Content

This course will cover practical investigation skills and research into the effect of Agriculture and Horticulture on the environment.

As part of the investigations students will use the school garden and visits to local farms to develop skills and knowledge. Class trip/s will be to a range of farms / primary producers, for example:
• Dairy Farm
• Goat farm
• Chicken/egg farm
• Apiary
• Horticulture - avocado, kiwifruit, berries.

In their examination of Primary Production / Agriculture and Horticulture, students will consider different aspects of the Environment, for example:
• Air
• Soil
• Water
• Living organisms

Students will have opportunities to look at the impact of Agriculture and Horticulture on aspects of the Environment. This could include the effect practices such as composting, fertilisers and sprays, the use of machinery, the effect of animals and clearing land, have on the environment.

The importance of soils will be the focus for the practical investigation. This can be presented by the students in groups and will focus on a particular primary producer, examining the impact of production on each aspect of the environment.