DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

LESSON PLAN
NAME OF TEACHER: ……………………… DATE:
SUBJECT: Civic education DURATION:80 MINUTES
TOPIC: CONSTITUTION CLASS:
SUBTOPIC: FORMS AND TYPES OF CONSTITUTION NO OF BOYS…
GIRLS…
REFERENCES: civic education book 10 and other resources
TEACHING LEARNING /AIDS: learners book 10,chalk board and charts
RATIONALE: This lesson number one on constitution, Teacher Exposition, Question and answer and
group or class discussion methods will be used .This lesson will develop learners knowledge about the
Written and unwritten constitution .The skill of Analysis and the value of Appreciation and Awareness
OBJECTIVES: By the end of this lesson L.S.B.A.T
 Define constitution
 Describe forms of constitution and their merit and demerits
 Describe types of constitution and their merit and demerits
PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE: Learners have ideas about the topic being taught.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: Brainstorming questions about the topic being taught will be used
to introduce the topic and to revise through the previous lesson
LESSON DEVELOPMENT
CONTENT TEACHER’S PUPIL’S METHODS
ACTIVITY ACTIVITY
Question and
CONSTITUTION Teacher asks Learners answer
A constitution is a body of fundamental learners to Define a attempt
laws, principles and conventions according constitution to Define a
to which a government of a state operates. constitution
It is also refers to the system of laws,
customs and principles usually written
down, according to which a country or
organisation is governed.
It is the supreme law of the land to which Teacher Learners Teacher
all other laws of a country are subordinate. consolidates listen Exposition
learner’ responses Attentively
Forms of constitution
(a) Flexible constitution is a constitution
whose provisions are easy to amend,
example is the Zambian constitution.
Merits
-It is elastic and adaptable to change to
meet new emergencies, circumstances and
changing needs of society.
-It allows some constitutional demands to The teacher initiate Class GROUP/CLASS
be conveniently postponed or brought class discussion on discuss on DISCUSSION
forward. the Forms of the forms
Demerits constitution of a
- It may cause political instability since it constitution
can be changed by those in power to satisfy
their interests
-Frequent amendments may create

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uncertainty and people may lose
confidence in the constitution
-It can be changed even when change is
not necessary
(b) Rigid Constitution is one that is
difficult to amend. It can only be amended
by a special body and special procedure.
Such bodies include Constituent Assembly
(CA), National Constitutional Conference
(NCC) and the Referendum (Plebiscite).
Merit
- It prevents rush and hasty amendments
- It is relatively permanent and stable
- It is free from dangers of changes
resulting from popular passions and
revolution
- It avoids manipulation by those in power
Demerits
-It may cause delay when there is an
urgent need to amend the constitution to
suit the changing needs of society
-Its amendments can be delayed
indefinitely thereby leading to frustrations Teacher Learners Teacher
and revolts in society. consolidates listen Exposition
learner’ responses Attentively
Types of constitution
There are only two types of constitution
namely;
(a) Written constitution
- is a constitution whose provisions or
contents are embodied or documented in a
single formal document.
Merits
-It is clear and definite
- people can read understand the structure Teacher explains
and functions of each organ of government about the types of
- it is drawn up with great care and constitution and
deliberations allows learners to
ask questions
- It cannot be easily manipulated to suit
populace emotions
- It affords protection to individuals and
guarantees people‟s rights.
Demerits
It creates lacunae. A lacunae in Latin is a
gap in the law. It may leave out some
important aspects uncovered.
- It tends to compress into one document Learners
all the ideas and political principles of a listen and
nation. Ask
questions
-It is difficult to amend when rigidity and

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conservatism are carried too far.
-The power of interpretation is vested in
the Judiciary and where it is not
independent the power may be manipulated Teacher
exposition/
by judges
Question and
Answer
(b) Unwritten constitution
- is a constitution whose provisions are not
found in a single document but in a
collection of documents.
Merits
-It is flexible and adaptable to the
changing conditions of a dynamic society
-It can be bent in order to meet
emergencies without breaking its
framework.
-It satisfies popular and demands.
Demerits
- Its existence in multiple documents makes
it difficult to be mastered.
- It can be unstable and in a state of flux
since it provides no guarantee of
permanence may easily be amended or
bent to suit the interests of a government.
Note: written or unwritten constitution can
either be flexible or rigid constitution.
Lesson conclusion: Tr to conclude lesson by revising through the lesson with leaners to help
remedial learners
HOMEWORK/CLASS EXERCISE
(a) Define the concept constitution
(b) Write an essay describing different types of constitutions and their merit and demerits
Learners evaluation:………………………………………………………….…………………………
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Teachers evaluation………………………………………………..………………………………………
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