Eco Agriculture for Kids

1. KEEP THE DREAM FOUNDATION | DAILY BREAD ORGANISATION
ECO-AGRICULTURE FOR KIDS
FACILITATED BY SOLOMON KGOLANE

2. CONTENTS
● UNDERSTANDING THE ENVIRONMENT
● STEPS TO PLANTING

3. UNDERSTANDING
THE ENVIRONMENT

4. NATURE - A CIRCLE OF LIFE
All living organisms (all living things) on earth need energy to survive -
plants, animals and humans.
All animals are dependent on each other for their survival e.g. herbivores
(animals that eat plants only such as grass and leaves e.g. cows) depend
on plants for their energy source. Carnivores (animals that eat meat e.g.
lions and cheetahs) depend on herbivores for their energy source.
This makes the food chain which is the foundation of survival for all
animals.
Humans also need plants and animals to survive - humans need plants for
oxygen and food, which gives us nutrients that help us grow e.g. fruits and
vegetables.
Plants also depend on humans and animals to breathe - when we breathe
in the oxygen from trees, we breathe out carbon dioxide. Trees breathe
carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. The trees need us and we need
the trees.

5. NATURE CONSERVATION - KEY FOR
SURVIVAL
Now that we know that animals, humans and plants need each other,
it is important to understand the importance of protecting the
environment and nature. We need to look after nature so it can look
after us and so that we can all survive and continue to live.
Conserving and protecting the environment can be done in ways you
can practise every day such as:
● Making sure you and your friends don’t litter - pollution makes
the soil and water dirty, which is not good for the trees, animals
and us
● Save water - when you are not using water, turn the tap off
● Recycle paper, plastic bottles and bags, glass and tins/cans
● Plant trees, crops (fruits and veggies) because more trees give
us life

6. Now that we know that animals and
humans survive on plants for food, how
do plants produce/make their own food?
Through photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the process by which
plant use sunlight to synthesise food from
carbon dioxide and water.
Photo means light
Synthesis means produce or to make

7. HOW DOES PHOTOSYNTHESIS WORK?
LIGHT FROM THE SUN
WATER AND MINERALS
ABSORBED THROUGH ROOTS
CARBON DIOXIDE FROM
THE ATMOSPHERE
*humans also breathe out
carbon dioxide
**carbon dioxide can kill the
earth if we kill all the trees
and don't plant more and
more trees.
CHLOROPHYLL IN
LEAVES - a green
pigment present in
leaves.
*Leaves play an important role in a plant's life. Leaves have small pores called stomata which are used for air
intake. Photosynthesis is important for life on earth, because during photosynthesis carbon dioxide is taken as
input and oxygen is released into the atmosphere. Oxygen is needed by all organisms on earth to breathe and
live.

8. PLANT LIFE CYCLE
Before you can start planting, it is important
to understand the plant life cycle.
The plant life cycle consists of four stages:
1. Seed
2. Sprout
3. Small Plant/Seedling
4. Adult Plant
When the seed gets planted into the soil
with water and sun, then it will start to grow
into a small sprout.

9. LET’S GET
PLANTING

10. PREPARING THE BEDS
Learners Bedding Activity
● Use rakes and shovels, to
clear grass and weeds.
● Set the grass aside for
possible compost later.
● Consider double-digging i.e.
Dig until you see top soil.
● The soil should be free of
● rocks, weeds, grass or roots.
SELECTING A SITE IN
THE GARDEN WITH THE
LEARNERS
MARKING OFF THE SITE
DIGGING UP THE DIRT
TO GET IT READY FOR
PLANTING

11. SOIL SCIENCE
You must examine the soil to see its quality
before planting. We only want to plant in
healthy soil.
Learners Soil Activity
● Examine the soil and feel it between
fingers.
● Check the color if it is orange and
slick or if it is sandy and thin or if it is
rich and dark .
● If they are earth worms wriggling in
the dirt that is a good indication
because, worms are a good indicator
that your soil has lots of rich organic
matter in it, and that’s good news for
plants!

12. SOIL PREPARATION
Learners Soil Preparation Activity
● Use garden rakes and
● Work 2 to 3 inches of organic material like
compost and mulch into their garden soil.

13. TIME TO PLANT
The bed is ready to plant. Now comes the
fun part – choosing seeds and/or plants.
*Beware of over-planting, because it is a
common mistake first-timers often make.

14. THANK YOU!
Keep The Dream Foundation | Daily Bread Organisation
E: charmaine@charitydailybread.org
C: 064 151 1638