Planting Operations and Activities Agricultural Science Primary 5 First Term Lesson Notes Week 4

Agricultural Science Primary 5 First Term Lesson Notes Week 4

Subject: Agricultural Science
Class: Primary 5
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 9 years
Topic: Planting Activities
Sub-topic: Tools and Procedures for Planting
Duration: 40 minutes
Behavioural Objectives: By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Describe various planting activities.
2. Identify tools used in planting activities.
3. Carry out planting activities on the school farm and at home.

Keywords: Planting activities, Tools, Seed planting, Transplanting

Set Induction:
The teacher will start by asking pupils to recall the pre-planting activities they learned last week. The teacher will then explain that after the land is prepared, the next important step is planting, which involves specific activities and tools.

Entry Behaviour:
Pupils are familiar with pre-planting activities and the use of basic farming tools.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Seeds and seedlings
• Planting tools (hoe, cutlass, dibber, watering can)
• Charts illustrating planting techniques

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:
The teacher will connect the lesson to pre-planting activities discussed previously, emphasizing that planting is the next critical step in crop production.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Practical skills
• Observation
• Problem-solving

Learning Materials:

• Agricultural Science Textbook
• Seeds and seedlings
• Planting tools
• Whiteboard and marker

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Primary 5 Agricultural Science Textbook

Instructional Materials:

• Charts showing planting techniques
• Real planting tools (hoe, cutlass, dibber)
• Seeds and seedlings

Content:

1. Description of Planting Activities:

• Seed Planting: The process of placing seeds in the soil at the appropriate depth and spacing.
• Transplanting: Moving seedlings from the nursery to the main field where they will grow to maturity.
• Watering: Applying water to the seeds or seedlings to ensure they have enough moisture for growth.
• Spacing: Ensuring the correct distance between plants to allow for proper growth and development.
• Mulching: Covering the soil around the plants with organic or inorganic materials to retain moisture and prevent weed growth.

2. Tools Used in Planting Activities:

• Hoe: Used for digging holes and covering seeds after planting.
• Dibber: A pointed tool used to make holes in the soil for planting seeds or seedlings.
• Watering Can: Used to water seeds and seedlings after planting.
• Cutlass: Used for clearing the ground and creating planting rows.
• Trowel: A small handheld tool used for digging small holes, especially when transplanting seedlings.

3. Carrying Out Planting Activities on the School Farm and at Home:

• Planting Seeds: Pupils will practice planting seeds in a prepared section of the school farm, using a dibber or hoe to create holes.
• Transplanting Seedlings: Pupils will carefully transplant seedlings from the nursery to the school farm, ensuring proper spacing.
• Watering: After planting, pupils will water the seeds or seedlings using a watering can to ensure they have enough moisture.
• Mulching: Pupils will apply mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.

Planting operations is the actual sowing of the seeds into the soil. In this type of situation, it is always advisable to sow good seeds.

Sowing of seeds can be done in different ways,some of which include:

i. Sowing of seeds in open air:This involves the sowing of the seeds directly into the soil.e.g beans,maize etc

ii.sowing of seeds in the nursery bed: Seeds can be sown in a specially prepared nursery beds with good topsoil.The beds must be covered with palm leaves or it can be placed under a shade unlike that of sowing in an open air.

iii.Transplanting: This simply means relocation of a plant,i.e to remove a plant from place where it is growing and replant it elsewhere.

iv.Drilling :drilling means an act of making holes in the ground to allow the sowing of seeds

v.Broadcasting: This means an act of applying fertilizer to vegetables by spreading around the plants.

Equipment needed in planting operations are:

i.head pan

ii.seed boxes

iii.garden line

Questions:

1. The process of placing seeds in the soil is called _______.
   • a) Transplanting
   • b) Seed planting
   • c) Watering
2. Moving seedlings from the nursery to the main field is known as _______.
   • a) Spacing
   • b) Watering
   • c) Transplanting
3. _______ is the tool used to make holes in the soil for planting seeds.
   • a) Hoe
   • b) Dibber
   • c) Cutlass
4. After planting, it is important to _______ the seeds or seedlings.
   • a) Water
   • b) Mulch
   • c) Space
5. _______ helps to retain moisture in the soil and prevent weed growth.
   • a) Tilling
   • b) Mulching
   • c) Harvesting
6. The tool used for digging small holes, especially when transplanting, is called a _______.
   • a) Trowel
   • b) Cutlass
   • c) Hoe
7. Ensuring the correct distance between plants is known as _______.
   • a) Mulching
   • b) Spacing
   • c) Watering
8. The tool used for clearing the ground and creating planting rows is a _______.
   • a) Trowel
   • b) Dibber
   • c) Cutlass
9. _______ is applied around plants to conserve moisture.
   • a) Water
   • b) Mulch
   • c) Fertilizer
10. The process of moving seedlings to the main field is called _______.
    • a) Seed planting
    • b) Transplanting
    • c) Harvesting
11. A _______ is used for digging holes and covering seeds after planting.
    • a) Hoe
    • b) Dibber
    • c) Trowel
12. The tool used to water seeds and seedlings is a _______.
    • a) Cutlass
    • b) Dibber
    • c) Watering can
13. Planting involves placing seeds at the correct _______ in the soil.
    • a) Distance
    • b) Depth
    • c) Height
14. _______ helps to prevent weeds from growing around the plants.
    • a) Mulching
    • b) Spacing
    • c) Tilling
15. Watering should be done _______ after planting to help seeds germinate.
    • a) Occasionally
    • b) Immediately
    • c) Rarely

Class Activity Discussion 

1. Q: What is seed planting?
   A: Seed planting is the process of placing seeds in the soil at the appropriate depth and spacing.
2. Q: Why is transplanting important?
   A: Transplanting allows seedlings to be moved from the nursery, where they were grown under controlled conditions, to the main field where they will grow to maturity.
3. Q: What tool is used to make holes in the soil for planting seeds?
   A: A dibber is used to make holes in the soil for planting seeds or seedlings.
4. Q: What should be done immediately after planting seeds or seedlings?
   A: After planting, the seeds or seedlings should be watered to ensure they have enough moisture to grow.
5. Q: What is mulching?
   A: Mulching is the process of covering the soil around plants with organic or inorganic materials to retain moisture and prevent weed growth.
6. Q: Which tool is used for digging small holes, especially during transplanting?
   A: A trowel is used for digging small holes during transplanting.
7. Q: What is the importance of spacing in planting?
   A: Proper spacing ensures that each plant has enough space to grow and access sunlight, water, and nutrients.
8. Q: Which tool is used for clearing the ground before planting?
   A: A cutlass is used for clearing the ground and creating planting rows.
9. Q: Why is watering important after planting?
   A: Watering is important to provide the necessary moisture for seeds to germinate and for seedlings to establish roots.
10. Q: What materials can be used for mulching?
    A: Materials like straw, leaves, grass clippings, or plastic sheets can be used for mulching.
11. Q: How deep should seeds be planted in the soil?
    A: Seeds should be planted at a depth that is appropriate for their size—usually two to three times their diameter.
12. Q: What is the role of a hoe in planting?
    A: A hoe is used for digging holes, planting seeds, and covering them with soil.
13. Q: What is transplanting?
    A: Transplanting is the process of moving seedlings from the nursery to the main field where they will grow to maturity.
14. Q: How does mulching help in crop production?
    A: Mulching helps to retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and prevent the growth of weeds.
15. Q: What should you do after marking the field for planting?
    A: After marking the field, you should proceed to plant the seeds or transplant the seedlings.

Presentation:

Step 1: The teacher introduces the topic by explaining the importance of planting activities in crop production, highlighting the key activities involved.

Step 2: The teacher demonstrates how to use various planting tools, such as the hoe, dibber, and watering can, explaining their specific functions during the planting process.

Step 3: The teacher guides pupils through hands-on practice in planting seeds and transplanting seedlings on the school farm, ensuring they understand the correct techniques for each activity.

Teacher’s Activities:

• Explain and demonstrate the different planting activities.
• Show pupils how to use planting tools properly.
• Supervise pupils as they engage in planting activities on the school farm.

Learners’ Activities:

• Listen and observe the demonstrations of planting activities.
• Participate in hands-on practice of planting seeds and transplanting seedlings.
• Ask questions and seek clarification as needed.

Assessment:

1. Describe the steps involved in planting seeds.
2. Name three tools used in planting activities.
3. What is the purpose of transplanting seedlings?
4. Why is it important to water seeds after planting?
5. How does mulching benefit the soil?
6. What is planting operations?______________
7. What is broadcasting?
8. What is drilling?
9. Mention three equipments needed for planting operations. I._____ii._____iii._____
10. What is transplanting?

Conclusion:
The teacher will go around to check pupils’ work, provide feedback, and correct any mistakes related to planting activities.