The New Senior Secondary
Curriculum for Sierra Leone
Subject syllabus for Agricultural Science
Subject stream: Science and Technologies
This subject syllabus is based on the National Curriculum
Framework for Senior Secondary Education. It was prepared
by national curriculum specialists and subject experts.
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum
Curriculum elements for Agricultural Science – a core subject
Subject Description
Agricultural sciences include sciences dealing with food and fibre production and processing. They include the technologies of soil cultivation, crop
cultivation and harvesting, animal production, and the processing of plant and animal products for human consumption and use.
Rationale for the inclusion of Agricultural Science in the Senior Secondary School Curriculum
Agricultural sciences cover a wide and complex area, extending far beyond the scope of this syllabus. This core syllabus focuses on those aspects
which are most commonly applicable to Senior Secondary School students in the context of Sierra Leone. Directly or indirectly, agriculture is
fundamental to the national and individual food security, nutrition and economy of all in the country. For this reason, it is appropriate that each pupil
has some grounding in the basics of Agricultural Science.
Subject content outline (Themes and topics to be covered)
SS1 Level
Introduction to Agricultural Science & Branches of Agricultural Science
• The meaning of agricultural science
• The main purpose of agricultural science
• Four types of agriculture
• Five main branches of agriculture
• The branches of agriculture: defining each branch
Major agricultural systems (subsistence and commercial)
• The three major types of subsistence agriculture
• Subsistence agriculture and commercial agriculture
• Three systems of agriculture
• A subsistence agriculture system
Definition of agricultural ecology
• Explaining the principle of agricultural ecology
• Explanations of an agro-ecological approach
• What agro-ecology is: a simple definition
• The five principles of agro-ecology
Definition of crop cultivation and harvesting
1
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum
• The meaning of ‘crop cultivation’
• ‘Harvesting’ and ‘cultivation’
SSS 2 Level
Definition of animal husbandry
• Some examples of animal husbandry
• Animal husbandry and its importance
• Animal husbandry practices
• Five animals commonly involved in animal husbandry
Post-harvesting challenges
• How to overcome post-harvest losses
• Four factors affecting post-harvest crops
• Post-harvest handling activities
• Post-harvest in agriculture
Definition of agricultural mechanisation
• The meaning of agricultural mechanisation
• The best definition of ‘mechanisation’
• Examples of agricultural mechanisation
• The benefits of agricultural mechanisation
Food processing and related processes/systems
• Seven types of food processing
• Five food processing methods
• Food processing systems
• Three examples of food processing
2
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum
SS3 Level
Selected ornamental, medicinal, and cash crop cultivation in Sierra Leone
• Definition of ornamental medicinal
• The meaning of ornamental horticulture
• What ‘ornamental’ means
• The difference between ornamental and medicinal plants
• Ornamental crops which are also medicinal
Forestry and sustainable forest management
• The key elements of sustainable forest management
• Sustainable forestry practices
• How forestry can be managed sustainably
• An example of sustainable forest management
Definition of anatomy and physiology of farm animals
• What farm ‘animal anatomy’ means
• The main objective of understanding the anatomy and physiology of farm animals
• The anatomy and physiology of common farm animals
• Distinguishing animal physiology from animal anatomy
Agricultural economics and marketing systems
• Marketing systems in agriculture
• Kinds of jobs you can get with an agricultural economics degree
• Careers in agricultural economics
• What an agricultural economist do does
3
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum
Structure of the Syllabus Over the Three Year Senior Secondary School Cycle
SSS 1 SSS 2 SSS 3
Term 1 Introduction to agricultural science Definition of animal husbandry Selected ornamental medicinal and
and branches of agricultural science • Examples of animal husbandry cash crop cultivation in Sierra Leone
• The meaning of ‘agricultural • Animal husbandry and its importance • Definition of ornamental medicinal
science’ • Animal husbandry practices • The meaning of ornamental
• The main purpose of agricultural • Five animals involved in animal horticulture
science husbandry • What ornamental means
• Four main types of agriculture Post-harvesting challenges • The difference between ornamental
• Five branches of agriculture • How to overcome post -harvest and medicinal plants
• Outlining the branches of losses • What ornamental crops are
agriculture and defining each • Four factors affecting post -harvest medicinal?
branch crops Forestry and sustainable forest
• A sixth branch of agriculture • Post-harvest handling activities management
Major agricultural systems • Post-harvest in agriculture • The key elements of sustainable
(subsistence and commercial) forest management
• Three major types of subsistence • Sustainable forestry practices
agriculture • How forestry can be managed
• What subsistence agriculture and sustainably
commercial agriculture are • An example of sustainable forest
• Three systems of agriculture management
• A subsistence agriculture system
Term 2 Definition of agricultural ecology Definition of agricultural mechanisation Definition of anatomy and physiology of
• Explaining the underlying • What is meant by agricultural farm animals
principle of agricultural ecology mechanisation • Farm animal anatomy
• Explanations of an agro- • The best definition for mechanisation • The main objective of understanding
ecological approach • Examples of agricultural the anatomy and physiology of farm
• Agro-ecology: a simple definition mechanisation animals
• Five component principles of • The benefits of agricultural • What ‘anatomy’ and ‘physiology’
agro-ecology mechanisation mean
• Animal physiology in relation to
animal anatomy
4
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum
Term 3 Definition of crop cultivation and Food processing and related Agricultural economics and marketing
harvesting processes/systems systems
• The meaning of ‘crop cultivation’ • Seven types of food processing • Marketing systems in agriculture
• Harvesting and cultivation • Five food processing methods • The kind of jobs you can get with an
• Food processing systems agricultural economics degree
• Three examples of food processing • Careers in agricultural economics
• What an agricultural economist does
5
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum
Teaching Syllabus
Senior Secondary Level 1
Topic/Theme/Unit Expected learning Recommended Suggested resources Assessment of learning
outcomes teaching methods outcomes
Topic 1: Introduction to By the end of this topic Brainstorming, direct Textbooks, internet, videos, Oral questions and answers,
Agricultural Science and pupils will be able to: instruction, questions and films, slides, revision research, short-answer
the branches of • Define agricultural answers, fieldtrips, guides, school garden, flip structured questions,
Agricultural Science science application of knowledge charts. formative assessments,
• State the various and understanding about summative assessments.
branches of Agricultural Science in
agricultural science. practical examples.
Topic 2: Major By the end of this topic Revision guides, Textbooks, internet, videos, Questions and answers,
agricultural systems pupils will be able to: brainstorming, questions films, slides, power point research, formative
(subsistence and • Know the two major and answers, fieldtrips, presentation, specific assessment,summative
commercial) agricultural systems – application of knowledge models, specific charts. assessment.
subsistence and about the different major
commercial agricultural farm systems.
• Recognise and
explain between the
two systems.
Topic 3: Agricultural By the end of this topic Revision guide, Textbooks, school garden, Questions and answers,
ecology pupils will be able to: brainstorming, field trips, internet, videos, films, short-answer structured
• Explain the term school yard and garden, slides, PowerPoint questions, formative
‘ecology’ as it is applying understanding of presentation. assessment, summative
applied to the field of agricultural ecology. assessment.
agriculture
• State various habitats
in which we can find
various species.
Topic 4: Crop cultivation By the end of this topic Brainstorming, questions Textbooks, internet, locally Questions and answers, long
and harvesting pupils will beable to: and answers, research, available materials, school essay questions, multiple-
6
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum
• Explain what videos, films, slides, garden, application of choice questions, group
cultivation power point presentation, knowledge and tasks, formative
• Describe what group work, using understanding. assessments, summative
harvesting is experts. assessments.
• Differentiate between
cultivation and
harvesting.
• Outline how the
processes work (i.e.,
cultivation and
harvesting).
7
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum
Senior Secondary Level 2
Topic/Theme/Unit Expected learning Recommended Suggested resources Assessment of learning
outcomes teaching methods outcomes
Topic 5: Animal By the end of this topic Brainstorming, questions Textbooks, internet, locally Oral questions and answers,
husbandry pupils will be able to and answers, research, available resources, school multiple-choice questions,
explain: hands-on activities, farm, videos, films, specific essay questions, formative
• The processes group-work, fieldtrips, models, specific charts. assessments and summative
involved in the videos, films,slides, assessments.
breeding of farm powerpoint presentation.
animals
• The basic process of
farming of livestock
• The process of caring
for farm animals
including cattle, dogs,
sheep and horses by
humans for
advantage.
Topic 6: Post-harvesting By the end of this topic, Brainstorming, research, Textbooks, internet, videos Questions and answers,
challenges pupils will be able to: questions and answers, clips, films and slides, group tasks, self-
• Identify challenges in fieldtrips, videos, films, PowerPoint presentation, assessment, research,
harvesting and offer slides, using experts, school garden, LCD practical work, formative
some solutions. application of knowledge projector, whiteboards. assessment, summative
and understanding. assessment.
Topic 7: Agricultural By the end of this topic Brainstorming, questions Textbooks, internet, locally Oral questions and answers,
mechanisation pupils will be able to and answers, research, available resources, school short answer questions,
describe: hands-on activities, group farm, videos, specific multiple choice questions,
• The production, work, field trips, videos, models, specific charts. formative assessment,
distribution and films, slides. summative assessment.
utilisation of a variety
of tools, machinery
8
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum
and equipment for the
development of
agricultural land,
planting, harvesting
and processing
• The main benefits of
mechanisation in the
agriculture industry
• The common types
of mechanisation.
Topic 8: Food By the end of this topic Brainstorming, questions Textbooks, internet, Questionsand answers,
processing and related pupils will be able to: and answers, research, PowerPoint presentation, research, open ended
processes and • Discuss the various hands-onactivities, videos clips, films and questions, formative
systems processes involved in practical application of slides, specific models, assessments,summative
food processing knowledgeand specific charts. assessments.
understanding about food
• State various
processing, videos, films
equipment required
and slides,direct
for the production of
instruction.
food.
9
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum
Senior Secondary Level 3
Topic/Theme/Unit Expected learning Recommended Suggested resources Assessment of learning
outcomes teaching methods outcomes
Topic 9: Selected By the end of this topic Brainstorming, application Textbooks, internet, local Oral questions and answers,
ornamental, medicinal pupils will beable to: of knowledgeand available resources, videos multiple-choice questions,
and ash crop • Identify plants that understanding, research, clips, specific models, easy questions, formative
cultivation in Sierra are ornamental, group work, field trips, specific charts. assessment, summative
Leone medicinal, and cash hands-on activities, assessment.
crops videos, films and slides.
• Describe how plants
are cultivated in
Sierra Leone.
Topic 10: Forestry By the end of this topic Brainstorming, Q&As, Textbooks, internet, local Questions and answers, oral,
and sustainable pupils will be able to: research, hands-on available resources, school short answer questions,
forest management • State some forestry activities, field trips, garden,video clips, specific multiple choice questions,
management videos, films, slides, models, specific charts. formative assessment,
practices needed to application of knowledge summative assessment.
ensure healthy and understanding in
forests practical work.
• Explain how forests
can be sustainably
managed.
• Outline strategies for
the sustainable use
of forests
• State key elements
of sustainable use
and management of
forests.
Topic 11: Anatomy and By the end of this topic Brainstorming, questions Textbooks, websites/internet, Oral and written questions
physiology of farm pupils will beable to: and answers,research, local available resources, and answers, multiple-choice
animals • Outline the benefits laboratory work, group video clips, specific models, questions, formative
of understanding the work, fieldtrips, videos, specific charts. assessment, summative
anatomy and films and slides. assessment.
10
Building Young Futures
MBSSE’s Senior Secondary School Curriculum
physiology of farm
animals
• Show basic
understanding of the
anatomy of farm
animals
• Explain the various
uses of farm
animals
• State characteristics
of some farm
animals.
Topic 12: Agricultural By the end of this topic Brainstorming, Q&A Textbooks, websites audio Oral and written questions
economics and pupils will be able to: sessions, small-scale clips, locally available and answers, multiple choice
marketing systems • Show they are local research, practical resources, video clips, questions, research,
familiar with and can activities, group work, specific models and charts. formative assessment,
apply basic principles field trips, videos, films summative assessment.
of agricultural and slides, application of
economics and knowledge and
marketing understanding in practical
tasks.
• Explain basic
agricultural
economics concepts
• Outline the work and
main functions of
economists.
11
