### Lesson Plan: Military Rule in Nigeria - General Murtala Muhammed
**Grade Level:** Primary 6
**Subject:** History
**Duration:** 60 minutes
#### Objectives:
- Students will understand the period of Military rule in Nigeria focusing on General Murtala Muhammed.
- Students will be able to identify key events and contributions of General Murtala Muhammed's administration.
- Students will discuss the impacts of military rule on Nigeria's development.
#### Materials:
- Whiteboard and markers
- Projector or TV for video clips
- Maps of Nigeria
- Textbooks or handouts
- Pictures of General Murtala Muhammed
- Timeline chart
- Worksheets
#### Lesson Structure:
**Introduction (10 minutes)**
1. **Greeting and Roll Call:** Teacher welcomes the students and takes attendance.
2. **Engage:** Start with a general question: "Who has heard about a leader called General Murtala Muhammed?" Discuss briefly.
3. **Learning Objectives:** Outline what the students are expected to learn from the lesson.
**Body (40 minutes)**
1. **Historical Context (10 minutes)**
- **Activity:** Show a map of Nigeria and have students locate it.
- **Discussion:** Briefly discuss the period after Nigeria's independence in 1960 and how the country experienced a series of military regimes.
- **Info Sharing:** Explain the term 'military rule' and its implications for a country.
2. **Focus on Murtala Muhammed (15 minutes)**
- **Background:** Introduce General Murtala Muhammed, highlighting his birth (1938), rise in the military, and the coup that led him to power in 1975.
- **Discussion:** Explain his major policies, reforms (like moving the Federal Capital to Abuja), and efforts to fight corruption.
- **Visual Aid:** Project images of General Murtala Muhammed and key events during his time in office.
3. **Key Events (10 minutes)**
- **Timeline Creation:** Together with the students, create a timeline on the board showing key events during Murtala's rule.
- **Class Activity:** Students will be divided into small groups and given different events to research from provided textbooks/handouts. Each group will present their assigned event.
4. **Impact and Legacy (5 minutes)**
- **Summary by Teacher:** Summarize the major impacts of Murtala’s short rule (economic reforms, anti-corruption stance, etc.).
- **Critical Thinking:** Facilitate a brief discussion on how military rule might be different from civilian rule and the overall impact on Nigeria's development.
**Conclusion (10 minutes)**
1. **Review:** Recap the key points discussed in the lesson.
2. **Class Participation:** Q&A session where students can ask questions or share their thoughts.
3. **Assessment:** Hand out a worksheet with questions related to General Murtala Muhammed’s rule for students to complete. This will serve as both an assessment and a takeaway to reinforce learning.
**Homework Assignment:**
- Assign students to write a short essay on what they think Nigeria would be like today if General Murtala Muhammed had not been assassinated in 1976.
**Note for Teacher:**
- Be prepared to address any sensitive questions regarding military rule and its impact on society.
- Encourage students to think critically and form their own opinions based on the facts presented.
This lesson plan aims to give students a comprehensive understanding of General Murtala Muhammed's contributions and the broader context of military rule in Nigeria.