Comprehension: Currency – JSS1 English Lesson Note (Third Term)

Currency is the money a country uses to buy and sell goods and services. In this comprehension lesson, students read a short passage about how people traded before money existed and how Nigeria came to use the naira. They then answer questions to show that they understood it.

Behavioural objectives

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

• read a short passage on the history of currency with understanding;
• explain what barter is and why it was difficult;
• name some early forms of money used in West Africa;
• state the name of Nigeria’s currency and its smaller unit;
• give the meanings of new words from the passage.

Reading passage: the story of money

Long ago, people in many parts of Nigeria did not use coins or notes. A farmer who grew yams could swap some of them for fish from a fisherman. This way of trading is called barter. Barter was often difficult. The fisherman might not want yams on the day the farmer needed fish.

To solve this problem, people began to use things that everyone valued. In parts of West Africa, traders used cowrie shells and metal rings called manillas as money. Later, coins and paper money came into use. For some years Nigeria used the Nigerian pound. In 1973, the country changed to the naira and the kobo. One naira is equal to 100 kobo.

What do the new words mean?

How do we answer comprehension questions?

1. Read the passage twice, once for the general idea and once for detail.
2. Read each question carefully and find the sentence in the passage that answers it.
3. Answer in a full sentence, using words from the passage where you can.
4. Check your spelling and punctuation.

Practice questions on the passage

1. What is the name for trading goods for goods?
2. Why was barter often difficult?
3. Which shells were used as money in parts of West Africa?
4. In which year did Nigeria change to the naira and the kobo?
5. In the passage, what does the word “valued” mean?

Evaluation

1. Currency means (a) the money used in a country (b) a kind of fish (c) a market day (d) a shop.
2. How many kobo make one naira?
3. Which currency did Nigeria use before the naira?
4. Write the word from the passage that means “to give one thing and take another”.
5. Name the metal rings used as money in parts of West Africa.

Assignment

Fill in the blanks.

1. The currency of Nigeria is the ______.
2. Trading by exchanging goods without money is called ______.
3. ₦1 is equal to ______ kobo.

Answer key for teachers

Practice questions

1. Barter.
2. The other person might not want what you have to offer (for example, the fisherman might not want yams).
3. Cowrie shells.
4. 1973.
5. Thought to be useful or important.

Evaluation

1. (a)
2. 100.
3. The Nigerian pound.
4. Swap.
5. Manillas.

Assignment

1. naira
2. barter
3. 100