Introduction to Medicinal Plants and Flowers

oVERVIEW

INSTRUCTOR:

UNIT:

LESSON: Introduction to Medicinal Plants and Flowers

IMS REFERENCE:#

Lesson Plan

LESSON OBJECTIVES

The student will be able to:

  • Identify medicinal uses of plants utilized in Costa Rica;
  • Identify alternative benefits of plants utilized in Costa Rica;
  • Describe the key principles of organic farming;
  • Explain Costa Rica’s current trends in agriculture
Key Terms
  • Medicinal
  • Pest
  • Plantain
  • Pollinator

TEACHING MATERIALS & RESOURCES

  • Introduction to Medicinal Plants and Flowers PowerPoint
  • Class Notes for Introduction to Medicinal Plants and Flowers
  • Topic Test and Key for Introduction to Medicinal Plants and Flowers

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS RESOURCES

  • Introduction to Medicinal Plants and Flowers Video

TEACHING PROCEDURES

PREPARATION

Key Points / Methods
Link/Motivation:
Ask the students if they have ever been bitten by mosquitos or been sick. Ask if they have ever used some type of spray to get rid of mosquitos or pests, and also ask them if they have ever had to take medicine to help cure an illness. Explain to them that in today’s lesson, we will discuss various plants that can be used as pest deterrents, as well as some other plants than can act as medicine to help cure some illnesses.
Overview:
In this lesson, the students will:
  • Identify medicinal uses of plants utilized in Costa Rica;
  • Identify alternative benefits of plants utilized in Costa Rica;
  • Describe the key principles of organic farming;
  • Explain Costa Rica’s current trends in agriculture
/ Teacher Led Discussion
Review of Objectives

PRESENTATION

Key Points / Methods
Introduction
-Costa Rica is a warm, temperate climate
  • Soil is very fertile
  • Annual rainfall of 12 feet
-Irrigation systems have been successfully implemented
  • Water made available to the more arid regions
-Costa Rican Agriculture
  • Accounts for more than 15% of the GDP
  • Employs 20% of the labor force
  • Approximately 10% of land is dedicated to agricultural production
  • Accounts for nearly 60% of all exports leaving the country
Organic Farming
-Places emphasis on preserving the environment
-Avoids use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers
-Overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the United States
-Benefits
  • Premium prices for products
  • Protection of natural resources
  • Support of local economies
  • Access to funding and assistance programs
  • Access to local and international markets
-Organic Principles
  • Integration of enterprises
  • All aspects of the farm will work together and be integrated within each other
  • What is done in one area of the farm will directly affect other areas
  • Natural Pest management
  • Steps taken to deter pests without using synthetic pesticides
  • Imitates natural ecosystem
  • Management practices are key to successful pest management
  • Natural Plant Nutrition
  • Minimize synthetic inputs
  • Practices focus on imitating the natural ecosystem
  • The return of nutrients to the soil via natural processes
  • Management practices are key to successfully make nutrients available in the soil for long periods of time
  • Integrity
  • Organic farmer must take action to assure their customer is getting what they pay for
  • Farmer must make sure their products are raised according to standards of organic production
  • Farmer must also guarantee their products will not be contaminated by non-organic products
- / PowerPoint Slide #2-3
PowerPoint Slide #4-8

APPLICATION

Key Points / Methods
Medicinal Uses and Additional Benefits of Plants
-Utilize the Introduction to Medicinal Plants and Flowers Video. / Supplemental Video

EVALUATION/ SUMMARY

Key Points / Methods
Complete Topic Test for Introduction to Medicinal Plants and Flowers / Worksheet

references/ Additional matierials

Available: [2015, May 4]

Available: [2015, May 14]

Hellmuth, N. M. (2014). Tageteserecta, marigold flower as flavoring, dye source and as flor de Muerto also a sacred plant.[Online]. Available: tropical-agriculture-spice-flavoring-colorant-food-dye-guatemala-mexico-belize/marigold- flowers-yellow-dye-tagetes-erecta.php [2015, May 14]

Kuepper, G., & Gegner, L. (2004).Organic Crop Production Overview: Fundamentals of sustainable agriculture.National Sustainable Information Service.[Online]. Available:

USDA (2015).[Online]. Available: agriculture.html

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