Lesson Plan: The First Republican Constitution of 1963
**Grade:** Senior Secondary 2
**Subject:** Government
**Topic:** The First Republican Constitution of 1963
**Duration:** 60 minutes
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### Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
1. Understand the historical context leading to the creation of the 1963 Republican Constitution.
2. Outline the features and significance of the 1963 Republican Constitution.
3. Explain the differences between the 1960 Independence Constitution and the 1963 Republican Constitution.
4. Analyze the impact of the First Republican Constitution on Nigeria's political development.
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### Materials
- Textbook: Senior Secondary Government Textbook
- Handouts with key points of the 1963 Republican Constitution
- Projector and screen for visual aids
- Whiteboard and markers
- Internet access (optional, for multimedia content)
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### Lesson Outline
#### Introduction (10 minutes)
1. **Warm-up Activity:** Start with a brief discussion on Nigeria's journey to independence, focusing on the 1960 Independence Constitution. Ask students to share what they know about it.
2. **Learning Objectives:** Clearly state the objectives of the lesson to the students.
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#### Direct Instruction (20 minutes)
1. **Historical Context:**
- Discuss Nigeria's political situation between 1960 and 1963.
- Briefly touch on the transition from a monarchy under the British Crown to a republic.
2. **Features of the 1963 Republican Constitution:**
- Higher emphasis on sovereignty and supreme authority vested in Nigeria.
- Introduction of the President as the Head of State instead of the British Monarch.
- Changes in the structure of the federal and regional governments.
- The judicial system's transformation to be fully autonomous from British influence.
3. **Significance:**
- The shift from colonial to full republican governance.
- Improved political autonomy and national identity.
- Framework for federal-state relations and its implication for political dynamics.
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#### Guided Practice (15 minutes)
1. **Comparative Analysis:**
- Utilize a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the 1960 Independence Constitution and the 1963 Republican Constitution.
2. **Group Discussion:**
- Split the class into small groups and assign each group a feature of the 1963 Constitution to discuss.
- Each group presents their findings to the class.
3. **Q&A Session:**
- Encourage students to ask questions and engage with the topic more deeply.
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#### Independent Practice (10 minutes)
- Hand out an activity worksheet with questions that require short essays or structured answers. Sample questions:
- What were the major motivations behind Nigeria adopting the 1963 Republican Constitution?
- How did the changes in the constitution affect Nigeria's political landscape?
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#### Conclusion (5 minutes)
1. **Recap:**
- Summarize the key points discussed in the lesson.
2. **Takeaways:**
- Highlight the importance of the 1963 Republican Constitution in the broader context of Nigerian political history.
3. **Homework Assignment:**
- Ask students to write a one-page reflection on how the 1963 Constitution has shaped modern Nigerian governance.
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### Assessment
- **Formative:** Monitor students' participation during group activities and discussions.
- **Summative:** Evaluate the worksheets and homework for understanding and critical thinking.
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### Extension Activities
- **Multimedia Project:** Have students create a short video or presentation on the evolution of Nigeria’s constitutions from 1960 to date.
- **Debate:** Organize a classroom debate on whether the changes brought by the 1963 Republican Constitution were wholly beneficial for Nigeria.
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### Resources
- Government textbooks and handouts
- Online databases for supplementary materials
- Documentaries covering Nigeria’s pre- and post-independence period
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This lesson plan aims to engage Senior Secondary 2 students actively and critically with Nigeria’s first Republican Constitution, helping them appreciate its impact on the nation’s political development.