TOPIC: DAMAGE CAUSED BY HARMFUL INSECTS
A: TEACHING AND LEARNING MATERIALS
- Pictures of damaged leaves.
- Damaged fruits.
- Pictures of spoiled grains.
- Insect charts.
- Flashcards.
B: REFERENCE MATERIALS
- Scheme of work.
- Recommended Agric Sciences textbook for Primary 2.
- Online educational resources.
C: PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE
The pupils can identify harmful farm insects such as grasshoppers, caterpillars, weevils and beetles.
D: PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
- Mention damage caused by harmful insects.
- Explain how insects damage leaves.
- Explain how insects damage fruits and stems.
- State how insects damage stored grains.
- State the effect of insect damage on farmers.
E: CONTENT
Damage to Leaves
Harmful insects may:
- Eat leaves.
- Make holes in leaves.
- Destroy young leaves.
When many leaves are destroyed, plants may not grow well.
Damage to Stems
Some insects may bore into or damage plant stems. This can make plants weak.
Damage to Fruits
Insects may:
- make holes in fruits
- eat parts of fruits
- spoil fruits
Damage to Stored Grains
Weevils and some beetles may attack stored:
- maize
- rice
- beans
They make holes in the grains and reduce their quality.
Effects on Farmers
Harmful insects can:
- Reduce harvest.
- Spoil food.
- Reduce the farmer’s income.
- Cause food wastage.
F: LESSON PRESENTATION
F1: Teachers’ Activities
- Displays pictures of damaged crops.
- Explains how insects cause the damage.
- Shows examples of affected grains where available.
- Explains the effects on farmers.
- Asks pupils to identify types of damage.
F2: Pupils’ Activities
- Observe damaged crops.
- Describe the damage.
- Mention insects that may cause damage.
- State effects on farmers.
- Answer questions.
G: CONCLUSION
The teacher summarizes the different ways harmful insects damage crops and stored produce and explains why farmers need to control them.
H: EVALUATION GUIDE
Pupils should be able to answer the following questions:
- Mention three types of damage caused by insects.
- How can insects damage leaves?
- How can insects damage fruits?
- Which farm produce can weevils attack?
- State two effects of insect damage on farmers.