Class: Primary 4
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 5
Age: 9 years
Duration: 40 minutes
Subject: Pre-Vocational Studies
Curriculum Theme: Agricultural Science
Previous Lesson: Causes of Soil Fertility Reduction: Burning
Topic: Causes of Soil Fertility Reduction: Overgrazing and Leaching
Content: Overgrazing and Leaching

Performance Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain: Explain the meaning of overgrazing and leaching and how they reduce soil fertility.
Affective Domain: Appreciate the need for sustainable farming practices to prevent soil degradation.
Psychomotor Domain: Illustrate how overgrazing and leaching affect the soil using a diagram.
Social Domain: Discuss with peers how to prevent soil fertility loss in their environment.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum, Abuja
Educational Resource Centre Scheme of Work
NAPPS National Unified Scheme of Work
Online information from: Wikipedia – Overgrazing
Relevant textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing effects of overgrazing and leaching
A small jar of water and soil for demonstration
Illustrative diagrams of soil erosion
Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding overgrazing and leaching helps pupils recognize harmful agricultural practices and the importance of sustainable farming for environmental preservation.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have prior knowledge of soil fertility and how burning affects it from the last lesson.

Instructional Procedures

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

Content Development	Time	Teaching Method	Teaching Strategy	Teacher’s Activity	Pupils’ Activity	Learning Point
Step 1: Introduction	5 mins	Set induction	Question and answer	Asks pupils what they remember about soil fertility and burning as a cause of soil fertility reduction.	Respond to questions based on prior knowledge.	Pupils recall their understanding of soil fertility reduction.
Step 2: Overgrazing	10 mins	Explanation	Interactive discussion	Explains overgrazing as excessive feeding of animals on the same land and how it leads to soil depletion.	Listen actively and ask questions for clarification.	Pupils understand the concept of overgrazing and its effects on soil fertility.
Step 3: Leaching	10 mins	Demonstration	Visual aids	Demonstrates how water removes nutrients from the soil (using soil and water jar). Explains leaching.	Observe the demonstration and note how leaching affects soil.	Pupils visualize and grasp how leaching removes nutrients from the soil.
Note-taking	5 mins	Guided writing	Reinforcement	Guides pupils in copying short notes from the board.	Copy the notes into their notebooks.	Pupils have a concise record of the causes of soil fertility reduction.
Step 4: Evaluation	5 mins	Questioning	Oral discussion	Asks questions to assess understanding of overgrazing and leaching.	Answer questions to demonstrate their understanding.	Pupils’ comprehension of the topic is evaluated and clarified where needed.
Step 5: Conclusion	5 mins	Summary	Review and recap	Summarizes key points and highlights the importance of sustainable farming.	Listen and ask final questions if needed.	Pupils consolidate their learning and understand the relevance of preventing soil degradation.

Lesson Content

Causes of Soil Fertility Reduction: Overgrazing and Leaching

Soil fertility reduction means the loss of essential nutrients in the soil, making it difficult for plants to grow well.

Overgrazing:
Overgrazing happens when animals graze too much on the same piece of land without giving it time to recover. This removes plant cover, leaving the soil exposed to erosion.
Leaching:
Leaching occurs when rainwater washes nutrients deep into the soil, making them unavailable for plants to use. This weakens the soil’s fertility over time.

Lesson Evaluation

To evaluate the learning, the teacher asks pupils to:

Define overgrazing and leaching.
Explain how overgrazing leads to soil fertility reduction.
Describe how leaching removes nutrients from the soil.
Suggest two ways to prevent overgrazing and leaching in agriculture.

Note for Teachers Using This Lesson Plan

Ensure to use the demonstration effectively to make leaching more relatable. Encourage pupils to ask questions and share ideas on how to conserve soil fertility. Happy teaching!

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Causes Of Soil Fertility Reduction: Overgrazing And Leaching (Primary 4)