Agricultural Science – Primary 5 (Third Term) Lesson Notes
Week 5: Management of Farm Animals (Feeding, Keeping Records, Sanitation)
Lesson Details
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Subject: Agricultural Science
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Class: Primary 5
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Term: Third Term
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Week: 5
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Topic: Management of Farm Animals – Feeding, Keeping Records, Sanitation
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Sub-topic: Tools and Techniques for Managing Farm Animals
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Duration: 40 minutes
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Age: 9 – 11 years
Behavioral Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
1️⃣ List tools used for managing farm animals.
2️⃣ Explain different methods of farm animal management.
3️⃣ Describe how to properly care for farm animals.
Key Words
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Management
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Sanitation
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Records
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Feeding
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Hooves
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Sterilization
Set Induction (Funny Classroom Interaction)
Teacher: “Who has ever taken care of a pet before?”
Tolu: “Me, ma! I have a dog, and I give it rice and stew every morning!”
Teacher: “Rice and stew? Your dog must be a Nigerian dog!” (Class laughs)
Aisha: “I had a chicken, but it ran away when my mum left the gate open!”
Teacher: “Oh no! Your chicken must have been looking for freedom.” (Class giggles)
Teacher: “Today, we will learn how to manage farm animals properly so they don’t run away like Aisha’s chicken or eat the wrong food like Tolu’s dog.”
Entry Behaviour
Pupils are already familiar with some farm animals and basic care, such as feeding chickens or giving water to goats.
Learning Resources & Materials
✔ Pictures of farm animals and their homes
✔ Sample tools (rope, notebook, bottle, thermometer)
✔ Videos of farmers managing animals
Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge
Teacher: “Last week, we learned about rearing chickens, rabbits, and snails. Who can remind us what we feed chickens?”
Emeka: “Ma, we give them grains like corn!”
Teacher: “Very good! But how do we know if a chicken is sick?”
Zainab: “It will look weak and not eat.”
Teacher: “Excellent! Today, we will learn how to manage farm animals by feeding them properly, keeping their records, and keeping them clean.”
Embedded Core Skills
✔ Critical Thinking – Pupils will discuss farm animal care techniques.
✔ Communication Skills – Pupils will describe their understanding of farm management.
✔ Creativity – Pupils will suggest ways to keep animals healthy.
Instructional Materials
A thermometer
A rope
A sample notebook for record-keeping
A water bottle for feeding medicine
Lesson Content
Tools for Managing Farm Animals
1️⃣ Thermometer – Used to check the body temperature of animals. If an animal has a fever, it might be sick.
2️⃣ Strip Cup – Helps dairy farmers check if milk is clean and free from disease.
3️⃣ Hoof Trimming Tools – Used to trim animal hooves so they don’t grow too long.
4️⃣ Glass Slides – Used by veterinarians to check animal blood for diseases.
5️⃣ Bandages and Clean Cloth – Used to treat wounds and broken legs.
6️⃣ Medicine Bottle – Used for giving medicine to sick animals.
7️⃣ Sterilization Container – A pot used to boil and sterilize farm tools to kill germs.
8️⃣ Sharp Knife or Scalpel – Used for farm procedures like castration.
9️⃣ Notebook and Pen – Used to keep farm records.
Rope – Used to tie animals or assist in difficult births.
Approaches to Farm Animal Management
1️⃣ Feeding
✔ Provide animals with a balanced diet (grains, grass, minerals, and water).
✔ Feed animals at the right time daily.
✔ Store animal feed properly to prevent contamination.
2️⃣ Keeping Records
✔ Write down when an animal gets sick and the treatment given.
✔ Record the number of animals on the farm.
✔ Track how much food the animals eat daily.
3️⃣ Sanitation
✔ Clean animal houses regularly to remove dirt and manure.
✔ Provide clean drinking water for animals.
✔ Disinfect tools and farm equipment to prevent disease spread.
Class Activity
Why do we need to manage farm animals properly?
Teacher: “What happens if we don’t take care of our animals?”
Musa: “They will run away like Aisha’s chicken!”
Teacher (laughing): “Not just that. They can also get sick and die.”
Why do farmers keep records of their animals?
Emeka: “So they don’t forget the names of their goats?”
Teacher: “Not really, Emeka. They keep records to know when an animal is sick, how much food is given, and how many animals they have.”
How do we know if an animal is sick?
Zainab: “It will look sad and stop playing.”
Teacher: “Yes, sick animals may also stop eating or have a fever.”
What do we use a thermometer for on a farm?
Aisha: “To check if the farmer is hot?”
Teacher (laughing): “No! It is for checking the temperature of animals to see if they have a fever.”
Why do we clean animal houses?
Tolu: “So they can have a fresh-smelling home like us!”
Teacher: “Yes! Clean houses keep animals healthy and free from diseases.”
Itemize the tools for farm animal management.
Musa: “Ropes, knives, and notebooks!”
Teacher: “Good start, but let’s add more. We also use a thermometer, strip cup, hoof trimming tools, medicine bottles, and sterilization containers.”
Describe four approaches to farm animal management.
Zainab: “Feeding them and keeping their homes clean?”
Teacher: “Yes! Proper feeding and sanitation are important. The other two are keeping records and preventing diseases.”
Explain the meaning of food contamination.
Emeka: “When food falls on the floor?”
Teacher: “That is one way food gets contaminated! Food contamination means when food is made unsafe by dirt, germs, or harmful chemicals.”
How can we identify food that is contaminated?
Aisha: “If it smells bad?”
Teacher: “Correct! We can also check for mold, unusual color, and insects in the food.”
What does ‘risk factor in food’ mean?
Tolu: “Is it when food is risky to eat?”
Teacher: “Yes, Tolu! A risk factor in food is anything that makes food unsafe, like poor storage or exposure to germs.”
Give three examples of risk factors in food.
Musa: “Dirty water, expired food, and dirty hands!”
Teacher: “Fantastic! Other examples include not cooking food properly and keeping raw and cooked food together.”
Assessment / Evaluation
1️⃣ List three tools used for farm animal management.
2️⃣ Why is it important to keep farm animals clean?
3️⃣ Explain why keeping records is useful on a farm.
4️⃣ What happens if we don’t feed farm animals properly?
5️⃣ How does a thermometer help in managing animals?
Conclusion
Teacher: “Today, we learned about feeding, keeping records, and maintaining sanitation on a farm. Who can tell me one important thing they learned?”
Musa: “I learned that farm animals need a clean house like us!”
Aisha: “I learned that a thermometer is for checking animal temperature, not the farmer’s!” (Class laughs)
Teacher: “Excellent! Now, go home and tell your parents what you learned today.”