- - AGRICULTURAL CORE CURRICULUM - - (CLF300) Core Area: PLANT SCIENCE (CLF310) Unit Title: BASIC BOTANY ____________________________________________________________________________ (CLF313) Topic: IMPORTANCE OF Time Taught in Year(s) PLANTS TO MAN 1 hour 1 ____________________________________________________________________________ Topic Objectives: Upon completion of this lesson the student will be able to: Learning Outcome #: (A-2) - List necessities of mans life that are furnished by plants. Special Materials and Equipment: None. Evaluation: Written test or quiz. TOPIC PRESENTATION: IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS TO MAN A. Plants are important to man in many ways. 1. Plants provide oxygen to animals. A lawn of 4,000 sq. feet provides enough oxygen for a family of five. Plants in the world forests, rangelands and the tropical rain forest provide oxygen globally. 2. Plants are a source (usually the first) of food for animals (including man) in the food chain. a) The plants are the first to change elemental energy (like minerals and sunlight) into a form which more complicated organisms can digest. 3. Plants provide fiber which is manufactured into fabric and clothing. 4. Plants can be used to produce shelter, fencing, roofing materials and other building materials. 5. Plants also produce many by-products such as turpentine, dyes, resin, mulch, decorative bark, etc. 6. Plants can be used to modify the environment by providing: a) shade, b) windbreaks, c) erosion control protection for watershed, d) noise control, e) reduction of glare, f) beautification, g) production of nitrogen in legumes to enrich the soil,.and h) plants act as settling chambers for particulate pollution. (Particles of pollution taken from the air.) 7. Plants provide many medicinal products such as penicillin and digitalis. ___________________________________________________________ ACTIVITY: Have the students collect newspaper articles about plant uses and summarize them through an oral report to the class. ___________________________________________________________ 12/20/88 gfv/sg