Government SS 1 Curriculum Guides – Power, Authority, Legitimacy, Sovereignty, Democracy

 

 

THEME – POLITICAL CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES 

TOPIC 1 – POWER 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Films

3. Newspaper cuttings

4. Pictures and charts

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. define power as a key concept in politics.

2. explain how political power is acquired and exercised.

3. state and explain the forms of power.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. Definition of Power

2. The Acquisition and Exercise of Power

3. Forms of Power

• Military

• Political

• Economic

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. asks pupils to define power.

2. guides students to identify and different between forms of power.

3. leads a discussion on how power is acquired and exercised by the citizens and government.

4. asks students name the most powerful people in their local communities.

5. summarizes the lessons on the board.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. define power in politics.

2. state and discuss different forms of power.

3. name the most powerful people in their local communities.

4. participate actively in the summary of the lesson by responding correctly to the questions and write as instructed.

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students to,

1. what is power?

2. name three forms of power.

3. how can political power be exercised by the government and the citizens?

 

 

THEME – POLITICAL CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES 

TOPIC 2 – AUTHORITY 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Symbols of Authority: National flag, Coat of arms, etc.

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. define political authority.

2. identify the sources of political authority .

3. distinguish between power and authority.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. Meaning of Political Authority

2. Sources of Political Authority

3. Differences Between Power and Authority

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. asks students to define authority.

2. guides the students to identify and discuss different sources of information.

3. leads the students to differentiate between political power and authority.

4. Summarizes the lesson on the board.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. define authority.

2. state and explain different sources of information.

3. differentiate between power and authority.

4. participate actively in the summary of the lesson by responding correctly to the questions and write as instructed.

 

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students to,

1.  explain the meaning of authority.

2. what are sources of authority?

2. differentiate between power and authority.

 

 

THEME – POLITICAL CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES 

TOPIC 3 – LEGITIMACY

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Pictures and charts

3. Newspaper cuttings

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. explain the meaning of legitimacy.

2. discuss the basis of legitimacy and its impact on the stability of government.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. Meaning of Legitimacy

2. Factors that Determine Legitimacy

3. Legitimacy as a Factor of the Stability of Government

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. asks students to explain the meaning of legitimacy.

2. leads a discussion on the basis of legitimacy and its impact on the stability of government.

3. summarizes the lesson on the board.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. explain the meaning of legitimacy.

2. participate actively on the discussion on the basis of legitimacy and its impact on the stability of government.

3. participate actively in the summary of the lesson by responding correctly to the questions and write as instructed.

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students,

1. explain the meaning of legitimacy.

2. why should a government have legitimacy?

3. how does legitimacy ensure stability?

 

 

THEME – POLITICAL CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES 

TOPIC 4 – SOVEREIGNTY

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Pictures of members of the National Assembly

3. National flags, Anthems, and Coat of arms

4. Newspaper cuttings

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. identify Sovereignty as the supreme power in a state and the state of political independence.

2. explain the difficulty in locating where sovereignty lies in a state.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. Meaning of Sovereignty

2. Two Connotations of Sovereignty as –

• the state of political independence, and

• the supreme power in a state.

2. Problems of Locating Sovereignty

3. Limitations of Sovereignty

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. leads a discussion on meaning of sovereignty the state of political independence and the supreme power in a state.

2. explains the problems of locating sovereignty.

3. discuss the limitations of sovereignty.

4. summarizes the lesson on the board.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. explain the meaning of sovereignty as the state of political independence and the supreme power in a state.

2. explains the problems of locating sovereignty.

3. discuss the limitations of sovereignty.

4. participate actively in the summary of the lesson by responding correctly to the questions and write as instructed.

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students,

1. what is a sovereign state?

2. is the power of a state absolute?

3. explain the limitations of Sovereignty.

 

 

THEME – POLITICAL CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES 

TOPIC 5 – DEMOCRACY

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Newspaper cuttings

3. Electronic media.

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. define democracy.

2. discuss the main features of democracy.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. Definition of Democracy

2. Main Features of Democracy

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. leads a discussion on democracy.

2. guides students to identify and discuss the main features of democracy.

3. arrange for excursion to State House of Assembly.

4. summarizes the lessons on the board.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. contribute to class discussion.

2. go on an excursion to observe democracy at work.

3. discussion on excursion report.

4. participate actively in the summary of the lesson by responding correctly to the questions and write as instructed.

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students,

1. what is democracy?

2. outline the elements of democracy.

 

 

THEME – POLITICAL CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES 

TOPIC 6 – POLITICAL CULTURE AND POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Newspaper cuttings

3. Films

4. Pictures and charts

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. discuss the meaning of Political Culture.

2. state the components of Political Culture.

3. explain the meaning of Political Socialization.

4. discuss the agents of Political Socialization.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. The Meaning of Political Culture

2. The Components of Political Culture

3. Meaning of Political Socialization

4. Agents of Political Socialization

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. leads a discussion on the meaning and components of political culture.

2. guides a discussion on the meaning and agents of political socialization.

3. arrange debate on the attitudes of Nigerians to politics.

4. summarizes the lessons on the board.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. define political culture.

2. list and explain the components of political culture.

3. explain the meaning of political socialization.

4. list and explain the agents of political socialization.

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students to,

1. describe the Nigerian political culture.

2. explain how individuals acquire political beliefs.

3. differentiate between political culture and political socialism.