Lesson Note Template for Nigerian Teachers (With a Complete Example)

Every Nigerian teacher knows the Sunday-night routine: the week's lesson notes are due on the head teacher's desk on Monday morning, signed and ready.

This guide gives you a lesson note template in the format Nigerian schools use, explains what goes in each section, and walks through a complete written example you can model your own on.

The Lesson Note Format

Most Nigerian primary and secondary schools use a format close to this one. Check your school's version — some add or rename a heading — but the sections below cover what head teachers and inspectors look for.

Section	What to write
Subject	e.g. Mathematics
Class	e.g. Primary 4
Term / Week	e.g. First term, Week 6
Date	The day the lesson is taught
Duration	e.g. 40 minutes
Topic	The scheme-of-work topic
Sub-topic	The part of the topic taught in this lesson
Number in class	Average or actual number of pupils
Average age	e.g. 9 years
Behavioural objectives	What pupils should be able to do by the end
Instructional materials	What you will use to teach
Reference materials	Textbooks and sources, with pages
Previous knowledge (entry behaviour)	What pupils already know that this lesson builds on
Set induction (introduction)	How you will start the lesson and get attention
Presentation	The lesson itself, in numbered steps: teacher's activity and pupils' activity
Evaluation	Questions that check each objective
Summary / conclusion	The key points, in a few lines
Assignment	Homework that practises the lesson

Writing Each Section Well

Behavioural objectives

This is the section head teachers check first. Each objective should:

• start with "By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to…"
• use an action verb you can see or check: identify, list, state, calculate, draw, label, explain, compare, classify, demonstrate,
• be specific to this lesson, not the whole topic.

Avoid know, understand, appreciate and learn — you can't observe them.

Weak objective	Strong objective
Pupils should understand fractions	Pupils should be able to write two equivalent fractions for a given fraction
Pupils should know the parts of a plant	Pupils should be able to label the root, stem, leaf and flower on a diagram
Pupils should learn about rivers in Nigeria	Pupils should be able to name three major rivers in Nigeria and the states they flow through

Instructional materials

Name real, specific items: "a chart showing a fraction wall", "12 oranges cut into halves and quarters", "a map of Nigeria". "Charts and textbook" on its own is the most common reason a note is sent back.

Previous knowledge (entry behaviour)

One or two sentences on what pupils already know: "Pupils can identify halves and quarters of a whole shape." It shows the lesson follows from the last one.

Set induction

A short, concrete start: a question, a story, an object or a quick game that leads into the topic. Two to five minutes is enough.

Presentation

Write it as numbered steps, each with the teacher's activity and the pupils' activity. This is the heart of the note — it should be detailed enough that another teacher could take the class from it.

Evaluation

Write one question for each objective. If an objective has no question, either the objective or the evaluation is wrong.

Assignment

Practice of what was taught, not new content. Give page and exercise numbers if it comes from the textbook.

Complete Example: Primary 4 Mathematics

Subject	Mathematics
Class	Primary 4
Term / Week	First term, Week 6
Duration	40 minutes
Topic	Fractions
Sub-topic	Equivalent fractions
Number in class	30
Average age	9 years

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

1. explain that equivalent fractions name the same part of a whole;
2. write two equivalent fractions for a given fraction by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the same number;
3. identify which of two fractions are equivalent using a fraction wall.

Instructional materials: a fraction wall chart (whole, halves, quarters, eighths); paper strips for each group; four oranges cut into halves and quarters.

Reference materials: the class's approved Primary 4 Mathematics textbook (chapter on fractions).

Previous knowledge: Pupils can identify and write halves, quarters and eighths of a whole shape.

Set induction: The teacher cuts one orange into 2 halves and another into 4 quarters, then asks: "If Ada eats one half and Bayo eats two quarters, who ate more?" Pupils discuss and notice they ate the same amount.

Presentation:

1. Step 1 — Same amount, different names. Teacher: places one half and two quarters of an orange side by side and writes ½ = 2/4 on the board. Pupils: compare the pieces and say why they are the same amount.
2. Step 2 — Using the fraction wall. Teacher: shows on the fraction wall that ½ is the same length as 2/4 and 4/8, and explains these are called equivalent fractions. Pupils: fold their paper strips into halves, quarters and eighths and shade ½, 2/4 and 4/8 to check.
3. Step 3 — The multiplying rule. Teacher: shows that 1×2 / 2×2 = 2/4 and 1×4 / 2×4 = 4/8, and states the rule: multiply the top and bottom by the same number. Pupils: copy the rule and work through ⅓ → 2/6 → 3/9 with the teacher.
4. Step 4 — Practice. Teacher: writes ¼, ⅔ and ⅗ on the board and moves round the groups. Pupils: write two equivalent fractions for each in their exercise books.

Evaluation:

1. What are equivalent fractions?
2. Write two fractions equivalent to ¾.
3. Use the fraction wall: is 2/4 equivalent to 3/8? Explain.

Summary: Equivalent fractions name the same part of a whole. To find one, multiply the numerator and the denominator by the same number.

Assignment: Write three fractions equivalent to each of ½, ⅓ and ⅖.

A Blank Template to Copy

Copy this into Word or Google Docs and fill it in each week:

SUBJECT:
CLASS:
TERM / WEEK:
DATE:
DURATION:
TOPIC:
SUB-TOPIC:
NUMBER IN CLASS:
AVERAGE AGE:

BEHAVIOURAL OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
1.
2.
3.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE:

SET INDUCTION:

PRESENTATION:
Step 1 —  Teacher's activity:          Pupils' activity:
Step 2 —  Teacher's activity:          Pupils' activity:
Step 3 —  Teacher's activity:          Pupils' activity:

EVALUATION:
1.
2.
3.

SUMMARY:

ASSIGNMENT:

Teacher's signature: ________   Head teacher's remark and signature: ________

Tips That Get Notes Approved First Time

• Follow the scheme of work. The topic and week should match your school's scheme of work for the term.
• One period, one sub-topic. A note that tries to cover a whole topic in 40 minutes is the second most common reason for a rewrite.
• Match evaluation to objectives, question for question.
• Write the content, not just the method. If the step says "teacher explains photosynthesis", write the explanation.
• Prepare a week ahead. Notes written the night before rarely have real instructional materials.

Less Paperwork, More Teaching

Lesson notes are one of the few pieces of school paperwork that genuinely improve teaching. Much of the rest — copying scores into broadsheets, adding totals, counting the register — doesn't.

That's the part SchoolKit takes off teachers' desks: attendance is marked in seconds, scores are entered once and totalled, graded and ranked automatically, and report cards are produced for the whole class. For the end-of-term remarks, see our list of 150+ report card comments for teachers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a lesson note and a lesson plan?

In Nigerian schools the terms are often used interchangeably. Strictly, a lesson plan is the outline of how a lesson will run, while a lesson note also contains the content the teacher will teach. Most schools ask for one document that does both, in the format shown in this guide.

What are behavioural objectives in a lesson note?

They state what pupils should be able to do by the end of the lesson, using action verbs that can be observed and checked — such as identify, list, calculate, explain or draw. "Understand" and "know" are avoided because they cannot be measured.

How many objectives should a lesson note have?

Two to four is usual for a single period. Each should be something you will actually check in the evaluation.

How long should a lesson note be?

Long enough that another teacher could teach the lesson from it. For a 35–40 minute period that is usually one to two pages.

Who approves lesson notes?

In most schools the head teacher, vice principal (academics) or head of department reviews and signs lesson notes each week before the lessons are taught.