Traditional Dance: Meaning and Features of Traditional Dance in Nigeria Primary 4 (Basic 4) Second Term Week 3 Cultural and Creative Arts

TRADITIONAL DANCE: MEANING AND FEATURES OF TRADITIONAL DANCE IN NIGERIA

CULTURAL AND CREATIVE ARTS (CCA)

PRIMARY 4 – SECOND TERM – WEEK 3

THEME –  MUSIC 

PREVIOUS LESSON – Foreign Musical Instruments: Meaning, Types, Classification and Methods of Playing Foreign Musical Instruments Primary 4 (Basic 4) Second Term Week 2 Cultural and Creative Arts

TOPIC – FEATURES OF NIGERIAN TRADITIONAL DANCE 

LEARNING 

1. Introduction

2. Meaning and Features of Traditional Dance

3. Examples of Traditional Dance in Nigeria

4. Importance of Traditional Dance

5. Weekly Assessment: Test Questions and Answers/Assignment

6. Summary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

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

1. Explain the meaning of traditional dance.

2. Mention at least five features of traditional dance in Nigeria.

3. Identify at least three examples of traditional dances in Nigeria.

4. State at least five importance of traditional dance.

5. Demonstrate simple traditional dance steps.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

Pupils have previously learned about Foreign Musical Instruments: Meaning, Types, Classification, and Methods of Playing Foreign Musical Instruments. They understand that music and musical instruments are used to accompany songs and dances.

This lesson builds on that knowledge by introducing pupils to traditional dance, its features, and its importance in Nigerian culture.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Pictures or charts of Nigerian traditional dances

2. Traditional musical instruments (or pictures)

3. Audio or video recordings of traditional dances (where available)

4. Traditional costumes (or pictures)

5. Flashcards showing the features of traditional dance

METHOD OF TEACHING

Choose a suitable and appropriate methods for the lessons.

Note – Irrespective of choosing methods of teaching, always introduce an activities that will arouse pupil’s interest or lead them to the lessons. 

REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of Work

2. 9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum

3. Course Book

4. All Relevant Material

5. Online Information

CONTENT OF THE LESSON

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria has many traditional dances that are performed during festivals, weddings, naming ceremonies, and other cultural events. These dances are accompanied by traditional music, colourful costumes, and special dance steps that reflect the customs and traditions of different ethnic groups.

In this lesson, pupils will learn the meaning of traditional dance, identify its features, mention examples of traditional dances in Nigeria, and explain their importance in preserving Nigerian culture.

LESSON 1 – MEANING OF TRADITIONAL DANCE

Traditional dance is a cultural dance performed by people to express their customs, beliefs, history, and way of life. It is usually performed during festivals, ceremonies, and other special occasions.

FEATURES OF TRADITIONAL DANCE IN NIGERIA

Traditional dances in Nigeria have the following features:

1. It reflects culture and tradition of the people.

2. It is performed during special occasions such as festivals, weddings, and naming ceremonies.

3. It uses traditional musical instruments like talking drums, gongs, and rattles.

4. Dancers wear traditional costumes that represent their culture.

5. It involves rhythmic body movements and coordinated dance steps.

6. It is performed in groups or individually, depending on the dance.

7. It tells stories or expresses feelings through movement.

8. It promotes unity and cooperation among community members.

9. It is passed from one generation to another.

10. It entertains and educates people about their cultural heritage.

LESSON 2 – EXAMPLES OF TRADITIONAL DANCES IN NIGERIA

1. Bata Dance – Yoruba

2. Atilogwu Dance – Igbo

3. Koroso Dance – Hausa

4. Swange Dance – Tiv

5. Ekombi Dance – Efik

IMPORTANCE OF TRADITIONAL DANCE

Traditional dance helps to:

1. Preserve Nigerian culture.

2. Entertain people.

3. Unite communities.

4. Teach cultural values.

5. Celebrate important events.

6. Promote physical fitness.

7. Develop talents and creativity.

LESSON 3 – WEEKLY ASSESSMENT: TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS/ASSIGNMENT 

A. Multiple Choice Questions

1. Traditional dance is a dance that shows a people’s _______.

A. culture and tradition

B. football skills

C. farming tools

D. classroom rules

2. Traditional dances are usually performed during _______.

A. shopping

B. examinations

C. festivals and ceremonies

D. sleeping

3. Which of the following is a traditional dance in Nigeria?

A. Salac

B. Ballet

C. Hip-hop

D. Bata Dance

4. Traditional dancers usually wear _______.

A. raincoats

B. school uniforms

C. sportswear

D. traditional costumes

5. Traditional dance helps to _______.

A. destroy culture

B. preserve culture

C. waste time

D. spoil traditions

B. Fill in the Gaps

Complete the sentences using the words in the box: culture, drums, costumes, festivals, unity

6. Traditional dance reflects the _______ of the people.

7. Traditional dances are performed during _______.

8. Dancers wear traditional _______ during performances.

9. Traditional dances are often accompanied by _______.

10. Traditional dance promotes _______ among community members.

C. True or False

11. Traditional dance is part of Nigerian culture. _______

12. Traditional dances are performed only in schools. _______

13. Traditional musical instruments are used during traditional dances. _______

14. Traditional dance helps to preserve cultural heritage. _______

15. Traditional dances cannot be performed in groups. _______

D. Match Column A with Column B.

Column A – Column B

16. Bata Dance – A. Efik

17. Atilogwu Dance – B. Yoruba

18. Swange Dance – C. Igbo

19. Ekombi Dance – D. Hausa

20. Koroso Dance – E. Tiv

ANSWER KEYS

1. A – Culture and tradition

2. C – Festivals and ceremonies

3. D – Bata Dance

4. D – Traditional costumes

5. B – Preserve culture

6. culture

7. festivals

8. costumes

9. drums

10. unity

11. True

12. False

13. True

14. True

15. False

16. B – Yoruba

17. C – Igbo

18. E – Tiv

19. A – Efik

20. D – Hausa

SUMMARY

In this lesson, pupils learned that traditional dance is a cultural dance performed to express the customs, beliefs, history, and way of life of a people.

Pupils identified the features of traditional dance in Nigeria, such as the use of traditional costumes, traditional musical instruments, rhythmic body movements, cultural expressions, storytelling, and performances during festivals and ceremonies.

Furthermore, pupils learned examples of Nigerian traditional dances, including Bata Dance (Yoruba), Atilogwu Dance (Igbo), Koroso Dance (Hausa), Swange Dance (Tiv), and Ekombi Dance (Efik).

Finally, pupils understood that traditional dance helps to preserve culture, entertain people, promote unity, teach cultural values, celebrate important occasions, develop talents, and promote physical fitness.

PRESENTATION

To deliver the lesson, the teacher adopts the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction – The teacher displays pictures or plays a short video of Nigerian traditional dances. The teacher asks pupils if they have seen or participated in any traditional dance.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils observe the pictures or video and mention any traditional dances they know.

Step 2: Meaning of Traditional Dance – The teacher explains that traditional dance is a cultural dance performed to express the customs, beliefs, history, and way of life of a people.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils explain the meaning of traditional dance in their own words.

Step 3: Features of Traditional Dance – The teacher explains the features of traditional dance, including the use of traditional costumes, traditional musical instruments, rhythmic movements, storytelling, and performances during festivals and ceremonies.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils identify the features of traditional dance from pictures or demonstrations.

Step 4: Examples and Importance of Traditional Dance – The teacher introduces examples of traditional dances in Nigeria, such as Bata, Atilogwu, Koroso, Swange, and Ekombi, and explains their importance in preserving culture, promoting unity, and entertaining people.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils mention examples of traditional dances and discuss their importance.

Step 5: Practical Demonstration – The teacher demonstrates simple traditional dance steps or invites pupils to perform simple dance movements while traditional music is played.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils practise simple traditional dance steps individually or in groups.

Step 6: Group Activity – The teacher divides the class into four groups and assigns the following activities:

• Group 1: Explain the meaning of traditional dance.

• Group 2: Mention the features of traditional dance.

• Group 3: Identify examples of traditional dances in Nigeria.

• Group 4: State the importance of traditional dance.

Each group presents its work to the class.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils discuss the assigned tasks and present their findings.

Step 7: Lesson Summary – The teacher reviews the meaning, features, examples, and importance of traditional dance.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer oral questions and summarise the lesson.

Step 8: Evaluation – The teacher asks oral and written questions to assess pupils’ understanding of the lesson.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer the evaluation questions and participate actively in the lesson.

CONCLUSION

To conclude the lesson for the week, the teacher revises the entire lesson and links it to the following week’s lesson.

NEXT LESSON

Care of the Environment: Meaning of Environment, Materials Found in the Environment and Ways of Caring for the Environment Primary 4 (Basic 4) Second Term Week 4 Cultural and Creative Arts

LESSON EVALUATION 

Teacher asks pupils,

1. Explain the meaning of traditional dance.

2. Mention at least five features of traditional dance in Nigeria.

3. Identify at least three examples of traditional dances in Nigeria.

4. State at least five importance of traditional dance.

5. Demonstrate simple traditional dance steps appropriate to their culture.