Agricultural Science Curriculum for SS1

NERDC Senior Secondary School Curriculum. Agricultural Science Curriculum for SSS1. Rock formation –Schemeofwork.com

Table of Contents

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE SSS 1

THEME 1: BASIC CONCEPT

Week 1

Topic:

Meaning and Importance of Agriculture

Performance objectives

Define Agricultural science.
State the importance of agricultural science to individual, community and the nation

Contents

Definition and branches of Agricultural science
Importance of Agricultural science to individual, community and nation

Teacher’s Activities

Guides the discussion

Student’s Activities

Participate in the discussion on meaning and roles of agricultural science

Teaching &Learning Material

Illustrative charts

Evaluation Guide

define Agricultural science
state 5 importance of agricultural science.to the Nigerian economy

Week 2

Topic:

Problems of Agricultural development and possible Solutions

Performance objectives

Identify and discuss various problems of agricultural development in Nigeria.
State possible solution to the identified problems.

Contents

Problems related to Land tenure, Basic amenities, finance, transportation, storage and processing facility, agricultural education and extension; tools and machinery, farm inputs, marketing system, environmental degradations etc
Possible solutions to identified problems.

Teacher’s Activities

Guides the discussion

Student’s Activities

Participate in the discussion.

Teaching &Learning Material

Illustrative Charts.

Evaluation Guide

State 10 problems of agricultural development in Nigeria.
Discuss at least 8 of the stated problems.
Suggest possible solution to the Problems

Week 3

Topic:

Meaning and differences between Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture

Performance objectives

Explain the meaning of. Subsistence and commercial Agriculture
Enumerate characteristics of subsistence and commercial Agricultural for comparison.

Contents

Meaning of subsistence and commercial Agriculture.
Differences between subsistence and commercial agriculture based on their characteristics.
Advantages and Disadvantages of subsistence and commercial Agriculture.
problems of subsistence and commercial Agriculture

Teacher’s Activities

Discuss the meaning and differences between subsistence and commercial Agriculture.
state the advantages and disadvantages of subsistence and commercial Agriculture
List the problems of subsistence and commercial Agriculture.

Student’s Activities

Participate in the discussion.

Teaching &Learning Material

Visit to commercial farms and small holder farms in the locality.

Evaluation Guide

Explain the meaning of subsistence and commercial Agriculture.
Highlight the differences between the two

NERDC Senior Secondary School Curriculum. Agricultural Science Curriculum for SSS1 –Schemeofwork.com

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE SSS 1

THEME 2: AGRICULTURAL ECOLOGY

Week 1

Topic:

Meaning and Importance of Agricultural Ecology

Performance objectives

Define agricultural ecology and ecosystem.
State four components of farm ecosystem.
Discuss how farm crops/animals interact with other organisms and non-living things under different farm settings.

Contents

Meaning of Agricultural ecology and ecosystem.
Components of farm ecosystem e.g. biotic, a biotic, autotrophism and heterotrophism.
Interactions of the components in the terrestrial and acquatic agro- ecosystem.
- mono or sole cropping system
- mixed cropping system
- Mixed farming system.
- fish ponds
- forest ( rain forest or savanna)

Teacher’s Activities

Takes students out to a natural farm settings.
explain the key concepts
Guides discussions on the relationships between organisms of interest (plant/animals and other organisms or Non-organisms).
Group students for out of class study of different farm settings.

Student’s Activities

Listen and interact with the Environment.
Undertake group work and produce reports.

Teaching &Learning Material

Nature farm settings, ponds, forest set up

Evaluation Guide

State the meaning of agricultural ecology and ecosystem.
What are the components of a farm ecosystem
Identify at least three farm settings and discuss how farm crop/animals interact with other components of the ecosystem

Week 5

Topic:

Environmental Factors affecting Agricultural production

Performance objectives

State the environmental factors that affecting agricultural productivity.
Explain inter- relationships among living things.

Contents

Environmental factors affecting crops and animal distribution and production:
- Climatic factors e.g. rainfall, temperature, light, wind etc.
- Biotic factors e.g. predators, parasites, soil micro-organisms, etc. interrelationship such as competition, parasitism, mutualism (symbiosis) etc.
- Edaphic factors: Soil pH, soil texture, soil structure, soil type, etc.

Teacher’s Activities

Guides class discussion.
Guides the students in practical activity.

Student’s Activities

Participate in the class discussion.
Grow plants under different conditions of moisture and light for comparison purpose.

Teaching &Learning Material

Charts and diagrams showing ectoparasite and endoparasite.
*real organisms of ecto and endoparasites.

Evaluation Guide

State 3 major environmental factors affecting agricultural production in Nigeria.
Discuss 4 climatic factors that affect Agricultural production

Week 6

Topic:

Rock Formation

Performance objectives

Describe processes of rock formation
Identify types of rocks.

Contents

Processes Rock Formations.
Types of rock
- .igneous
- .sedimentary
- Metamorphic.

Teacher’s Activities

Guides class on discussion on identification of rocks.

Student’s Activities

Participate in class discussion.
Observe and identify different types of rock.

Teaching &Learning Material

Laboratory
Charts and pictures of different types of rock.
Field trips to rocky areas.

Evaluation Guide

Mention different types of rock
Describe the processes of the rock formation.

Week 7

Topic:

Soil Formation and Profile development

Performance objectives

List factors of soil formation
Make a sketch of a soil profile.
Discuss the basic principles of soil classification.

Contents

Factors of soil formation (the parent rock, organisms, climate, topography and time.)
Outline of soil formation process .e.g. weathering process;
Soil profile development.

Teacher’s Activities

Display soil profile diagram, conduct students to existing soil profile

Student’s Activities

1 Examine soil and soil profile.

Teaching &Learning Material

1 Diagram of soil profile, Dug or existing soil profile.

Evaluation Guide

State factors of soil formation
Draw and label a typical soil profile
State principles of soil classification.

Week 8

Topic:

Types, composition and properties of soil

Performance objectives

Recongnise the different types of soil.
`Name the chemical elements in the soil that constitute plant nutrients.
Name soil microbes and other soil inhabiting organisms.
Determine the pH of different soil types.

Contents

Types of soil
chemical and biological composition of soil
- soil macro and micro nutrients
- soil water
- macro organisms
- soil microbes
- soil air
soil pH
Physical properties of soil
- soil texture
- soil structure
Soil classification systems.

Teacher’s Activities

Display soil samples e.g. loamy, sandy, clay.
Conduct laboratory experiments to determine water, living organisms and air composition of the soil.
Conduct pH tests.

Student’s Activities

Examine the soil sample and determine their physical characteristics.
Carry out laboratory experiments as directed.

Teaching &Learning Material

Soil sample Soil organisms
PH meter litmus paper.

Evaluation Guide

Mention types of soil
State major composition of soil
- conduct laboratory experiment to determine any one of each
Discuss biological and chemical properties of soil
How will you determine physical properties of soil e.g. soil texture, soil structure, soil air, etc?
Determine Ph of any two soil types.

NERDC Senior Secondary School Curriculum. Agricultural Science Curriculum for SSS1 –Schemeofwork.com

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE SSS 1

THEME 3: AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING & MECHANISATION

Week 1

Topic:

Simple farm Tools, uses and Maintenance

Performance objectives

Explain the meaning of simple farm tools.
Identify various types of simple farm tools and accessory tools
State their uses.
State general maintenance of simple farm tools.

Contents

Meaning of simple farm tool
- Types of simple farm tools- cutlass, hoe, spade, shovel etc.
- Identification and description of each of the tools.
- Identification of various accessory tools and their uses.
- General maintenance of simple farm tools

Teacher’s Activities

Display different types of simple farm tools and accessory tools
Discuss simple farm tools with regard to: Identification, description and state uses of each.

Student’s Activities

Identify the various simple farm tools and their uses.

Teaching &Learning Material

Different types of farm tools.
Local tool fabrication workshops.

Evaluation Guide

Identify 10 farm tools
State uses of some farm tools
Outline the maintenance practices.

Week 2

Topic:

Farm Machinery and Implements

Performance objectives

Recognize the different types of farm machines
List and explain the uses of the different types of farm machines.
Name the major parts of tractor coupled implements and their functions.

Contents

Farm machinery
- Tractor
- Bull dozer
- Sheller’s
- Dryers
- Incubators
- Milking machines etc.
Tractor- coupled implements:
- Ploughs, harrows, ridgers, planters, harvesters, sprayers etc.

Teacher’s Activities

Visit to agro service centers with students or mechanized farms to:
- Identify farm machines
- Discuss the uses of the farm machines.

Student’s Activities

Identification of farm machines and equipment.
Active participation in the discussions.

Teaching &Learning Material

Farm machines and equipment in an agro service center.

Evaluation Guide

Mention five farm machines.
Mention five farm implements.
Discuss the functions of any three tractors- coupled implements.

Week 3

Topic:

Maintenance Practices and Precautionary Measures

Performance objectives

State reasons why farm machines should be maintained.
Practice maintenance work on the farm machines.

Contents

Reasons for maintaining farm machines.
Maintenance of farm machinery
Check water and oil levels regularly
Carry out routine service
Keep the machines clean etc.

Teacher’s Activities

Guides class discussion.
Involves students on maintenance practices and supervise them.

Student’s Activities

Participate actively in class discussion.
Carry out maintenance practices on farm machines available in the school.

Teaching &Learning Material

Functional and non-functional machines.

Evaluation Guide

Explain 5 way to maintain farm machines.
State 4 reasons why farm machines should be maintained.

Week 4

Topic:

Problems of Agriculture mechanization

Performance objectives

State the meaning of agricultural mechanization.
List advantages and disadvantages of agricultural mechanization.
State limitations of agricultural mechanization.

Contents

Meaning of agricultural mechanization.
Mechanized agricultural operations.
Advantages of agricultural mechanization e.g. increased productivity, reduced drudgery, timeliness of operations etc.
Disadvantages of agricultural mechanization e.g. displacement of workers, destruction of soil structure, environmental pollution, etc.
Limitations of farm mechanization, economic limitations, and technical know-how, etc.

Teacher’s Activities

Guides class discussion.
Guides students during visit to mechanized farms or agro service centers.

Student’s Activities

Participate in the class discussion.
Visit to mechanized farms or agro service centers
Observe the uses of farm powers and machinery.

Teaching &Learning Material

Mechanized farm sites, agro-service centers; charts, pictures showing these machines.

Evaluation Guide

State the meaning of farm mechanization.
List 4 advantages of farm mechanization
List 4 disadvantages of farm mechanization.

Week 5

Topic:

Prospects of Agriculture Mechanization

Performance objectives

Identify possible ways of improving agriculture through mechanization.

Contents

Possible ways of improving agricultural mechanization:
- Developing less Expensive machines.
- Establishing agricultural engineering school for personnel and fabricate simple machines etc.

Teacher’s Activities

Guides class discussion.
Invite a guest lecturer.

Student’s Activities

Participate in the class activity discussion.
Listen attentively to guest lecturer and ask question

Teaching &Learning Material

Instructional resource Guest lecturer.

Evaluation Guide

State three possible ways of improving agriculture through mechanization

Week 6

Topic:

Sources of Farm Power

Performance objectives

List the different source of farm power.
State the advantages and disadvantages of each types.

Contents

Source of farm power:
- Human, animal, Mechanical, electrical, solar, wind, water.
Advantages and Disadvantages of each types

Teacher’s Activities

Guides class discussion

Student’s Activities

Participate actively in the class discussion.
Visit to nearby farms.

Teaching &Learning Material

Pictures and charts of the sources.
Nearby farms to identify sources of power.

Evaluation Guide

List 5 sources of farm power.
State the advantages and disadvantages of the listed sources of farm power.

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE CLASS LEVEL SSS 1

THEME 4: CROP PRODUCTION

Week 1

Topic:

Classification of Crops

Performance objectives

Classify crop based on
- Uses
- Life cycle
- Morphology

Contents

Classification of crops based on their uses: Cereals, Pulses, Roots and tubers, Vegetables
Classification based on their life cycle: Annual, Biennial, perennial, Ephemeral.
Classification based on their Morphology: Monocotyledon and dicotyledonous crops.

Teacher’s Activities

Display of a collection of crop seeds, fruits or leaves.

Student’s Activities

Observe and note the differences and group that each belongs.

Teaching &Learning Material

Crops seed, Fruits and Leaves

Evaluation Guide

Identify and classify crops based on uses, lifecycle and Morphology.

Week 2

Topic:

Husbandry of Selected Crops

Performance objectives

State major crop husbandry practices.
Grow at least one representative crop from each of the following group: a)Cereals b)Pulses(grain legumes) c)Roots and tubers d)Vegetables and fruits, e)Beverages and spices F)oil, Latex and fiber

Contents

Botanical name and local/ common names of the crop.
- Varieties/ types
- Climatic and soil requirement.
- Land preparation
- Method of propagation, planting date, seed rate spacing, sowing depth and nursery requirement.
- Cultural practices, supplying, thinning, manuring and fertilizer application.
Weeding, Pests and Diseases.
- Harvesting processing and storage of the selected crops.

Teacher’s Activities

Supervise cultivation of crops suited to local environment.

Student’s Activities

Supervise cultivation of crops suited to local environment.

Teaching &Learning Material

School farm
Farm inputs

Evaluation Guide

List major husbandry practices
Carry out approved husbandry practices leading to the production of at least one representative from each crop groups.
Prepare and present records of farm activities involved in growing chosen crops.

Week 3

Topic:

Pasture and Forage Crops

Performance objectives

Explain the meaning of pasture and forage crops.
State uses of forage crops
List types of pasture and characteristics of each type.
Identify the main pasture grasses and legume species in Nigeria.
Identify the factors affecting their distribution, establishment and management.

Contents

Meaning of pasture and forage crops
Uses of forage crops.
Types of pasture:
Natural pasture.
Artificial pasture and their characteristics.
Common grasses and legumes used for grazing livestock: their botanical names and characteristics of some of them.
Factors affecting the distribution and productivity of pasture.
Establishment of pasture.
Management practices of pasture.

Teacher’s Activities