our homes, schools, and public places.
• It preserves our culture and traditions.
• It provides jobs for artists, designers, and craftspeople.
• It improves creativity and imagination in children.

C. Different Forms of Art

There are many forms of art. The common ones we will study in Primary 4 include:

• Drawing — creating images with pencils, crayons, or charcoal.
• Painting — applying colours to paper or canvas using brushes.
• Crafts — making useful or decorative objects by hand (e.g. baskets, pots).
• Sculpture and Modelling — shaping clay or other materials into forms.
• Printing — creating patterns by pressing objects onto surfaces.
• Weaving — interlacing threads or strips to form fabric or mats.

D. Safety and Cleanliness in Art Activities

When working with art materials, pupils must follow these important rules:

• Handle scissors carefully — cut away from your body and never run with scissors.
• Do not put art materials such as crayons or glue in your mouth.
• Wear an apron or old clothing to protect your uniform.
• Clean your workspace after every art activity.
• Return all tools and materials to their proper storage after use.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after art activities.

Lesson Presentation

Step 1 — Introduction: The teacher welcomes pupils and asks: ‘Can anyone tell me something that is made by hand that looks beautiful?’ After receiving responses, the teacher introduces the meaning of art and explains that it is about expressing ideas creatively.

Step 2 — Explanation: The teacher displays charts showing different art forms — drawing, painting, crafts, weaving, and modelling. Each form is explained with examples. The teacher explains the importance of art and how it is present in the pupils’ daily environment.

Step 3 — Pupil Participation: Pupils are asked to look around the classroom and identify any object created through art. They take turns naming one form of art they enjoy or have tried before. The teacher writes responses on the board.

Step 4 — Evaluation and Conclusion: The teacher reviews safety rules for the art room with pupils. Pupils repeat safety rules after the teacher. The lesson is summarised and pupils are reminded to always keep their workspace clean.

Lesson Evaluation

1. Art is the use of skill and imagination to create _______  (a) Buildings  (b) Beautiful or meaningful things  (c) Food  (d) Mathematics
2. Which of the following is a form of art? _______  (a) Reading  (b) Running  (c) Drawing  (d) Cooking
3. Art helps to preserve our _______  (a) Money  (b) Food  (c) Culture and tradition  (d) Clothing
4. When using scissors in art class, you should cut _______  (a) Towards your body  (b) Away from your body  (c) While running  (d) Without care
5. Which of these is NOT a form of art? _______  (a) Painting  (b) Weaving  (c) Addition  (d) Modelling
6. Crafts involve making objects _______  (a) Using machines only  (b) By hand  (c) Using a computer  (d) By buying from the market
7. After art activities, pupils should _______  (a) Leave their mess behind  (b) Wash their hands and clean up  (c) Take materials home  (d) Throw tools on the floor
8. Art in daily life helps to _______  (a) Destroy things  (b) Create confusion  (c) Decorate homes and express ideas  (d) Make schoolwork harder

Theory

• What is art? Mention two forms of art you have learned.
• State three safety rules you must follow during art activities.

Assignment

• (Drawing Practical) Draw any two objects you can see in your classroom and label them.
• (Written) Write three reasons why art is important in daily life.
• (Oral/Written) Name four forms of art and give one example of each.

HOD/VP’s Comments: _____________________________________________    Signature: _________________    Date: ___________

Week 2

Instructional Materials

• Pictures of Benin bronzes, Nok terracotta, and Yoruba artwork
• Charts showing Nigerian traditional designs and patterns
• Photographs of famous Nigerian artworks
• Reference books on Nigerian art and culture

Learning Objectives

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

• Explain Nigerian traditional art and its features.
• Name examples of famous Nigerian artworks and artists.
• Identify characteristics of Nigerian traditional designs.
• Describe the relationship between culture and art in Nigeria.

Entry Behaviour / Prior Knowledge

Pupils have seen Nigerian art in their homes, community events, and on television. They may have seen Adire fabric, beaded jewellery, or traditional pottery in their homes or markets. This lesson introduces them to Nigeria’s rich artistic heritage and helps them appreciate their cultural identity.

Content

A. Nigerian Traditional Art

Nigerian traditional art refers to artworks created by Nigerian people over many centuries using local materials and skills. These artworks include sculptures, bronzes, terracotta figures, pottery, weaving, and beadwork. Some of the most famous Nigerian art traditions include:

• Benin Bronze sculptures — created by Edo artists using the lost wax technique.
• Nok Terracotta — ancient clay figures made by the Nok people of central Nigeria.
• Ife Bronze heads — realistic portrait sculptures from ancient Ile-Ife.
• Tiv body painting and ceremonial art.
• Kano leatherwork and embroidery from northern Nigeria.
• Yoruba Adire (tie and dye) fabric and Aso-Oke weaving.

B. Characteristics of Nigerian Traditional Designs

Nigerian traditional designs have special features that make them recognisable:

• Use of geometric shapes — circles, triangles, zigzag lines, and repeated patterns.
• Bold and bright colours such as red, blue, yellow, and black.
• Symbolic patterns that carry cultural meaning (e.g. symbols of royalty or fertility).
• Use of natural materials like clay, raffia, bronze, beads, and plant-based dyes.
• Designs that reflect the values, beliefs, and history of Nigerian communities.

C. Relationship Between Culture and Art

Culture and art are closely connected. Art is used to express culture — the way people live, their beliefs, celebrations, and traditions. In Nigeria, art is used in festivals, ceremonies, and to honour ancestors. For example, masks used in masquerade festivals are forms of art that carry cultural meaning. Every artwork tells a story about the people who made it.

Lesson Presentation

Step 1 — Introduction: The teacher displays pictures of Nigerian artworks (Benin bronzes, Nok terracotta) and asks pupils if they have seen or heard of any of these. This captures their interest and connects the lesson to their background.

Step 2 — Explanation: The teacher explains Nigerian traditional art forms, their origins, and the techniques used. Each artwork displayed is described in detail. The teacher highlights the characteristics of Nigerian designs such as geometric patterns and symbolic colours.

Step 3 — Pupil Participation: Pupils are grouped to identify Nigerian designs in charts provided by the teacher. Each group names the features they observe and reports back to the class. The teacher corrects and adds information where necessary.

Step 4 — Evaluation and Conclusion: The teacher leads a class discussion on how art and culture are connected. Pupils mention cultural events in their community that involve art. The lesson is summarised with the key points written on the board.

Lesson Evaluation

1. Benin bronzes were made by artists from which state? _______  (a) Lagos  (b) Edo  (c) Kano  (d) Rivers
2. Nok terracotta are ancient art figures made from _______  (a) Bronze  (b) Wood  (c) Clay  (d) Fabric
3. The technique used to make Benin bronzes is called _______  (a) Moulding  (b) Weaving  (c) Lost wax technique  (d) Printing
4. Which fabric is associated with Yoruba traditional art? _______  (a) Ankara  (b) Adire  (c) Cotton  (d) Polyester
5. Nigerian traditional designs often use _______  (a) Photographs  (b) Geometric shapes and patterns  (c) Computer graphics  (d) Straight photographs
6. Art that carries cultural meaning is connected to _______  (a) Mathematics  (b) Science  (c) Culture and traditions  (d) Technology
7. The Ife Bronze heads came from _______  (a) Kano  (b) Ile-Ife  (c) Benin  (d) Lagos
8. Masks used in masquerade festivals are a form of _______  (a) Decoration only  (b) Cultural art  (c) Modern art  (d) Foreign art

Theory

• Mention two famous examples of Nigerian traditional art and where they came from.
• Describe three characteristics of Nigerian traditional designs.

Assignment

• (Drawing Practical) Copy any one Nigerian traditional design pattern shown in class on your drawing paper.
• (Written) Write a short paragraph explaining how culture and art are related in Nigeria.
• (Oral/Written) Name two Nigerian art traditions and state the materials used in each.

HOD/VP’s Comments: _____________________________________________    Signature: _________________    Date: ___________

Other Primary 4 subjects:

Primary 4 English Studies First Term

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