Medicinal Plants and Cash Crops: Uses and Importance Basic Science JSS 3
Medicinal Plants and Cash Crops
Subject:
Basic Science
Class:
JSS 3
Term:
First Term
Week:
6
Age:
13–15 years
Topic:
Medicinal Plants and Cash Crops
Sub-topic:
Uses of Medicinal Plants and Examples of Cash Crops
Duration:
40 minutes
Behavioural Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- Define medicinal plants and list five examples.
- Explain the uses of medicinal plants in everyday life.
- Define cash crops and state their importance.
- Provide at least five examples of cash crops and their uses.
Keywords
- Medicinal plants
- Cash crops
- Fever
- Trade
- Profit
Set Induction
The teacher will start by asking, “Can you name a plant you know that can be used for treating sickness?” The teacher will display some herbs and invite students to guess how they are used. This will spark interest in the topic.
Entry Behaviour
Students are familiar with common herbs like lemon, ginger, and bitter leaf from home or the market. They have also encountered crops like cocoa and cotton in earlier lessons.
Learning Resources and Materials
- Real herbs or pictures (e.g., lemon, Aloe vera)
- Charts showing cash crops (e.g., cocoa, rubber)
- Flashcards with key terms
- Whiteboard and markers
Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge
In previous lessons, students have learned about plants and their uses. This lesson will connect that knowledge to the specific role of some plants as medicine and introduce cash crops as crops grown for trade.
Embedded Core Skills
- Critical thinking
- Observation
- Collaboration
- Communication skills
Reference Books
- Lagos State Scheme of Work
- Basic Science Textbook for JSS 3
Instructional Materials
- Samples or pictures of medicinal plants
- Posters or charts of cash crops
Content
Medicinal Plants and Cash Crops
Meaning of Medicinal Plants
Medicinal plants are plants whose parts—such as roots, bark, leaves, or seeds—are used to treat illnesses. These plants contain natural compounds that help fight infections or improve health.
Uses of Medicinal Plants
- Treating Fever: Lemon leaves help in reducing body temperature.
- Healing Wounds: Aloe vera speeds up the healing process of wounds.
- Stopping Diarrhea: Ginger helps reduce frequent stools.
- Curing Indigestion: Bitter leaf relieves stomach upset.
Examples of Medicinal Plants
- Lemon
- Aloe vera
- Bitter leaf
- Ginger
- Neem (Dogonyaro)
Meaning of Cash Crops
Cash crops are crops grown mainly for sale, either locally or internationally. These crops are not grown for family consumption but to generate income for the farmers and boost the economy.
Examples of Cash Crops and Their Uses
- Cocoa: Used to make chocolate.
- Rubber: Used to make tires and other rubber products.
- Cotton: Used to produce textiles and fabrics.
- Palm Oil: Used for cooking and in cosmetics.
- Groundnut: Used to produce oil and animal feed.
Importance of Cash Crops
- Economic Growth: Cash crops bring in foreign income through exports.
- Job Creation: Many people find employment on cash crop farms.
- Improved Trade: Countries exchange cash crops through trade.
- Source of Raw Materials: Industries rely on cash crops for production.
Class Activity Discussion:
- What are medicinal plants?
Medicinal plants are plants used to treat illnesses. - Can lemon be used to treat fever?
Yes, it helps reduce body temperature. - What does Aloe vera do?
It helps in healing wounds. - Name one plant used to cure indigestion.
Bitter leaf. - What are cash crops?
Cash crops are grown mainly for sale to generate income. - Give two examples of cash crops.
Cocoa and rubber. - What is palm oil used for?
Cooking and making cosmetics. - How does cocoa contribute to the economy?
It is exported and brings in foreign income. - Why is cotton important?
It is used to make fabrics and clothes. - How does groundnut benefit farmers?
It provides oil and animal feed.
Presentation Steps
- Step 1: The teacher will ask students to recall the previous topic, which was on Types of Plants.
- Step 2: The teacher will introduce the new topic, explaining the difference between medicinal plants and cash crops, using charts and pictures.
- Step 3: Students will discuss what they know about the plants and contribute their thoughts, with the teacher correcting and guiding them as needed.
Teacher’s Activities
- Engage students with questions about plants they know.
- Display and explain the uses of medicinal plants and cash crops.
- Provide real-life examples of how these plants and crops benefit society.
Learners’ Activities
- Participate in discussions about plants and crops.
- Observe the samples and charts provided.
- Answer questions asked by the teacher and take notes.
Evaluation Questions
- Define medicinal plants.
- Mention three examples of medicinal plants.
- What is the use of Aloe vera?
- What is the main purpose of cash crops?
- List three examples of cash crops.
- How does cocoa help the economy?
- Name a cash crop used to make textiles.
- What does ginger help treat?
- Give two uses of palm oil.
- How do cash crops create jobs?
Evaluation
- Plants used to treat sicknesses are called _______.
a) Cash crops
b) Medicinal plants
c) Grains
Answer: b) Medicinal plants - An example of a medicinal plant is _______.
a) Cotton
b) Lemon
c) Rubber
Answer: b) Lemon - Ginger helps stop ______ stools.
a) Rare
b) Frequent
c) Normal
Answer: b) Frequent - Cash crops are grown mainly for _______.
a) Consumption
b) Sale
c) Decoration
Answer: b) Sale - Cocoa is used to make _______.
a) Rubber
b) Chocolate
c) Fabrics
Answer: b) Chocolate
Conclusion
The teacher will walk around the class to review students’ notes and provide feedback. The lesson will end with students completing any unfinished class activities.