INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

Introduction. Branches of Agriculture.

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

To define Agriculture as an art and a science.


To describe the branches of Agriculture.

Brainstorming:
Teacher elicits the definition of Agriculture.
Discussion- Branches of Agriculture: crop farming, livestock farming, Agricultural Economics, Agriculture Engineering, e.t.c.

Chart- Branches of Agriculture.

Livestock / Crop products.

KLB
Pages 1-3 

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

branches of agriculture
crop farming

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
to state and explain branches of agriculture
To state and explain crop farming systems

Brain storming, guided questions and detailed discussion.

Livestock / Crop raw produce, industrial goods, flow charts.
text book

KLB Pages  2

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

Farming Systems.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To define a farming system.
To identify factors that affect choice of a farming system.

Teacher exposes the meaning of a farming system.
Discussion on factors that affect choice of a farming system.

Resource person.

KLB
Pages 3

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

Farming systems in Kenya. Intensive farming systems.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To describe various farming systems practised intensively.

To state advantages and disadvantages of each type of intensive farming.

Q/A & Discussion

text book

KLB Pages  4

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

Extensive farming systems. Advantages and disadvantages of extensive farming system.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To describe various farming systems practised extensively.

To state advantages and disadvantages of each type of extensive farming.

Discussion:
Q/A and explanations.

Relevant photographs: plantations, ranches, dairy farms.

KLB
Pages 5

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

Methods of farming. Mixed farming.
Nomadic Pastoralism.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To define mixed farming.
To state advantages and disadvantages of mixed farming.
To define nomadic pastoralism.
To state advantages and disadvantages of nomadic pastoralism.

Probing questions.
Discussion- factors favouring / militating against mixed farming.
Discussion- factors favouring / militating against pastoralism.

film
text book

KLB
Pages 5

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

Shifting cultivation.
Roe of agriculture to kenyan economy

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To define shifting cultivation.
To state advantages and disadvantages of shifting cultivation.
To explain the role of  agriculture to kenyan economy

Exposition;
Discussion.
Probing questions.
Discussion

text book
 Charts & photographs.

KLB Pages 5

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

Human factors.
Climatic factors. - Rainfall.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To explain the human factors influencing Agriculture.
To discuss at length influence of rainfall on Agriculture.
To identify farming practices that:
Reduce effects of water shortage.
Overcome effects of excess water.

Detailed discussion and probing questions on: Health (emphasis on HIV/AIDS), education level, communication, economic development, marketing, government policies, e.t.c.
Q/A and explanations about: rainfall i.e. lack of rainfall, excess rainfall, rainfall intensity, distribution and reliability.
Exposition and explanations.

Data on HIV/AIDS.
Weather station instruments:
rain gauge.

K.L.B.
Pg 8

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

- Temperature.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To define cardinal temperature range, maximum and minimum temperature, optimum temperature.
To identify factors that cause temperature variations.
To explain ways in which plants/ animals overcome extreme temperatures.

Exposition and explanation.
Discussion and Q/A on; altitude, latitude, seasons, winds, clouds, slope, e.t.c.
Students highlight ways in which plants / animals overcome extreme temperatures, then the
teacher delves into the details.

Thermometers.

KLB
Page 13

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

- Light.
- Wind and Relative Humidity.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To state functions of light.
To describe characteristics of light.
To identify effects of wind on agricultural production.
To explain relation between relative humidity and rate of evapotranspiration.

Q/A: Functions of light.
Exposition & Discussion: Light intensity, duration and wavelength.
Q/A: Uses and nuisances of wind.
Exposition: Meaning of relative humidity.
Discussion: Relative humidity v/s rate of evapotranspiration.

text book

KLB
Page 15

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

Biotic factors.
Edaphic factors.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To explain effects of biotic factors on Agriculture.
To define soil.
To state uses of soil.
To identify forms of weathering.

Q/A and explanations on effects of: pests, diseases, pathogens, predators, pollinators, bacteria, e.t.c. on Agriculture.
Q/A and explanation: definition of soil, its uses.
Exposition: Teacher exposes meaning of weathering and forms of weathering.

Wall charts / Sample pe pollinators.
Soil / rock samples.

KLB
Pages 11

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

Soil profile.
Soil constituents & sedimentation.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To define soil profile.
To represent soil profile diagrammatically.
To explain effects of soil profile on crop production.
To explain the importance of the soil constituents.

Exposition ? Definition.
Drawing and labelling soil horizons.
Explanation and questioning: soil horizons v/s crop production.
Discussion: Constituents of soil and importance of each constituent.

Chart ? Soil profile.
school garden

KLB
Page21

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

Soil texture.
Water retention of soils.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To define soil texture.
To identify textural classes of soil.
To identify types of soils.
To describe an experiment to show:
Water retention of soils.
Capillary rates of different soils.

Group experiment- Mechanical analysis of soil.
Discuss the results.
Expose meaning of soil texture.
Group experiments.
Discussion of observations.

Sieve meshes of different diameters,
Beakers,
Garden soil,
Weighing balance.
Sandy, Loam,
Clay soil
Cotton wool
Funnels
Stop watches
Rulers
Measuring cylinders.

KLB
Pages 24

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

Effect of soil water holding properties on crop production.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To explain the effects of soil water holding properties on crop production.

Q/A and explanation about soil aeration and drainage and their influences on growth of crops.

school garden

KLB
Pages 39

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

Soil structure.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To define soil structure.
To identify types of soil structure.
To identify mans influence on soil structure.
To explain effects of soil structure on crops.

Detailed discussion.
Drawing of diagram- soil horizons.
Q/A: Man?s influence on soil structure.
Q/A: Soil structure v/s Crop production.

Chart- soil structure forms.

KLB
Page 40

FARM TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Crop production tools.
Classification of farm tools and equipment. Maintenance of farm tools and equipment

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To distinguish farm tools from farm equipment.
To identify farm tools and equipment and state their uses.
To classify tools on basis of their uses.
To state practices of maintenance of the tools.

Drawing garden tools.
Identifying real tools, such as pruning fork, leveling boards, knap-sack sprayer, soil auger,
KLB book

Chart ,Tools that are not common.
.
Common farm tools, school farm

KLB
Pages  44

FARM TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Livestock production tools and equipments.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To identify livestock production tools and equipment.
To state purposes of livestock production tools and equipment.
To label diagrams of important tools.
To state practices of maintenance of the tools.

Drawing/ identifying the elastrator, hoof trimmer, strip cup, teeth clipper, drenching gun, chaff cutter, dehorning wire, bolus gun and others.
Discussion: Maintenance practices of identified parts of the tools.

Chart-Uncommon tools: elastrator, hoof trimmer, strip cup, teeth clipper, drenching gun, chaff cutter, dehorning wire, bolus gun and others.

KLB
Pages  48

FARM TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Workshop tools and equipment.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To identify common workshop tools and equipments.
To identify practices of maintaining the workshop.
To state general safety precautions to be observed in a work shop.

Drawing / identifying
Common workshop tools/ masonry tools: saws, planes, hammers, pliers, spoke shave, files, rasps, G-clamp, tin snip, e.t.c
Q/A: Maintenance practices.

Saws, planes, hammers, pliers, spoke shave, files, rasps, G-clamp, tin snip

KLB
Pages 57

FARM TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Measuring tools.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To identify common measurement tools and equipments.
To identify practices of maintaining the measuring tools.

Drawing / identifying common measurement tools: tape measure, plumb bob, T-square, spirit level, marking gauge.

Common measurement tools: tape measure, plumb bob, T-square, spirit level, marking gauge.

KLB
Pages 63