Developing Educational Materials for Archaeology Outreach in Primary Schools, Sokoto State

Archaeology education at the primary school level is a powerful mechanism for building long-term public appreciation of cultural heritage, yet dedicated archaeological outreach materials tailored to the Nigerian primary school curriculum remain almost entirely absent. This study develops, pilots, and evaluates age-appropriate archaeological education materials for use in primary schools in Sokoto State, targeting Primary 4 to Primary 6 pupils in a culturally relevant pedagogical framework. The development process was grounded in analysis of the national primary school Social Studies curriculum, consultation with classroom teachers across three local government areas, and review of comparable outreach programmes from Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa. Developed materials include an illustrated story booklet featuring a child archaeologist character working in a Sahelian environment, a classroom activity kit with replica artefact handling exercises, and a teacher's guide with lesson plans aligned to curriculum learning objectives. Materials were developed in both English and Hausa to maximize accessibility. A pilot programme was conducted in twelve primary schools across Sokoto city and two rural LGAs, with pre- and post-programme assessments measuring knowledge gain and attitude change. Post-programme assessments show significant increases in correct identification of archaeological artefacts and a strong positive shift in stated heritage conservation attitudes. Teacher feedback was overwhelmingly positive regarding curriculum alignment and ease of use. The study recommends statewide distribution through the Sokoto State Ministry of Education. Keywords: archaeology education, primary schools, outreach materials, Sokoto State, heritage awareness.