PVS: Agriculture Curriculum for Primary School

NERDC Grade 4 -6 PVS Agriculture Curriculum for Primary School. Importance of agriculture, farm diary, Soil fertility –Schemeofwork.com

Agriculture Curriculum for Primary 4

THEME 1: INTRODUCTION AND MEDIUM OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

Week 1

Topic:    Meaning of Agriculture

Performance objectives

1. Define agriculture.
2. List the importance of agriculture in Nigeria.
3. Identify people involved in agricultural activities.

Contents

1. Meaning of Agriculture:
   • growing of crops like corn, rice, guinea corn, cassava
   • rearing of animals like chicken, pig, goat, cattle
   • processing and selling of agricultural products
2. Importance of agriculture:
   • As source of food
   • Income generation
   • As job or employment
   • For producing industrial raw materials
   • For cloth making,
   • Medicines etc.
3. People in agriculture:
   • Animal bearers
   • Crop farmers
   • Fishermen
   • Market people
   • Gardeners
   • Agriculture teachers.
4. Displays live samples in class.

Teacher’s Activities        

1. Explains the meaning of agriculture.
2. Guides the pupils to mention activities that can build up the definition in a broad sense.
3. Guides pupils to mention the importance of agriculture in Nigeria. Explain briefly each of the importance named.
4. Asks pupils to name different activities that people engaged in agriculture do.
5. Explains the role performed by each group of people named.
6. Give a board summary.

Student’s Activities

1. Pupils suggest definition of agriculture.
2. Mention what they know as the importance of agriculture to the community.
3. List the different activities that people engaged in agriculture do in their localities.
4. Identify the various crops displayed
5. Copy board summary

Teaching & Learning Material  

1. Pictorial display of people planting crop, rearing animals, processing agricultural products, selling agricultural products.
2. Simple chart or pictures showing the importance of Agriculture in Nigeria.
3. Live samples of some crops produce.

Evaluation Guide

1. Define Agriculture.
2. Mention four importance of agriculture in Nigeria.
3. Mention five groups of people involved in agriculture.

Week 2

Topic: Soil Types and Enrichment

Performance objectives

1. Define soil
2. List soil types.
3. Mention the causes of soil fertility reduction
4. Describe ways of enriching soil fertility.
5. Maintain the soil fertility of the school farm.

Contents

1. Meaning of soil
2. Soil classification Clay, Sandy and loamy.
3. Causes of soil fertility reduction:
   • burning
   • leaching
   • overgrazing
   • Clean clearing
   • Erosion, etc.
4. Ways of making the soil fertile:
   • adding fertilizer
   • Manure
   • mulching
   • Crop rotation
   • Leaving fallow.

Teacher’s Activities        

1. Collects soil samples to show their characteristics
2. Performs simple soil experiments to show their properties.
3. Guides soil fertility discussions
4. Collects samples of fertile soil (loam) and non-fertile soil (sand) in separate pots.
5. Plants maize in the pots to illustrate effect of soil fertility level on the plants.
6. Give a board summary

Student’s Activities

1. Observe and identify soil types.
2. Collect different soil types and note their differences.
3. Participate in class discussions.
4. Participate in carrying out the experiments set up by the teacher.
5. Copy board summary

Teaching & Learning Material  

1. Soil samples:
   • Sandy, clayey & loamy
2. Funnel
3. Water
4. Measuring glass
5. Filter paper
6. Cotton wool
7. Pots
8. Maize grains

Evaluation Guide

1. Define soil.
2. Identify soil types
3. State the best soil for growing crops.
4. Explain what makes the soil to lose its fertility.
5. Describe various methods involved in enriching the soil.

NERDC Year 4 PVS Agricultural Science Curriculum for Primary 4 . Meaning of Agriculture, Soil Types, farm tools –Schemeofwork.com

Week   3

Topic: Agricultural Tools and Equipment

Performance objectives

1. Name farm tools.
2. Identify and describe the tools and their uses.
3. Maintain the tools after use.

Contents

1. Farm tools:        
   • Cutting tools e.g. cutlass, sickle, axe, etc.             
   • Digging tools e.g. hoe, pick axe, spade, etc.        
   • Carrying tools e.g. basket, head pan, wheel barrow, etc.                              
   • Gathering tools e.g. rake.            
2. Animal farm tools:          
   • Fishing nets, traps, hook and line, baskets, watering troughs, etc.
3. Maintenance and care of the tools:
   • Store in a cool dry place
   • Wash/clean and dry
   • rub oil on metal ends to avoid rusting
   • Sharpening blunt edges, etc.

Teacher’s Activities        

1. Displays the tools in class.
2. Helps pupils to identify farm tools and their uses.
3. Demonstrates the use of farm tools.
4. Demonstrates proper maintenance of farm tools.
5. Give a board summary.

Student’s Activities

1. Identify and narrate the uses of farm tools.
2. Use some farm tools on the school farm.
3. Carry out proper maintenance of tools after use.
4. Copy board summary.

Teaching & Learning Material  

1. Different farm tools e.g. hoe, cutlass, spade, shovel, rake, pick axe, wheelbarrow, fishing nets, hook and line, baskets, watering troughs, feeding troughs, etc.
2. Poster, charts and pictures of farm tools

Evaluation Guide

1. List 4 farm tools.
2. State the uses of hoe, hand trowel, rake, and matchet, on the farm, fishing net, hook and line.
3. Mention the uses of wheel barrow, watering can, head pan in the farm.
4. Maintain farm tools

Agriculture Curriculum for Primary 5

THEME 1: PROCESSES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

Week 1

Topic:    How to Grow Crops

Performance objectives

1. Give examples of crops.
2. Narrate and demonstrate the processes involved in raising crops.
3. Raise seedlings of some vegetables and flowers in the nursery.
4. Transplant seedlings from nursery to the field.
5. Identify safety signs, labels and symbols on agricultural inputs

Contents

1. Examples of crops: cereals, legumes, tubers.
2. Procedure for raising farm crops:

A). Pre-planting activities:

1. Land clearing and stumping,
   1. Preparing nursery beds and sowing.
   1. Selection and transplanting seedlings,
   1. Planting locally grown crops on ridges and beds in the school farm.

B). Post planting activities:

• Watering, mulching, thinning and supplying,
  • Application of fertilizer/manure.
  • weeding,
  • staking (where applicable),
  • Application of pesticides,
  • Harvesting of mature crops.
• Post-Harvesting Activities:
  • processing/ preservation,
  • Storage,
  • Marketing
• Safety signs, symbols, labels e.g.:
  • Skull and crossbones
  • Chemical warning labels
  • Treated  seeds
  • Vet nary drugs
  • Implement etc

Teacher’s Activities        

1. Guides pupils to raise either a cereal or legume or tuber crops during the growing season.
2. Supplies appropriate tools and planting materials.
3. Takes pupils to the school farm and maps out the area to use for the year.
4. Allows pupils to prepare land themselves.
5. Guides pupils in identifying and explaining safety signs, labels and symbols on agricultural inputs before and during planting, harvesting activities, including safe handling of treated seeds, veterinary drugs, Implement etc
6. Give a board summary

Student’s Activities

1. Bring the required farm tools from home.
2. Prepare the land for planting.
3. Plant seeds in the nursery and transplant to the field.
4. Care for the farm themselves.
5. Carry out planting activities as directed by the teacher.
6. Pupils keep farm records
7. Copy board summary

Teaching & Learning Material  

1. School farm.
2. Farm tools, e.g. tape, machetes, hoes, spades, pegs, digging fork, hand trowel, knapsack sprayer, etc
3. Planting materials and inputs. Such as. Seeds of vegetables e.g. pepper, okra garden egg, onions, fluted pumpkin, tomato, rice, maize, millet, guinea corn, potato & yam sets, cassava cuttings.
4. Fertilizer/ manure pesticides.
5. Charts of safety signs and symbols.
6. Samples of labels.

Evaluation Guide

1. List three crops grown in your area.
2. State the various activities involved in growing a named field crop.
3. Grow any field crop from land clearing to marketing.
4. Demonstrate how to transplant seedlings.
5. Care and maintain the school farm.
6. Harvest crops when mature.
7. Keep records of farm activities performed
8. Explain 2 safety signs or symbols on agricultural inputs.
9. Bring 2 labels on agricultural inputs.

Week 2

Topic: Control of Crop Weeds, Pests and Diseases

Performance objectives

1. Define weeds and name some common local weeds.
2. State the problem of weeds to farmers.
3. Control weeds in the farm.
4. Define and identify common pests on our farm.
5. Describe the damages caused by pests.
6. State ways of controlling pests.
7. List the causes of plant diseases.
8. State how the diseases can be controlled.
9. State the effects of eating contaminated food.

Contents

1. Definition and identification of weeds.
2. Problems of weeds to farmers.
3. Control measures:
   • Biological
   • Cultural
   • Chemical
4. Pests:
   • Meaning, and Identification
   • Identification of insect’s pests,
   • Beetle/weevil,
   • Grasshopper/locust,
   • Caterpillar,
   • Termite.
5. c). other pests on:
   • Rodents,
   • Qualia birds,
   • Bats,
   • Monkeys.
6. Damages caused by pests:
   • eat crop leaves &
   • Roots
   • destroy grains,
   • damaging stalk, fruits and roots of crops
   • Contaminating stored produce.
7. Methods of control:
   • Spraying chemicals to kill them.
   • Storing farm produce properly
   • Clearing surrounding bushes
   • Shooting, trapping
   • Scare-crow
   • baiting
   • Proper storage
8. Causal agents of crop diseases:
   • Fungi, bacteria, viruses,
   • -nematodes.
9. Control measures
   • keeping farm free of weeds
   • planting healthy seeds, seedlings and cuttings
10. Effects of eating contaminated food:
    • poisoning
    • Sickness
    • Purging
    • Vomiting
    • Stomach disorder
    • Death

Teacher’s Activities

1. Guides pupils to define and identify common weeds on the environment.
2. Discusses problems created by weeds on farms.
3. Discusses control measures and their side effects.
4. Displays and identifies samples of:
   • Fresh or preserved pest.
   • Partly eaten/damaged vegetable leaves
   • Weevil led maize, beans guinea corn.
5. Displays charts and posters of rodents, birds, squirrels, grass- cutters, rats.
6. Discusses how to prevent or avoid eating contaminated food.
7. Guides pupils to identify some of the common pests.
8. Helps the pupils to identify crop materials that are contaminated.
9. Give a board summary

Student’s Activities

1. Make a weed album
2. Observe and identity pests
3. Observe and describe the damages done to crops by pests.
4. Participate in collection of common pests.
5. Find out more about possible side effects of eating contaminated produce.
6. Teaching & Learning Material    
7. Samples of weeds common in the locality.
8. Charts and pictures showing control measures.
9. Fresh or preserved specimens of pests.
10. Specimen of maize, bean, guinea corn seeds infested by weevil, beetle or termite.
11. Chart showing local farm pests.
12. Insect-killing chemicals with warnings of poison clearly written.
13. Chart showing storage facilities.
14. Charts and posters of squirrels, rats, grass cutter, birds, crabs, etc.
15. Specimen of catapult, trap, plastic container, air tight cover.

Evaluation Guide

1. State the meaning of weeds.
2. Name three common weeds in the locality.
3. List two problems of weeds to farmers.
4. Mention three control measures.
5. State the meaning of farm pests.
6. Name five pests in the locality.
7. Identify two damages caused by pests.
8. List three control measures of pests.
9. List three causal agents of crop diseases.
10. Describe two methods of controlling diseases of crops.
11. State two effects of contaminated crop materials on health.

NERDC Year 5 PVS Agricultural Science Curriculum for Primary 5. How to Grow Crops, Farm animal, Pests and Diseases –Schemeofwork.com

Week 3

Topic: Rearing of Farm Animal

Performance objectives

1. State the needs of young animals for healthy growth.
2. Mention steps involved in raising livestock.
3. Describe how to raise a named farm animal.
4. Identify and select appropriate housing and equipment for rearing:
   • Rabbits
   • Guinea pigs
   • Chicken
5. Feed the livestock with the appropriate rations.
6. Produce hutches, cages, brooder boxes for livestock.
7. Keep the house/cages clean and keep proper farm records.
8. Identify common pests and parasites of farm animals.
9. State the symptoms of ill- health in farm animals.
10. Name some common diseases and remedy.
11. State the effects of consuming infected animals.

Contents

1. Needs of growing farm animals:
   • Balanced ration
   • Clean water
   • Adequate
   • Medication
   • Clean environment.
2. Procedures for rearing farm animals:
   • construct a house or
   • provide shelter
   • provide necessary rearing equipment
   • buy the young animal
   • To rear.
   • provide feed and
   • Water daily
   • provide medications
   • When necessary
   • clean the house
   • Regularly
   • Routine check by
   • Veterinary personnel
   • Removal of sick or
   • Dead animals.
   • Sell or slaughter when matured.
3. Rearing of named animals
   • Rabbit rearing.
   • Rearing of guinea pig.
   • Identical management practice with Rabbit except that guinea pigs are reared in cages or deep litter.
   • Rearing of chicken
4. Meaning of pests and parasites.
5. Common pests and parasites of farm animals:
   • Lice,
   • Housefly,
   • Worms,
   • Ticks,
   • Tsetse fly etc.
6. Common diseases of farm animals:-
   • Ring worm,
   • Scabies,
   • Sleeping sickness,
   • Pneumonia,
   • Tuberculosis,
   • New castle disease,
   • Foot and mouth, diseases etc.
7. The diseases, symptoms and remedy.
8. Effects of consuming infected animal:
   • Transfer of animal diseases to human, etc.

Teacher’s Activities        

1. Discusses the needs of animals for healthy growth.
2. Guides the Pupils to rear any livestock and apply all the necessary skills.
3. Assists Pupils to select quality young animal’s e.g. young rabbit/young guinea pig, chicks for rearing.
4. Guides pupils to construct hutches.
5. Encourages Pupils to practice good sanitation and keep proper farm records.
6. Guides Pupils to identify sick animals, isolate them and invite a veterinary Doctor
7. Discusses these pests and guide the Pupils to collect some common pests and parasites.
8. Highlights animal diseases that are contagious and the danger of eating infected animal meat, milk, egg, etc.
9. Guides discussion on how to control animal pests, parasite and diseases.
10. Give a board summary.

Student’s Activities

1. Care for young animals by feeding, cleaning, providing water, beddings, etc.
2. Working in groups to care for the animals and apply necessary skills and procedures.
3. Observe and note the qualities of a healthy animal.
4. Collect different feed stuffs and feed the animal.
5. Clean the livestock area.
6. Keep records of daily activities.
7. Collect materials to construct hutches and cages.
8. Identify sick animals, isolate them and call a veterinary doctor.
9. Sell, cull, matured or sick animals.
10. Collect common pests and parasites and identify them.
11. Discuss the dangers of consuming infected animal products e.g. meat, milk, egg, etc.

Teaching & Learning Material  

1. School farm.
2. Balanced ration feed
3. Water
4. Medications
5. Animals to rear.
6. Shelter, etc.
7. Samples of pests/parasite
8. Posters of sick animals.
9. Chalkboard or white board

Evaluation Guide

1. List four necessary management practices required in rearing animals.
2. Describe how to raise an animal farm to maturity.
3. Construct good hutches and cages.
4. Keep proper farm records.
5. Identify two features of sick animal.
6. List three ways of controlling pests and diseases of farm animals.
7. Narrate the effects of consuming infested animal products.

Agriculture Curriculum for Primary 6

THEME 1: PRODUCE PACKAGING, MARKETING AND FARM RECORDS

Week 1

Topic:    Preservation of Farm Produce

Performance objectives

1. State what farm produce preservation means.
2. Give reasons why farm produce should be preserved.
3. State methods of farm produce preservation.

Contents

1. Meaning of farm produce preservation.
2. Reasons for preservation of farm produce:
   1. retain freshness,
   1. reduce loss,
   1. prolong shelf life,
   1. prevent possible, contamination and infection from unpreserved food items
3. Methods of farms produce preservation:
   1. Sun-drying,
   1. Smoking,
   1. salting,
   1. frying,
   1. Refrigeration,
   1. canning,
   1. bagging,
   1. Bottling etc

Teacher’s Activities

1. Provides beans and maize grains with holes and discuss why they have holes.
2. Guides Pupils to separate fresh from decaying spoilt food items (moldy and decaying).
3. Guides Pupils to preserve food items using familiar method.
4. Ask Pupils to make a list of foods processed and preserved by members of the family.
5. Give a board summary

Student’s Activities

1. Observe and identify reviled maize or beans.
2. Discuss reasons for preserving food items.
3. Observe procedure and do group practices of different preservation methods.
4. Make a list of foods processed and preserved by family members.
5. Copy board summary

Teaching & Learning Material  

1. Deviled unpreserved crops.
2. Preserved/ fresh grains
3. Frozen meat or fish.
4. Bottled drink.
5. Canned meat, fish, milk etc.
6. Food items for preservation: – meat, fish, grains, cassava, yams, etc.
7. Posters or charts showing the different methods of food preservation e.g. people frying/ smoking/ drying fish

Evaluation Guide

1. Define and explain food preservation.
2. State four reasons for preserving farms produce items.
3. List five methods of farm produce preservation.

Week 2

Topic: Packaging Methods

Performance objectives

1. Give reasons why farm produce are packaged
2. Identify packaging materials
3. Contents
4. Why package farm produce?
   • To make produce appealing to buyers,
   • For ease of transportation,
   • For proper identification,
5. Packaging items:
   • Cans,
   • Cellophane wrappers,
   • Cardboard boxes,
   • Baskets,
   • – Cages.

Teacher’s Activities        

1. Produce some agricultural packaging for local farm produce
2. Explains reasons for packaging.
3. Provides packaging items.
4. Give a board summary

Student’s Activities

1. Partake in the production of packaging items for fruits and vegetables, eggs, poultry chick
2. Copy board summary

Teaching & Learning Material  

1. Canned food
2. Sun-dried foods
3. Smoked produce
4. Fried food etc.
5. Local packaging materials.

Evaluation Guide

1. Give 3 reasons for packaging produce
2. List 5 packaging items used in agriculture

NERDC Grade 6 PVS Agricultural Science Curriculum for Primary 6. Farm Produce, Marketing and Farm Records –Schemeofwork.com

Week 3

Topic: Marketing and Farm Records

Performance objectives

1. Define marketing
2. Explain marketing activities in agriculture,
3. State the types of agricultural markets.
4. Define farm records
5. List farm records.
6. State the uses of farm records.
7. Keep good farm records.

Contents

1. Definition of market and marketing
2. Agricultural marketing activities
3. Types of markets for agricultural produce
4. Meaning of farm record.
5. Types of farm records:
   • Farm diary
   • Cash record
   • Production record
6. Uses of farm record
   • To know items in the farm.
   • Quantity of farm produce realized
   • Amount of money realized from sales
7. Record Keeping:
   • Daily diary of events on the farm.

Teacher’s Activities        

1. Guides classroom discussion.
2. Guides pupils to write proper and correct records of activities in their note books (diary)
3. Give a board summary

Student’s Activities

1. Classroom discussion
2. Record all activities in the farm diary
3. Copy board summary

Teaching & Learning Material  

1. Real agricultural product in the localities.
2. Charts of agricultural products
3. Charts of simple farm records

Evaluation Guide

1. State what is meant by a market
2. Give simple explanation of marketing.
3. List three agricultural marketing activities.
4. Mention four types of agricultural markets.
5. Define farm records.
6. List three types of record that can be kept in the farm.
7. State four uses of farm records.
8. Record the activities carried out on the school farm.

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