# Lesson Plan: Maintenance of Ornamental Plants
## Grade: Senior Secondary 2
## Subject: Agricultural Science
## Duration: One Week (5 Classes, 50 minutes each)
### Objective:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Understand the importance of maintaining ornamental plants.
2. Identify various ornamental plants commonly found in their region.
3. Demonstrate the basic techniques required for maintaining ornamental plants.
4. Develop a maintenance schedule for different types of ornamental plants.
### Materials:
- Whiteboard and markers
- PowerPoint presentation
- Handouts with images and descriptions of ornamental plants
- Gardening tools (pruning shears, watering cans, etc.)
- Potted ornamental plants for demonstration
- Internet access for research purpose
### Lesson Outline:
#### Day 1: Introduction to Ornamental Plants and Their Importance
1. **Warm-Up Activity (10 mins)**
- Ask students to share any ornamental plants they have at home and why they like them.
2. **Lecture and Discussion (20 mins)**
- Define ornamental plants.
- Discuss the importance of ornamental plants in landscaping, emotional well-being, and environmental benefits.
3. **PowerPoint Presentation (15 mins)**
- Display and explain various types of ornamental plants (flowering plants, foliage plants, succulents, etc.).
- Show images and videos of well-maintained ornamental gardens.
4. **Homework Assignment:**
- Research and prepare a brief report on five ornamental plants found in their locality. Include care requirements for each plant.
#### Day 2: Identification and Classification of Ornamental Plants
1. **Review of Homework (10 mins)**
- Discuss students' findings from their research.
2. **Group Activity (20 mins)**
- Divide students into groups and provide handouts with images and descriptions of different ornamental plants.
- Have students classify the plants into categories (flowering, foliage, etc.)
3. **Lecture and Notes (15 mins)**
- Provide information on how to identify ornamental plants based on their leaves, flowers, and growth patterns.
4. **Q&A Session (5 mins)**
#### Day 3: Techniques for Maintaining Ornamental Plants
1. **Warm-Up (5 mins)**
- Ask students what they think are the essential care techniques for ornamental plants.
2. **Lecture and Demonstration (20 mins)**
- Discuss and demonstrate various techniques:
- Watering
- Pruning
- Fertilization
- Pest control
- Mulching
3. **Hands-On Practice (20 mins)**
- Provide students with potted plants and gardening tools.
- Guide them through the basics of pruning and watering.
4. **Wrap-Up (5 mins)**
#### Day 4: Creating a Maintenance Schedule
1. **Review (5 mins)**
- Quick recap of Day 3 techniques.
2. **Lecture and Notes (10 mins)**
- Discuss the importance of a maintenance schedule.
- Elements of a good maintenance schedule (daily, weekly, monthly tasks).
3. **Group Activity (25 mins)**
- Groups create hypothetical maintenance schedules for different types of ornamental plants.
4. **Presentation and Feedback (10 mins)**
- Groups share their schedules with the class and receive feedback.
#### Day 5: Practical Application and Review
1. **Group Presentations (20 mins)**
- Groups present one chosen ornamental plant and its complete maintenance plan.
2. **Practical Workshop (20 mins)**
- Students perform actual maintenance tasks on the provided plants:
- Pruning
- Watering
- Checking soil pH
3. **Review and Q&A (10 mins)**
- Review key points from the week.
- Open floor for any questions or clarifications.
### Assessment:
- Participation in discussions and activities.
- Homework assignment on researching ornamental plants.
- Group projects (classification and maintenance schedule).
- Practical demonstration skills during hands-on practice.
### Homework/Extension Activity:
- Visit a local nursery or botanical garden and write a report on the maintenance practices observed.
### Resources:
- "The Complete Book of Plant Propagation" by Charles Heuser.
- Websites such as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and local agricultural extension services.
By integrating theoretical knowledge with practical skills and group activities, this lesson plan aims to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of how to maintain ornamental plants effectively in the students.