Meaning, Types, and Water Holding Capacity of Soil Basic Science Primary 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 9

Lesson Plan Presentation

Subject: Basic Science

Class: Primary 2

Term: First Term

Week: 9

Age: 7 years

Topic: Soil Types

Sub-topic: Meaning, Types, and Water Holding Capacity of Soil

Duration: 60 minutes

Behavioural Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Identify soil locations within the school compound.
Describe the types of soil.
Compare clay soil and sandy soil through mouldings.
Examine the water holding capacities of clay soil and sandy soil.

Key Words

Soil
Types
Clay
Sandy
Water holding capacity
Moulding

Set Induction

The teacher takes pupils on a brief walk around the school compound to identify different areas where soil can be found (e.g., flower beds, playground).

Entry Behaviour

Pupils have a basic understanding of their surroundings and natural elements like soil.

Learning Resources and Materials

Samples of clay soil and sandy soil
Pictures and diagrams of soil types and their characteristics
Moulding tools (e.g., clay modelling tools)

Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher will connect the lesson to the pupils’ everyday experiences by discussing where soil can be found and how it feels.

Embedded Core Skills

Observation
Comparison
Practical skills (moulding)

Learning Materials

Lagos State Scheme of Work
Basic Science textbooks for Primary 2

Instructional Materials

Samples of clay soil and sandy soil
Pictures
Diagrams
Moulding tools

Content Explanation (List Format)

Meaning of Soil:
- Soil is the mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life on Earth.
Types of Soil:
- Clay Soil: Heavy, sticky soil that holds water well.
- Sandy Soil: Light, loose soil that drains water quickly.
Water Holding Capacity:
- Clay Soil: Holds water well because of its fine particles.
- Sandy Soil: Drains water quickly because of its coarse particles.

Questions

Soil is a mixture of _____. (a) rocks (b) minerals (c) water (d) all of the above
Clay soil is _____ and holds water well. (a) heavy (b) light (c) dry (d) cold
Sandy soil is _____ and drains water quickly. (a) heavy (b) light (c) wet (d) hot
Clay soil has _____ particles. (a) fine (b) coarse (c) medium (d) large
Sandy soil has _____ particles. (a) fine (b) coarse (c) medium (d) small
Clay soil feels _____ when touched. (a) rough (b) smooth (c) cold (d) hot
Sandy soil feels _____ when touched. (a) rough (b) smooth (c) cold (d) hot
Clay soil holds _____ water compared to sandy soil. (a) less (b) more (c) equal (d) none
Sandy soil drains _____ water compared to clay soil. (a) less (b) more (c) equal (d) none
Soil can be found in _____. (a) air (b) water (c) ground (d) all of the above

Class Activity Discussion

Q: What is soil? A: Soil is a mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and organisms that support life on Earth.
Q: What are the types of soil? A: The main types of soil are clay soil and sandy soil.
Q: How does clay soil differ from sandy soil? A: Clay soil is heavy and holds water well, while sandy soil is light and drains water quickly.
Q: What is water holding capacity? A: Water holding capacity refers to how well soil can retain water.
Q: Why is soil important? A: Soil is important for growing plants and supporting ecosystems.
Q: Where can soil be found? A: Soil can be found in the ground, covering the Earth’s surface.
Q: How can we identify different types of soil? A: We can identify soil types by their texture, water holding capacity, and color.
Q: What are the characteristics of clay soil? A: Clay soil is sticky when wet, hard when dry, and holds water well.
Q: What are the characteristics of sandy soil? A: Sandy soil is loose, drains water quickly, and feels gritty.
Q: How does soil affect plant growth? A: Different types of soil affect plant growth differently due to their water holding capacity and nutrient content.

Presentation

Step 1: Revision of Previous Topics

The teacher revises the lessons about the senses and previous topics related to the natural environment by asking pupils about different types of materials they know.

Step 2: Introduction of New Topic

The teacher introduces the new topic: “Soil Types,” explaining that pupils will learn about different types of soil found in their surroundings.

Step 3: Pupil Contributions

Pupils explore samples of clay soil and sandy soil, describe their textures, and discuss their observations on water holding capacities.

Teacher’s Activities

Show samples of clay soil and sandy soil to pupils.
Discuss the characteristics of each soil type (texture, water holding capacity).
Guide pupils in comparing clay soil and sandy soil through moulding activities.
Encourage pupils to share their findings and observations.

Learners’ Activities

Touch and feel samples of clay soil and sandy soil.
Describe the textures of each soil type.
Mould clay soil and sandy soil to compare their molding properties.
Discuss and share their observations with classmates.

Assessment

The teacher asks pupils to:

Identify the locations of soil within the school compound.
Describe the characteristics of clay soil and sandy soil.
Compare clay soil and sandy soil through moulding activities.
Examine and discuss the water holding capacities of clay soil and sandy soil.

Conclusion

The teacher concludes the lesson with a summary of key points and encourages pupils to explore soil types further in their environment.