Respecting National Symbols Basic 3 Civic Education Lesson Note

Subject: Civic Education
Class: Primary 3
Duration: 30 minutes

Why Should We Respect National Symbols?

Respecting national symbols shows that we love Nigeria and are proud to be Nigerians. It is our duty as good citizens.

How to Respect National Symbols

1. Nigerian Flag

Proper Ways to Respect the Flag:

• Stand at attention when the flag is being raised or lowered
• Never let the flag touch the ground
• Keep the flag clean and in good condition
• Don’t use the flag as clothing or decoration
• Replace old and torn flags with new ones

2. National Anthem

How to Show Respect During the National Anthem:

• Stand at attention with your feet together
• Keep your hands by your side
• Look straight ahead
• Sing along respectfully
• Remove your cap or hat
• Stop all activities and listen

3. National Pledge

Proper Behavior During the National Pledge:

• Stand straight and tall
• Place your right hand on your chest
• Recite the words clearly and loudly
• Show respect with your facial expression
• Pay attention to every word

4. Coat of Arms

Ways to Respect the Coat of Arms:

• Handle documents with coat of arms carefully
• Don’t draw on or damage items with coat of arms
• Treat money (naira) with respect
• Keep important documents safe

What “Stand at Attention” Means

Stand at Attention:

• Stand straight and tall
• Put your feet close together
• Keep your arms by your side
• Look straight ahead
• Stay still and quiet
• Show respect with your body language

What NOT to Do

Wrong Behaviors:

• Talking or playing during the anthem
• Sitting when others are standing
• Making noise during the pledge
• Using the flag to clean things
• Stepping on money or throwing it away
• Running around when symbols are being displayed

Benefits of Respecting National Symbols

• Shows you are a good Nigerian citizen
• Makes other people respect you
• Helps build unity in the country
• Teaches others to be patriotic
• Makes Nigeria proud of its citizens

Class Exercise

1. Fill in the missing words:

Words: attention, chest, ground, respect

1. We should stand at _____________ during the national anthem.
2. Place your right hand on your _____________ during the pledge.
3. Never let the flag touch the _____________.
4. We should show _____________ to all national symbols.

1. Choose the correct answer:

1. During the national anthem, you should: a) Sit down b) Stand at attention c) Run around
2. When reciting the pledge, put your hand on your: a) Head b) Stomach c) Chest
3. If the flag is old and torn, you should: a) Throw it away b) Replace it with a new one c) Use it to clean

1. Write CORRECT or WRONG:

1. Standing straight during the national anthem: _______
2. Talking while the pledge is being recited: _______
3. Keeping the flag clean: _______
4. Using the flag as a table cloth: _______
5. Singing the national anthem respectfully: _______

1. Match the symbol with the correct way to respect it:

• Nigerian Flag → Never let it touch the ground
• National Anthem → Stand at attention and sing
• National Pledge → Put right hand on chest
• Coat of Arms → Handle documents carefully

1. Complete these sentences:

1. Stand at attention means standing _____________ and _____________.
2. During the national anthem, you should _____________ your cap.
3. We should _____________ the flag when it becomes old.
4. Respecting symbols shows we _____________ Nigeria.

1. List three things you should do during the national anthem:
2. List three things you should NOT do with the flag:
3. Answer these questions:

1. What does standing at attention mean?
2. Why should we respect national symbols?
3. Where should you put your hand during the pledge?