National Consciousness and Identity – JSS1 Civic Education Lesson Note (Third Term)

National consciousness is a person’s awareness of issues and happenings in the nation and how they affect him or her and others. National identity is the sense of belonging to a nation, shown through its symbols, beliefs, culture, heritage, language and politics. Consciousness itself means the state of being aware.

Behavioural objectives

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

1. State the meaning of consciousness.
2. State the meaning of national consciousness.
3. State the meaning of national identity.

What is consciousness?

Consciousness means being able to use one’s senses and mental powers to understand events happening at a particular point in time. It is the state or quality of awareness, or of being aware of an external object or something within oneself.

Consciousness has been defined as sentience, awareness, subjectivity, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind.

What is national consciousness?

National consciousness is the level of a person’s awareness of issues and happenings in the nation and how they affect him or her and others in the nation. It is the love and affection for one’s nation. This self-awareness translates to self-consciousness.

What is national identity?

National identity is the act of belonging and identifying with a nation. It is one’s identity or sense of belonging to one state or one nation. It is the sense of a nation as a cohesive whole, as represented by distinctive traditions, culture, language and politics.

What represents national identity?

National identity is represented by the symbols, beliefs, culture and heritages for which the country is known and identified. National symbols include:

• currency
• pledges
• national anthem
• coat of arms

Evaluation

1. What is consciousness?
2. What is national consciousness?
3. What is national identity?
4. List four national symbols that represent a country’s identity.

Assignment

In your exercise book, write the meaning of national identity in your own words and list the national symbols mentioned in the lesson.