Class: Junior Secondary School 2 (JSS2, JSS 2)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 3
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Basic Science And Technology
Curriculum Theme: Basic Science
Previous Lesson: Adaptation of Living Things to Their Habitat: Animal and Plant Adaptive Features
Topic: Relationship between organisms in the same habitat
Subject Matter: Relationship between organisms in the same habitat

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:
(a) Explain the meaning of relationship between organisms in the same habitat.
(b) Identify and describe the different types of relationships among organisms in the same habitat.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the importance of balance in nature and how organisms depend on one another.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Draw simple diagrams to illustrate types of relationships among organisms.
Social Domain:
(a) Work in groups to discuss and present examples of relationships among organisms in their local environment.

Reference Materials

The following resources was used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
Lagos State Unified Scheme of work for Junior Secondary Schools
Britannica – Mutualism | Types, Examples, & Facts
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing examples of animals and plants in their habitats
Flash cards with names of different organisms
Diagram of a food chain and food web
Multimedia projector or video clips on animal interactions
Whiteboard and marker

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson enables pupils to understand how organisms interact with one another in their habitats, promoting awareness of ecological balance and interdependence.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils already know what a habitat is and can identify examples of plants and animals living in the same environment from their immediate surroundings.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Relationship between Organisms in the Same Habitat

Organisms that live in the same habitat interact with one another in different ways. These interactions may help, harm, or have no effect on the organisms involved.

Types of Relationships among Organisms

Different forms of relationships exist among organisms. They are:

Mutualism: This is a relationship where both organisms benefit.
Examples are:
- Flowers and bees (bees get nectar, flowers are pollinated).
- Oxpecker birds and cattle (birds feed on ticks, cattle get cleaned).
Commensalism: This is a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.
Examples include:
- Remora fish attaching to sharks.
- Orchids growing on tree branches.
Parasitism: This is a relationship where one organism benefits (parasite) while the other (host) is harmed.
Examples are:
- Mosquitoes feeding on humans.
- Tapeworms living in the intestine of animals.
Predation: This is a relationship where one organism (predator) kills and eats another (prey).
Examples are:
- Lion eating a goat.
- Hawk feeding on chicks.
Competition: This occurs when organisms struggle for the same limited resources such as food, space, or water.
Examples include:
- Plants competing for sunlight in a forest.
- Lions and hyenas competing for food.

Importance of Relationships among Organisms

The following are the importance of relationships among organisms:

They help maintain balance in nature.
They aid in the recycling of nutrients.
They control the population of organisms.
They promote adaptation and survival of species.
They ensure proper functioning of the ecosystem.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Discussion, Lecture, Explanation, Demonstration, Group Work, Question and Answer, Use of Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher narrates a short story of how lions and hyenas fight for food in the wild and asks pupils to recall the meaning of habitat.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions and share examples of animals they have seen interacting.
Learning Point: Pupils are connected to the topic through familiar experiences.

Step 2: Types of Relationships among Organisms

Time: 12 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher explains the various types of relationships such as mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, predation, and competition, using charts and examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and identify examples from their local environment.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the types of relationships among organisms in the same habitat.

Step 3: Examples and Illustration

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher shows diagrams and food chain charts to illustrate interactions like predation and parasitism.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils draw simple diagrams in their notebooks and participate in identifying relationships.
Learning Point: Pupils visualize and represent the relationships among organisms.

Step 4: Importance of Relationships among Organisms

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher discusses the importance of these relationships for ecological balance and survival of species.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils give responses and examples of how relationships maintain balance in nature.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate the role of interactions in sustaining ecosystems.

Step 5: Note-Taking

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher dictates or writes the board summary for pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy notes into their exercise books.
Learning Point: Pupils record the main points of the lesson for revision.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define mutualism with an example.
Explain commensalism with one example.
What is predation? Give an example.
List two importance of relationships among organisms.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer the questions orally.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate their understanding of the lesson objectives.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher summarizes the key points and encourages pupils to observe relationships among organisms in their environment.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask questions where necessary.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their understanding of relationships among organisms.

Lesson Keywords

Mutualism – relationship where both organisms benefit
Commensalism – relationship where one benefits and the other is not affected
Parasitism – relationship where one benefits and the other is harmed
Predation – act of one organism killing and eating another
Competition – struggle between organisms for the same resources

Differentiation

Slower learners are supported with simple real-life examples while advanced learners are encouraged to give additional examples and illustrate with diagrams.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure pupils participate actively in discussions and group work. Use familiar local examples to make the topic more relatable. Monitor pupils during drawing activities for accuracy.