Organic Farming and Its Practices for SS 1

Class: SS 1
Term: Second Term
Week: 9
Age: 15 years
Duration: 60 minutes
Subject: Agricultural Science
Curriculum Theme: Agricultural management
Focal competence: Practicing organic farming
Key competencies/values: Collaboration; Environmental Literacy
Skills:

• Composting manure to reduce cost of purchasing fertilizer and ensuring environmental standards

Previous Lesson: Causes of soil degradation
Topic: Organic Farming
Subject Matter: Meaning of organic farming, Organic farming practices

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Define organic farming.
• Outline organic farming practices.
• Identify materials used for composting organic manure.
• Mention examples of biological pest control agents.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the environmental benefits of organic farming.
• Value the importance of sustainable agricultural practices.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate understanding of composting by identifying its components.
• Identify various methods of biological pest control.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 New Revised Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC)
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Agricultural Science for Senior Secondary Schools, Book 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work For The New Revised Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC)

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Video clips describing organic manure and how they are made.
• Video clips illustrating biological pest control methods.
• Animal dungs (e.g., cow dung, poultry droppings) for demonstration of composting materials.
• Crop residues (e.g., dry leaves, grass) for demonstration of composting materials.
• Charts showing different organic farming practices.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important as it introduces students to sustainable agricultural practices that protect the environment and promote healthy food production. Understanding organic farming helps students appreciate methods that reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals, contributing to ecological balance and food safety. It also equips them with knowledge relevant for future agricultural careers and personal food choices.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of conventional farming methods, common farm inputs like fertilizers and pesticides, and the general concept of plant growth and soil fertility.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Organic Farming

Meaning of Organic Farming

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), antibiotics, and growth hormones. It is a holistic system designed to optimize the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agro-ecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock, and people.

Key principles of organic farming include:

1. Enhancing soil biological activity.
2. Maintaining long-term soil fertility.
3. Minimizing the use of non-renewable resources.
4. Avoiding synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and genetically modified organisms.
5. Promoting healthy livestock management.

Organic Farming Practices

Organic farming relies on a variety of practices to maintain soil fertility, control pests and diseases, and promote overall farm health. These practices include:

1. Organic Manure Application

Organic manure refers to plant and animal wastes used to improve soil fertility and structure. It provides essential nutrients to crops and enhances the soil’s water-holding capacity and microbial activity.

Common types of organic manure include:

1. Farmyard Manure (FYM): A mixture of animal dung, urine, and bedding materials.
2. Compost: Decomposed organic matter from plant and animal residues.
3. Green Manure: Crops grown specifically to be ploughed back into the soil to enrich it.
4. Vermicompost: Compost produced with the help of earthworms.

Composting Manure

Composting is the process of decomposing organic matter (like plant residues, animal waste, and food scraps) into a nutrient-rich soil amendment called compost. It is a fundamental practice in organic farming for creating organic manure.

Steps in composting:

1. Collecting Materials: Gather organic waste such as animal dung, dry leaves, grass clippings, kitchen scraps, and wood ash.
2. Layering: Create layers of “green” (nitrogen-rich, e.g., fresh grass, food scraps) and “brown” (carbon-rich, e.g., dry leaves, straw) materials.
3. Moisture: Keep the pile moist, like a wrung-out sponge.
4. Aeration: Turn the pile regularly to provide oxygen, which aids decomposition.
5. Temperature: A well-managed compost pile will heat up, indicating active decomposition.
6. Maturation: The process takes several weeks to months, resulting in dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling compost.

2. Biological Pest Control

Biological pest control is the use of natural enemies (predators, parasites, pathogens) to reduce pest populations to acceptable levels. It avoids the use of synthetic pesticides, which can harm the environment and human health.

Examples of biological pest control agents:

1. Predators: Ladybugs (feed on aphids), lacewings (feed on various soft-bodied insects), birds (feed on insects).
2. Parasites: Parasitic wasps (lay eggs inside or on pests, killing them).
3. Pathogens: Bacteria (e.g., Bacillus thuringiensis for caterpillar control), fungi (e.g., Beauveria bassiana for various insects), viruses.
4. Beneficial Nematodes: Microscopic worms that attack soil-dwelling pests.

3. Crop Rotation

This involves growing different types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons. It helps to break pest and disease cycles, improve soil structure, and balance nutrient levels.

4. Cover Cropping

Growing non-cash crops (cover crops) to protect and enrich the soil. They prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and add organic matter and nutrients when incorporated into the soil.

5. Mulching

Applying a layer of organic material (e.g., straw, wood chips, leaves) to the soil surface. Mulch conserves soil moisture, suppresses weeds, regulates soil temperature, and adds organic matter as it decomposes.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Explanation, Observation, Group Work, Video Presentation.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Activating Prior Knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them to recall what they know about conventional farming methods and the inputs used. The teacher then introduces the concept of organic farming as an alternative approach.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions about conventional farming and listen attentively to the introduction of organic farming.

Learning Point: Conventional farming recall

Step 2: Meaning of Organic Farming

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Group Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to discuss in groups, the meaning of organic farming based on their prior knowledge and the brief introduction. After group discussions, the teacher consolidates their ideas and provides a clear definition of organic farming, highlighting its key principles.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss in groups, then share their understanding of organic farming. They listen to the teacher’s explanation and definition.

Learning Point: Definition of organic farming

Step 3: Organic Manure and Composting

Time: 15 minutes

Teaching Skill: Video Presentation/Demonstration/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows video clips describing organic manure and how they are made, focusing on the composting process. The teacher explains the types of organic manure and the steps involved in composting, using practical examples of materials like animal dung and crop residues.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video clips, observe the demonstration materials, and ask questions about organic manure and composting.

Learning Point: Composting process explained

Step 4: Biological Pest Control

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Video Presentation/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows video clips illustrating various biological pest control methods and agents. The teacher explains how natural enemies are used to manage pests without synthetic chemicals, providing specific examples.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video clips and listen to the explanation of biological pest control, identifying different agents.

Learning Point: Biological pest control

Step 5: Other Organic Farming Practices

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly introduces other organic farming practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and mulching, explaining their importance in a sustainable system.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and take note of the additional organic farming practices.

Learning Point: Additional organic practices

Step 6: Advantages of Organic Farming

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a brief discussion on the advantages of organic farming, such as environmental protection, healthier food, and improved soil fertility.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute to the discussion by stating advantages of organic farming.

Learning Point: Benefits of organic farming

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is organic farming?
2. Mention two organic farming practices.
3. List three materials that can be used for composting.
4. Give two examples of biological pest control agents.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Organic farming understanding

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the meaning and practices of organic farming into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarization

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reinforces the main lesson idea, emphasizing that organic farming is a sustainable approach to agriculture that benefits both the environment and human health. The teacher encourages students to consider its importance.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and reflect on the importance of organic farming.

Learning Point: Organic farming consolidation

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework/Further Reading

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook and research more about the benefits of organic farming.

1. Explain in your own words why organic farming is considered sustainable.
2. Describe the process of composting organic manure.
3. Identify and explain two advantages of using biological pest control over chemical pesticides.
4. Research and list three additional benefits of organic farming not discussed in class.

Lesson Keywords

• Organic Farming – A method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, GMOs, antibiotics, and growth hormones.
• Organic Manure – Plant and animal wastes used to improve soil fertility and structure.
• Composting – The process of decomposing organic matter into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
• Biological Pest Control – The use of natural enemies to reduce pest populations.
• Crop Rotation – Growing different crops in sequence in the same field.
• Cover Cropping – Growing non-cash crops to protect and enrich the soil.
• Mulching – Applying a layer of organic material to the soil surface.

Differentiation

Support: Provide simplified definitions and visual aids for students who struggle with abstract concepts. Pair weaker students with stronger ones for group discussions. Offer pre-filled outlines for note-taking.

Extension: Encourage advanced students to research specific organic certification standards in Nigeria or globally. Ask them to design a simple organic garden plan for their home or school, including practices discussed.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding of organic farming practices, students can search on YouTube for:

• meaning of organic farming for SS1
• how to make compost manure agricultural science
• biological pest control methods for SS1 agriculture