RAISING SCHOOL FARM

 

Subject : 

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Term :

SECOND TERM

Week:

WEEK 4

Class :

Primary 5

Topic :

PROCEDURE FOR RAISING SCHOOL FARM

Previous lesson: 

The pupils have previous knowledge of

PROCEDURE FOR RAISING FARM CROPS LIKE CEREALS

that was taught as a topic in the previous lesson

 

Behavioural objectives :

At the end of the lesson, the pupils should be able to

• say the procedure for raising school farm

 

Instructional Materials:

• Wall charts
• Pictures
• Related Online Video
• Flash Cards

Methods of Teaching:

• Class Discussion
• Group Discussion
• Asking Questions
• Explanation
• Role Modelling
• Role Delegation

 

Reference Materials:

• Scheme of Work
• Online Information
• Textbooks
• Workbooks
• 9 Year Basic Education Curriculum
• Workbooks

 

Content : 

RAISING SCHOOL FARM

A school farm is a small farm for growing crops like cassava, maize, millet etc. It is usually located at the backyard of the school. The school farm also serves the purpose of teaching the pupils Agricultural Science without actually leaving the school compound. It can also be established for skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development, or as a business run by the school.

 

 

WAYS OF PREPARING A SCHOOL FARM

Land clearing

The land has to be cleared of bush by hand by using cutlass, hoes, shovels, etc. After clearing the land, it is better to leave the dead leaves, stems and roots to decay into the soil (the serves as manure)

Manuring

Manure is applied to the farm land and mixed together with the soil to make it fertile.

Weeding

After planting and the crops are growing, we should constantly remove weeds from the farm. This can be done by the use of hoe or by spraying with weed killer.

Fencing

The school farm is fenced to prevent pests/animals like rats, goats, bats etc from entering inside the farm and destroying crops

Setting up a school farm (practical)

• Prepare materials for planting
• Prepare the land for planting using farm tools
• Participate in the planting of crops
• Care for the farm

 

Needs for having a school farm 

• It gives the pupils the opportunity to have first hand information about topics that they have been taught in agricultural science
• The school farm serves as a practice ground for pupils to experiment, cultivate and observe plants and farm animals as they grow on the school farm.
• School farms if well managed may provide the school some staple food items as farm produce.
• Pupils can plant, wet and monitor any farm crops for the purpose of studying and observing that crop. They also learn how to weed on the school farm.

 

Why most schools do not have school farms 

• Non availability of agric teacher
• Lack of interest on the parts of the Agric teachers that are available in some schools
• Space or land to set up the school farm
• Pupils weakness to till and cultivate land
• Some people think that the idea of raising a school farm is tedious, stressful and difficult

 

Presentation

 

The topic is presented step by step

 

Step 1:

The class teacher revises the previous topics

 

Step 2.

He introduces the new topic

 

Step 3:

The class teacher allows the pupils to give their own examples and he corrects them when the needs arise

 

Evaluation

1. Explain the meaning of a school farm
2. List four crops grown on a school farm
3. Mention two reasons why most schools do not have school farms.
4. Mention two benefits of having a school farm.
5. Explain the following
   Land clearing –
   Manuring –
   Fencing –
   Weeding

 

 

School Farm

 

 

Conclusion

The class teacher wraps up or concludes the lesson by giving out short notes to summarize the topic that he or she has just taught.

The class teacher also goes round to make sure that the notes are well copied or well written by the pupils.

He or she does the necessary corrections when and where the needs arise.