Lesson Note on Other Pests: Meaning, Examples and Nature of Damage for SS 2

Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS 2)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 9
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Agricultural Science
Curriculum Theme: Crop Pests and Diseases
Previous Lesson: Pests of Crops: Meaning and Important Insect Pests.
Topic: Other important pests
Subject Matter: Meaning of other pests (non-insect pests that damage crops), other important pests (birds, rodents, man, monkey), nature of damages done (destruction of leaves, destruction of tender stems, destruction of roots and tubers)

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

• Define other important pests.
• List at least four examples of other important pests.
• Describe the nature of damages caused by these pests.

Affective Domain:

• Appreciate the economic impact of non-insect pests on crop production.
• Develop an interest in identifying and controlling these pests.

Psychomotor Domain:

• Identify signs of damage caused by rodents and monkeys on crops.
• Suggest simple control measures for some of these pests.

Social Domain:

• Collaborate with peers to discuss different types of pest damage.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
• State Unified Scheme of Work
• Agricultural Science for Senior Secondary Schools by O. A. Adekunle et al.
• https://www.fao.org/plant-protection/pest-control/vertebrate-pests/en/
• https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/pest-control/vertebrate-pests

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Pictures of rodent and bird damage.
• Sample damaged crops (e.g., maize cob with bite marks, yam tuber with gnawing).
• Farm visit notes (if applicable).

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand that not all crop pests are insects, and that other animals can cause significant damage to farm produce. Learning about these pests and their damage enables pupils to better protect crops and improve agricultural yields.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have prior knowledge of insect pests and their general effects on crops.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Other Important Pests

Meaning of Other Important Pests

Other important pests are non-insect animals that cause significant damage to crops in the farm. They include a variety of animals that feed on or destroy different parts of plants, leading to economic losses for farmers.

Examples of Other Important Pests and Their Damages

The following are examples of other important pests and the nature of damages they cause:

• Birds: Birds like weaver birds, sparrows, and pigeons feed on ripening grains (e.g., maize, rice, millet, sorghum) both in the field and in storage. They also damage fruits and vegetables.
• Rodents: Rodents such as rats, mice, and grasscutters damage crops by eating seeds, seedlings, roots, tubers (e.g., yam, cassava), and stored produce. They gnaw on stems and fruits, leading to plant death or reduced yield. Signs include bite marks, burrows, and droppings.
• Man: Human activities can be considered a pest when they involve theft of farm produce, destruction of crops during bush burning, or indiscriminate harvesting that damages future yields and the environment.
• Monkeys: Monkeys feed on fruits, tender leaves, young shoots, and ripening grains. They often uproot young plants and cause extensive damage in plantations, especially fruit orchards and maize farms. Signs include uprooted plants, partially eaten fruits, and broken branches.

General Nature of Damages Done by Other Important Pests

The damages caused by these pests can be broadly categorized as:

• Destruction of leaves: Pests like monkeys feed on tender leaves, reducing the plant’s photosynthetic ability and overall growth.
• Destruction of tender stems: Rodents and monkeys can gnaw on or break tender stems, leading to stunted growth, wilting, or death of young plants.
• Destruction of roots and tubers: Rodents (e.g., rats, grasscutters) dig up and feed on underground roots and tubers, making them unmarketable or destroying the plant entirely.
• Destruction of fruits and grains: Birds, monkeys, and rodents feed on ripening fruits and grains, causing direct yield loss and reducing the quality of the harvest.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to recall what they learned about insect pests in the previous lesson. The teacher then introduces the topic of “Other Important Pests” by explaining that not all pests are insects.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions about insect pests and listen attentively to the introduction of the new topic.
Learning Point: Pupils recall previous knowledge and are prepared for the new lesson.

Step 2: Meaning of Other Important Pests

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of “other important pests” as non-insect animals that damage crops, giving a general overview of their impact.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the definition of other important pests.

Step 3: Identification of Other Important Pests

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Observation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays pictures of various non-insect pests such as birds, rodents, and monkeys. The teacher guides pupils to identify these pests and lists them on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures, identify the pests, and list them in their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify and list examples of other important pests.

Step 4: Damages Caused by Birds and Rodents

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Visual Aids
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows samples of crops damaged by rodents (e.g., gnawed yam) and pictures of bird damage on grains. The teacher explains the specific ways birds and rodents damage crops, including bite marks, missing grains, and burrows.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the damaged samples/pictures, identify the signs of damage, and describe how these pests cause harm.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the specific damages caused by birds and rodents.

Step 5: Damages Caused by Man and Monkeys

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how human activities can be considered a pest and describes the types of damage caused by monkeys, such as uprooting plants and eating fruits. The teacher encourages pupils to discuss their observations or experiences related to these pests.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss their observations and listen to the teacher’s explanation of damages by man and monkeys.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the damages caused by man and monkeys.

Step 6: General Nature of Damages Done

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the general nature of damages done by other important pests, categorizing them into destruction of leaves, tender stems, roots/tubers, and fruits/grains.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and copy the summary of the general nature of damages into their notes.
Learning Point: Pupils grasp the overall types of crop damage caused by non-insect pests.

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 are other important pests?
2. Mention three examples of other important pests.
3. Describe two ways rodents damage crops.
4. How do monkeys damage crops?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Recap/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher recaps the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of identifying and controlling these pests. The teacher then assigns homework.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the recap and copy down the homework assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and prepare for further study.

Lesson Keywords

• Pests – Organisms that harm crops or livestock.
• Non-insect pests – Animals other than insects that cause damage to crops.
• Rodents – Mammals like rats and grasscutters known for gnawing.
• Crop damage – Physical harm or destruction to plants leading to reduced yield.
• Yield loss – Reduction in the quantity or quality of harvested produce.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can challenge them to research common control methods for specific non-insect pests. For those who require more support, the teacher will provide additional visual aids and simplified explanations, focusing on identifying the main pests and their most obvious damages.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure they have clear pictures or actual samples of damaged crops to make the lesson engaging and practical. A short field trip to a school farm or nearby farm, if feasible, would provide excellent practical experience for pupils to observe pest damage firsthand. Emphasize the economic impact of these pests on farmers.