Horticulture Activities for Primary 4

Lesson Plan: Horticulture Activities in Agriculture

Subject: Agricultural Science

Class: Primary 4
Term: Second Term
Week: Week 7
Age: 9 – 10 years
Topic: Horticulture Activities in Agriculture
Sub-topic: Importance of Horticulture and Identification of Flowering Plants
Duration: 60 minutes

Behavioral Objectives

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

1. Define horticulture and explain its importance.
2. Identify different types of horticultural flowering plants and describe their characteristics.
3. List and explain common horticultural activities such as planting, watering, fertilizing, pruning, and harvesting.
4. Appreciate the role of horticulture in agriculture and everyday life.

Keywords

• Horticulture
• Annuals
• Perennials
• Bulbs
• Shrubs
• Pruning
• Harvesting

Set Induction

• Begin by showing the pupils a bouquet of colorful flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
• Ask, “Have you ever wondered how these beautiful flowers and tasty fruits grow?”
• Briefly introduce the term “horticulture” as the study and care of plants.

Entry Behavior

Pupils are familiar with flowers and fruits they see around the school or at home but may not understand how they grow or their importance.

Learning Resources and Materials

1. Pictures of flowering plants (annuals, perennials, bulbs, shrubs, and trees).
2. Small pots, soil, and seeds for planting demonstration.
3. Pruning shears and gloves for pruning demonstration.
4. Fruits, vegetables, and flowers for harvesting demonstration.
5. Charts and textbooks on horticulture.

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

Ask pupils:

• “Have you ever planted a seed or watered a flower at home or in school?”
• “What do plants need to grow well?”

Embedded Core Skills

• Communication and collaboration.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Creativity and imagination.
• Citizenship and leadership.

Instructional Materials

• Lagos State Scheme of Work.
• Relevant textbooks and workbooks.
• Multimedia presentations (if available).

Content

Definition of Horticulture

1. Horticulture is the study and care of plants to help them grow well and produce fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other items we use.
2. Horticulturists are people who work in horticulture, focusing on planting, watering, fertilizing, pruning, and harvesting plants.

Horticultural Activities

1. Planting Seeds: Placing seeds in soil to grow plants (e.g., planting maize seeds in a garden).
2. Watering: Providing plants with water to keep them alive and growing.
3. Fertilizing: Adding nutrients to the soil for healthy plant growth.
4. Pruning: Cutting off unnecessary branches or leaves to encourage healthy growth.
5. Harvesting: Picking ripe fruits, vegetables, or flowers from plants.

Types of Horticultural Flowering Plants

1. Annuals: Complete their life cycle in one year (e.g., sunflowers, petunias).
2. Perennials: Live for many years, regrowing annually (e.g., roses, peonies).
3. Bulbs: Underground storage structures that produce flowers (e.g., tulips, daffodils).
4. Shrubs: Woody plants with multiple stems (e.g., azaleas, hydrangeas).
5. Trees: Large woody plants providing flowers, shade, and fruit (e.g., cherry blossoms, mango trees).

Importance of Horticulture

1. Provides food, such as fruits and vegetables.
2. Beautifies the environment with flowers and plants.
3. Produces raw materials for industries (e.g., timber, medicinal plants).
4. Improves air quality and adds oxygen to the atmosphere.
5. Creates employment opportunities for horticulturists.

Evaluation

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. Horticulture is the study of __________.
   • a) animals
   • b) plants and how to grow them
   • c) weather patterns
   • Answer: b
2. __________ are plants that live for many years.
   • a) Annuals
   • b) Perennials
   • c) Bulbs
   • Answer: b
3. Pruning involves cutting back __________.
   • a) flowers
   • b) branches or leaves
   • c) roots
   • Answer: b
4. __________ are underground storage structures.
   • a) Bulbs
   • b) Shrubs
   • c) Trees
   • Answer: a
5. A gardener might add __________ to soil as fertilizer.
   • a) compost
   • b) water
   • c) air
   • Answer: a

Class Activity Discussion

FAQs

1. What is horticulture?
   • Horticulture is the study of plants and how to grow them.
2. Why is horticulture important?
   • It provides food, beautifies the environment, and improves air quality.
3. What are annuals?
   • They are plants that complete their life cycle in one year.
4. What is pruning?
   • Cutting back branches or leaves to encourage plant growth.
5. Can trees be part of horticulture?
   • Yes, trees provide flowers, fruit, and shade.

Presentation Steps

1. Revision of Previous Lesson: Review the second-term mid-term test with the pupils.
2. Introduction: Introduce the topic with examples of plants they have seen.
3. Explanation and Demonstration: Teach the content step-by-step, using practical activities like planting and pruning.
4. Pupils’ Contributions: Encourage pupils to share their experiences and observations.
5. Feedback: Correct misunderstandings and reinforce key points.

Evaluation Questions

1. Define horticulture.
2. Name three types of horticultural flowering plants.
3. What is fertilizing?
4. Give two examples of shrubs.
5. Why is pruning important?

Conclusion

• Recap the topic and key points.
• Allow pupils to share their favorite part of the lesson.
• Provide feedback on pupils’ performance.

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