CURRICULUM
PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Plant and Soil Science is a year long course that provides students with opportunities to participate in a
variety of activities including laboratory work. Topics covered include: the taxonomy of plants, the
various plant components and their functions, plant growth, plant reproduction and propagation,
photosynthesis and respiration, environmental factors affecting plant growth, diseases and pests of
plants and their management, biotechnology, the basic components and types of soil, calculation of
fertilizer application rates and procedures for application, soil tillage and conservation, irrigation and
drainage, land measurement, cropping systems, precision agriculture, principles and benefits of global
positioning systems, harvesting, and career opportunities in the field of plant and soil science.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Students will understand how agriculturists use the Earth’s resources to meet human needs; food and clothing as
well as feed for domestic animals, and to promote a quality environment. Producing more plants and their
products is essential as the population continues to rise, planting improved crop varieties on fertile soil and
providing cultural practices to promote production are vital in today’s production agriculture.
INDIANA STATE STANDARDS
Students shall examine career opportunities in and the importance of plant and soil science.
Students shall use the basic principles of the taxonomic key.
Students shall use plant characteristics in a taxonomic key.
Students shall explore plant cell parts and functions.
Students shall explore plant parts and their functions.
Students shall investigate material movements in plants.
Students shall explore the environmental factors affecting plant growth.
Students shall analyze the germination of plants.
Students shall investigate plant reproduction.
Students shall explore energy synthesis and use in plants.
Students shall analyze the impact of other life forms on crop plants.
Students shall explore the processes involved in biotechnology in plant science.
Students shall investigate the various methods of land location and measurement using all appropriate
technologies.
Students shall investigate the physical properties of the soil.
Students shall investigate the tillage practices necessary to keep soil productive.
Students shall explore the management strategies required to keep soil productive.
Students shall examine soil and water relationships.
Students shall investigate the soil conservation practices necessary to keep soil productive.
Students shall analyze the impact of several factors on the selection of a cropping system and cultural
practices.
Students shall investigate the harvesting of crops in Indiana.
SHS Curriculum Guide
COURSE TITLE
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UNITS OF INSTRUCTION (STATE STANDARDS)
Part 1: Role of Plant and Soil Science
Part 2: Fundamentals of Plant Science
Part 3: Fundamentals of Soil Science
Part 4: Plant Pests
Part 5: Meeting Human Needs with plants
COURSE ASSESSMENTS
Daily Preparedness for Class
Reading Renaissance
Agriculture Notebook of Work
Projects
Homework
Labs
Quizzes
Tests
Research Projects
Final Exams
COURSE MATERIALS: MAJOR TEXTS, PRINCIPAL MATERIALS AND FILMS
KEY TEXTS:
Introduction to Plant and Soil Science and Technology second edition
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS:
ACTIVITY MANUAL FOR INTRODUCTION TO PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SECOND
EDITION
* Parents should contact the teacher or department chair to discuss concerns with texts. If required, the teacher will
provide a substitute text of comparable length that approximates the stated academic purpose. Selected essays, short
stories, poems and articles will be used to teachers to augment major units.
COMMERCIAL FILMS/VIDEOS:*
Teachers may select from the following:
*A parent may excuse his/her child from the viewing of a commercial film/video. The parent should contact the teacher or
Department Chair to discuss his/her concerns. The teacher will provide any excused student an alternative assignment
of comparable length that is relevant to the stated academic purpose.
SHS Curriculum Guide
COURSE TITLE
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