Sierra Leone Primary School Syllabus (Class 5) - Social Studies (Includes Civic Education)

Class 5 Social Studies Curriculum

This curriculum is designed to equip Class 5 students with a comprehensive understanding of Sierra Leone's geography, history, economy, and culture, fostering a sense of national identity and civic responsibility. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of these aspects and encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. The curriculum also promotes desirable social attitudes such as cooperation, resourcefulness, initiative, and patriotism.

Specific Learning Outcomes

By the end of Class 5, students will be able to:

• Sierra Leone: Location, Physical Features, History, and Economy:
• Relate the physical features of Sierra Leone to its history.
• Describe the cultural, social, and economic activities of the people of Sierra Leone.
• Demonstrate the value of interdependence and cooperation among Sierra Leonean groups.
• Display desirable social attitudes such as cooperation, resourcefulness, initiative, and patriotism.
• Demonstrate critical, creative, and computational thinking skills in problem-solving and decision-making.

Outline Teaching Syllabus for Class 5

UNIT 1: The Land and People of Sierra Leone

• Locating Sierra Leone on a map of West Africa.
• Describing the physical features of the country.
• Identifying physical features in their region.
• Drawing a physical map of Sierra Leone.
• Differentiating between latitudes and longitudes and explaining their importance.
• Providing a historical sketch of the people of Sierra Leone.
• Writing a short account of their ethnic group.

UNIT 2: Climate and Vegetation

• Defining weather, climate, and vegetation.
• Identifying weather instruments and their uses.
• Describing the characteristics of the two main seasons in Sierra Leone.
• Naming the main vegetation belts in the country.
• Describing the vegetation of their region and explaining its link to economic activities.

UNIT 3: Our Traditions and Cultures

• Explaining the importance of traditions and cultures.
• Describing a cultural ceremony of an ethnic group.
• Role-playing a traditional marriage ceremony.
• Explaining how communities show respect to their chiefs.
• Discussing beneficial and harmful effects of some traditions.
• Explaining the term "cultural heritage."
• Describing and drawing the "Nomoli" and explaining its importance.

UNIT 4: Early Contact with Europeans

• Explaining the main reasons for European interest in Sierra Leone.
• Listing European and Sierra Leonean trade items and their uses.
• Discussing the organization and effects of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
• Explaining the importance of Sengbe Pieh in Sierra Leonean and world history.
• Discussing the end of the slave trade.

UNIT 5: British Rule in Sierra Leone

• Showing the connection between the abolition of the slave trade and the founding of the Sierra Leone Colony settlement.
• Explaining why the British took over the management of the Sierra Leone Colony settlement in 1808.
• Describing the evolution of Krio society and culture.
• Discussing British colonialism in Sierra Leone.
• Explaining how Sierra Leone regained independence.
• Writing short accounts of nationalist leaders.

UNIT 6: Our National Government

• Describing the structure of Sierra Leone's National Government.
• Listing and discussing the functions of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.
• Explaining the concept of "Separation of Powers" and its importance.
• Identifying government ministries, departments, and agencies and describing their functions.

UNIT 7: Industries in Sierra Leone

• Defining "industry."
• Classifying industries according to their function.
• Differentiating between small- and large-scale industries.
• Writing a short account of an industry in their region or country.
• Explaining the importance of industries to the national economy.

UNIT 8: The Population of Sierra Leone

• Defining "population."
• Discussing the reasons for population growth in Sierra Leone since independence.
• Debating the effects of population growth.
• Explaining the need for population planning and control.
• Defining "census" and its importance.

UNIT 9: Environment and Sanitation

• Differentiating between healthy and unhealthy environments.
• Describing sanitation.
• Assessing the healthiness of their environment.
• Describing major health problems in their district and country.
• Explaining the role of citizens in maintaining a healthy environment.
• Explaining the causes and effects of pollution.
• Describing the contribution of NGOs (including religious organizations) to health.
• Explaining how to construct a garbage collection center.