Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v3 - Primary 4
Classification of Arts and Nigerian Art works.
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Classification of Arts and Nigerian Art works.
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Nigeria 2025 app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Cultural and Creative Arts
Class: Primary 4
Term: 1st Term
Week: 1
Theme: Arts And Crafts
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Watch on YouTubeSee Facebook postThis topic introduces learners to the diverse world of arts, focusing on its classification and highlighting significant Nigerian artworks. Understanding art is crucial for developing creativity, fostering cultural appreciation, and recognizing the rich artistic heritage of Nigeria. Through this lesson, learners will gain foundational knowledge about different art forms and appreciate their role in society and personal expression. This knowledge connects to learners' real lives by helping them identify art in their homes, communities, cultural festivals, and potential future careers as artists, artisans, or cultural enthusiasts.
Specific Performance Objectives:
This section provides the core content necessary for the teacher to deliver the lesson effectively without needing external textbooks. A. What is Art? Art is a diverse range of human activities involving creative imagination and skill to express ideas, emotions, or beauty in a visual, auditory, or performative way. It is a fundamental part of human culture and has existed in various forms throughout history and in every society, including Nigeria. Art can be found everywhere, from the designs on clothes and buildings to the songs we sing and the stories we tell. B. Classification of Arts Arts can be broadly classified into different categories based on their medium and how they are experienced. For Primary 4, the focus will be on two major branches: Visual Arts and Performing Arts.
1. Visual Arts: Definition: These are art forms that are primarily visual in nature, meaning they can be seen and sometimes touched. They are created using various materials and techniques to produce objects or images.
Characteristics: They often exist as physical objects or images. They engage the sense of sight.
Examples relevant to Nigeria: Drawing: Creating images on a surface using pencils, charcoal, crayons, etc. (e.g., drawing a market scene, a masquerade).
Painting: Applying colours to a surface using brushes, fingers, or other tools (e.g., painting a landscape, portraits).
Sculpture: Creating three-dimensional forms by carving, moulding, or assembling materials like wood, stone, clay, metal (e.g., traditional wooden carvings, bronze figures).
Pottery/Ceramics: Making objects from clay and hardening them by heat (e.g., traditional water pots, cooking pots, decorative vases like those from Abuja).
Textile Art: Creating art using fabrics and threads, including weaving, dyeing (e.g., Aso-Oke, Adire, Ankara designs).
Crafts: Handmade items like basket weaving, beadwork, calabash decoration.
Architecture: The art of designing and constructing buildings (e.g., traditional mud houses, modern Nigerian buildings).
2. Performing Arts: Definition: These are art forms where artists use their bodies, voices, or instruments to present a live performance to an audience. They are temporary and often involve movement and sound.
Characteristics: They are dynamic, live, and temporal. They engage senses like hearing and sight (for movement).
Examples relevant to Nigeria: Music: Creating and performing sounds with rhythm, melody, and harmony, often using traditional instruments (e.g., talking drum, sekere, flute) or modern instruments. Includes singing, chanting, instrumental playing.
Dance: Expressing emotions or telling stories through rhythmic body movements, often accompanied by music (e.g., traditional dances like Atilogwu, Bata, Koroso, contemporary dance).
Drama/Theatre: Storytelling through acting, dialogues, and stage performance, often involving costumes and props (e.g., traditional storytelling, plays).
Spoken Word/Poetry Performance: Expressing ideas and emotions through rhythmic and expressive speech. C. Nigerian Art Works Nigeria has a very rich and ancient artistic tradition. Many of its artworks are world-renowned and reflect the diverse cultures and history of its people.
1. Traditional/Pre-Colonial Artworks: These are artworks created before the colonial era and often hold deep cultural and spiritual significance. Nok Terracotta Heads (c. 500 BC – 200 AD): Origin: Nok culture, found in central Nigeria (Kaduna State).
Description: Earliest known sculptural art in West Africa. Characterized by distinctive, expressive human heads and figures made from terracotta (baked clay). They often feature elaborate hairstyles, almond-shaped eyes, and perforations.
Significance: Evidence of advanced artistic and metallurgical skills, believed to have ritualistic or funerary purposes. Ife Bronze and Terracotta Heads (c. 11th – 15th Century AD): Origin: Ancient city of Ife (Ile-Ife), Osun State, considered the spiritual homeland of the Yoruba people.
Description: Highly naturalistic and idealized human heads and figures made from bronze, brass, and terracotta. They often depict rulers (Oni) and significant figures with intricate facial scarifications and elaborate crowns.
Significance: Known for their technical sophistication and serene beauty, representing a pinnacle of African art. Benin Bronzes (c. 13th – 19th Century AD): Origin: Kingdom of Benin (Edo State).
Description: A collection of thousands of commemorative plaques, sculptures, and heads, primarily made of bronze and brass, but also ivory and wood. They depict obas (kings), queen mothers, warriors, historical events, and mythological idealized human heads and figures made from bronze, brass, and terracotta. They often depict rulers (Oni) and significant figures with intricate facial scarifications and elaborate crowns.
Significance: Known for their technical sophistication and serene beauty, representing a pinnacle of African art. Benin Bronzes (c. 13th – 19th Century AD): Origin: Kingdom of Benin (Edo State).
Description: A collection of thousands of commemorative plaques, sculptures, and heads, primarily made of bronze and brass, but also ivory and wood. They depict obas (kings), queen mothers, warriors, historical events, and mythological figures.
Significance: Famous for their detailed craftsmanship and historical documentation of the Benin Kingdom. Many were looted during the British Punitive Expedition of 1897 and are now in museums worldwide. Igbo-Ukwu Bronzes (c. 9th Century AD): Origin: Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra State.
Description: Highly elaborate and decorative bronze objects, including ceremonial vessels, ornaments, and regalia. Known for their intricate filigree work and detailed designs.
Significance: Demonstrates sophisticated metalworking techniques and suggests a complex social structure and extensive trade networks in ancient Igbo society.
Traditional Masks and Carvings: Found across various ethnic groups (e.g., Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa-Fulani). Made from wood, calabash, or other materials. Used in festivals, ceremonies, and rituals.
2. Modern/Contemporary Nigerian Artworks: * Nigerian artists continue to produce diverse works in various media (painting, sculpture, mixed media, digital art) that reflect modern life, social issues, and contemporary interpretations of traditional themes. Examples include paintings depicting Nigerian daily life, abstract sculptures, and installations. --- Materials: Chart showing "Classification of Arts" (Visual and Performing Arts with examples)
Pictures or printouts of various artworks: Visual Arts: Drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery, textile (e.g., Aso-Oke, Adire fabric), local crafts (basket, calabash).
Performing Arts: Musicians with traditional instruments, dancers in costume, actors on stage.
Pictures of prominent Nigerian artworks: Nok head, Ife head, Benin bronze plaque/head, Igbo-Ukwu bronze.
Drawing materials: A4 paper, pencils, erasers, crayons/colour pencils.
Optional: Audio/video clips of Nigerian music or dance.
A. Introduction (5 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Begin by asking learners about beautiful things they have seen or created. Elicit responses related to drawing, singing, dancing, or making things. Connect these responses to the general idea of "Art." Student Activity: Learners share examples of things they consider beautiful or creative.
B. Development of Content Activity 1: What is Art? (10 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Explain the general meaning of "Art" in simple terms: it's about people using their creativity and skill to make beautiful things, express feelings, or tell stories. Emphasize that art is everywhere.
Student Activity: Learners listen and offer simple examples of art they encounter daily (e.g., song, drawing, pretty dress).
Activity 2: Classifying Arts – Visual Arts (15 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Introduce "Visual Arts." Explain that these are arts we can see. Show pictures/examples of different visual art forms (e.g., a painting, a clay pot, a woven mat, a wooden sculpture). Discuss each example briefly, asking learners what they see and how it was made.
Examples to discuss:* Drawing (a child's sketch), Painting (a landscape), Sculpture (a carved wooden figure), Pottery (a clay pot), Textile (Adire fabric).
Student Activity: Learners observe the pictures, identify the art forms, and contribute to the discussion by sharing if they have seen similar things. They identify common features of visual arts (can be seen, touched, exists as an object).
Activity 3: Classifying Arts – Performing Arts (15 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Introduce "Performing Arts." Explain that these are arts that are performed live for an audience.
Provide examples: Music: Play a short clip of Nigerian traditional music or sing a simple song.
Dance: Demonstrate a simple dance step or describe a traditional Nigerian dance.
Drama: Briefly act out a simple scene or describe a short play. Discuss how these arts involve movement, sound, and are temporary.
Student Activity: Learners listen, observe, and participate by clapping to music, trying simple dance steps, or mimicking simple dramatic actions. They identify common features of performing arts (live, involves body/voice, disappears after performance).
Activity 4: Naming Nigerian Artworks (15 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Present pictures of famous traditional Nigerian artworks: Nok Terracotta Head: Show picture, explain it's one of the oldest arts from central Nigeria, made from clay.
Ife Bronze/Terracotta Head: Show picture, explain it's from Ile-Ife, Yoruba land, known for its realistic look.
Benin Bronze Plaque/Head: Show picture, explain it's from Benin Kingdom, made of bronze, tells stories of kings and events.
Igbo-Ukwu Bronzes: Show picture, explain the intricate designs from Eastern Nigeria. Also mention local crafts like traditional pottery, masks, and fabrics as examples of Nigerian art.
Student Activity: Learners observe the pictures, name the artworks as guided by the teacher, and discuss what they find interesting about each.
Activity 5: Drawing an Artwork (20 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Explain that everyone can be an artist. Provide drawing materials. Guide learners to draw a simple artwork.
Suggest options relevant to the lesson: a traditional Nigerian pot, a simple mask, a person dancing, a simple pattern from an Adire fabric. Demonstrate basic shapes for a pot or a mask. Emphasize effort and creativity over perfection.
Student Activity: Learners engage in drawing their chosen artwork on paper using pencils and colours.
C. Conclusion (5 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Summarize the lesson: Art is creative expression, classified into Visual (seen) and Performing (performed) arts. Highlight the beauty and importance of Nigerian artworks.
Student Activity: Learners ask questions and participate in a quick recap. --- The teacher should facilitate these questions, allowing learners to attempt answers individually or in small groups, then provide clear feedback and solutions.
Question 1 (Classify Arts): Imagine you see someone making a beautiful clay pot. Is this an example of Visual Arts or Performing Arts?
Solution: This is an example of Visual Arts.
Commentary: Pottery involves creating a tangible object that can be seen and touched, aligning with the characteristics of visual arts.
Question 2 (Classify Arts): If you are watching a group of people dancing to traditional Nigerian music at a festival, what type of art are you experiencing?
Solution: You are experiencing Performing Arts.
Commentary: Dance is a live, dynamic expression involving body movement and music, which are hallmarks of performing arts.
Question 3 (Name Nigerian Art works): Name one famous ancient Nigerian artwork that is made from clay and has distinctive human heads.
Solution: Nok Terracotta Head.
Commentary: The Nok culture is renowned for its terracotta (baked clay) sculptures, particularly the distinctive human heads, making it a correct answer. Ife terracotta is also acceptable.
Question 4 (Name Nigerian Art works): Which Nigerian kingdom is famous for its bronze plaques and heads that tell stories of their kings and history?
Solution: The Benin Kingdom (or Benin Bronzes).
Commentary: The Benin Bronzes are historically significant for their detailed depiction of the kingdom's history and royal figures, distinguishing them as a unique Nigerian artwork.
Question 5 (Draw an Arts work): On your paper, draw a simple picture of a traditional Nigerian pot or a simple mask.
Solution: (Teacher assessment).
Commentary: The teacher should encourage learners to use basic shapes and lines to represent the chosen object. Assessment should focus on effort, basic representation, and understanding of the task, not artistic perfection. A simple circle for the mouth, oval for the body, and a flat base for a pot would be a good start. ---
Cultural Preservation and Promotion: Application: Understanding traditional Nigerian artworks like Ife bronzes or Benin plaques connects learners to their rich cultural past. This knowledge encourages respect for cultural heritage and inspires participation in local festivals where performing arts (music, dance, drama) are central.
Local Context: Learners can visit local museums or cultural centres (if available) to see actual Nigerian artworks. They can also observe and appreciate traditional crafts (e.g., pottery, basket weaving) practised in their communities, recognizing them as forms of visual art and sources of local pride and income.
Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods: Application: Art and craft skills can be a source of income and livelihood. By learning about different art forms, learners can appreciate the skills of local artisans and consider creative fields as potential career paths.
Local Context: The teacher can bring examples of locally made crafts (e.g., a hand-woven basket, a carved wooden spoon, a tie-dye fabric) and discuss how these are created and sold, providing income for families. This demonstrates how art translates into economic activity within their community.
Personal Expression and Mental Well-being: Application: Engaging in art (like drawing, singing, or dancing) provides a healthy outlet for self-expression, helps develop fine motor skills, and boosts confidence. It's a way for individuals to communicate feelings and ideas without words.
Local Context: Learners can be encouraged to use art to express their experiences in their daily lives, such as drawing their village market, depicting a family celebration, or composing a simple song about their environment. This integrates art into their personal development and everyday experiences. ---