OCG - Turf and Lawn Management

South Carolina Standards:  (List the standards students are expected to master in this course)

Unit A   Developing Leadership Skills in Agriculture

Lesson 1. Planning and Organizing an FFA Meeting

Student Learning Objectives:. Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Explain how to plan a meeting and develop the order of business.
2. Describe how to set up the meeting room.
3. Explain the parliamentary procedure used in an FFA meeting.

 

Lesson 2. Developing an Awareness for Your Community

Student Learning Objectives:. Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Describe the meaning and importance of community service.
2. List and identify community service organizations.
3. Explain how FFA members can be involved with community

    improvement and development.             

 

Lesson 3. State FFA Degree

Student Learning Objectives:. Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. List the requirements for the State FFA Degree.
2. Explain how a FFA member can obtain the State FFA Degree.

 

 

Unit B   Supervised Experience in Agriculture

                                    Lesson 1. Keeping and Using SAE Records

Student Learning Objectives: Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Explain how SAE records are organized.
2. Identify the procedures to making entries in the SAE records.
3. Explain how to summarize and analyze the SAE records.

 

                        Lesson 2. Making Long Range Plans for Expanding SAE Programs

Student Learning Objective: Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

:                                   1. Identify the factors that should be considered in expanding an  SAE program.

2. Explain how placement and ownership SAE programs may be expanded.

 

 

UNIT C         Lawn Care and Turf Production

Lesson 1—The Turfgrass Industry

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Define the basic turf terminology.
2. List and compare the four types of turf and their functions: lawns, golf courses, sports turf,

     and utility turf. 

3. List the two types of turf production: turfgrass sod and turfgrass seed production.
4. Discuss career opportunities in the turfgrass industry.

 

Lesson 2— Job Opportunities in the Lawn Care Business and the Benefits of Lawns

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. List and describe five job opportunities in the lawn care industry.
2. List and describe 10 necessary skills in the lawn care industry.
3. List and describe the four most common practices used to take care of a lawn.
4. List and describe the main benefits of lawns.
5. Become familiar with the professional lawn care organization: Professional Lawn Care

     Association of America and its web site: www.plcaa.org.

 

 

 

Lesson 3— Related Job Opportunities in the Lawn Care Industry

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Identify five related career opportunities in the lawn care industry.
2. Locate two articles about lawn care from magazines, newsletters, or Internet publications.
3. Identify and describe five supporting businesses for the lawn care industry.
4. Make a price list of five lawn care products after visiting a local store. The products can be

                                         lawn mowers, lawn fertilizers, sprinklers, or turfgrass  seed for lawn use.

5. Read the attached article " Diversify and Succeed".

 

 

UNIT D         Turfgrasses and Lawns

Lesson 1— Basic Turfgrass Morphology

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Identify the major parts of a typical turfgrass plant.
2. Describe the functions of leaves, roots, crown, inflorescence, stolons, and rhizomes
3. Be able to locate ligule, auricles, and collar regions

 

Lesson 2— Turfgrass Growth and the Environment

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Describe and draw the three growth habits of turfgrasses.
2. Identify and describe the functions of stolons and rhizomes.
3. List and describe the major factors affecting turfgrass growth.

 

Lesson 3—Warm-Season Turfgrasses and Southern Lawns

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Identify the five warm-season turfgrass species.
2. List important characteristics necessary for southern lawn turfgrasses.
3. Be able to rank the warm-season turfgrasses for their cold tolerance, leaf texture, mowing

                                         height tolerance, and shade tolerance.

 

Lesson 4— Cool Cool-Season Turfgrasses and Northern Lawns

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Identify the four major cool-season turfgrass species and their seeds.
2. Learn to describe the major characteristics of each of the four cool-season turfgrasses.
3. Understand the use of different cool-season turfgrasses.

 

Lesson 5— The Transition Lawns

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1.                           Identify the states in the Unites States falling in the transition zone (Lesson 6, Figure 1).
2. Investigate five lawns in the area and compare the lawn conditions.
3. Understand the strategies of maintaining lawns in the transition zone.

 

 

UNIT E         Lawn Care Practices

Lesson 1— Lawn Establishment and Renovation

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Explain the proper times to start a new lawn using both cool-season and warm-season

     turfgrasses.  

2. List the items necessary for establishing a new lawn.
3. List the steps needed for establishing or renovating a lawn.
4. Calculate a lawn area and the amount of seed and fertilizer needed for the lawn based on

                                                the information provided in the student sheet.

5. Use a rotary spreader and a drop spreader.

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 2— Mowing Lawns

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1.   List the three major benefits of mowing.
2. Describe why mowing does not kill turfgrasses.
3. Start a lawn mower.
4. Operate mowing safely.

 

Lesson 3— Fertilizing Lawns

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1.   Describe the types of fertilizers used on lawns.
2. List 13 nutrients required by turfgrasses.
3. Describe the basic lawn fertilization process.
4. Learn to calibrate and use a rotary spreader.

 

Lesson 4— Watering Lawns

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

                                    1,  Describe the two ways that a lawn loses water.

2. Explain the differences in the drought resistance of various turfgrasses.
3. Describe water-saving tips for lawns.
4. Measure ET losses of grasses.

 

Lesson 5— Managing Soil Compaction and Thatch Build up

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1.   List the reasons that cause soil compaction of a lawn.
2. Define the ideal soil composition by volume.
3. Describe the most effective soil cultivation methods.
4. List main reasons causing a lawn to have a thick thatch layer.
5. List the main methods used to control thatch.

 

UNIT F          Irrigation

Lesson 1— Laying Out an irrigation system

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. After being given the gallons per minute (GPM) flow rate, water pressure (PSI), and field

                                                  dimensions, the student will use a catalog to select the type and then determine

       the number of sprinklers necessary to water the entire area.

2. Using the above information, the student will make a scale drawing that clearly shows the

     following: 

- the location of the incoming water line.

- the dimensions and proportional size of the yard.

- the irrigation supply line connected to the

  incoming water line.

- the irrigation lateral lines.

- the location of the sprinklers on the laterals.

3. Give 4 reasons why you selected the sprinkler you chose.
4. Locate the main water line on the yard.
5. Layout with flags, tape measure, and/or auto level, the irrigation system.

 

Lesson 2— Planning for Lawn or Landscape Irrigation

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. determine what questions should be asked of the local utility companies and municipal

       authorities regarding home irrigation installation.

2.     visit the site and determine:

- flow rate of the water system

- pressure of the water system

- location of the water meter

- slope of the property

 

 

Lesson 3— Sketching the Layout

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1.    Visit a site and sketch a 2 dimensional layout of the property.
2. Take accurate measurements regarding size and location of beds, trees, shrubs, building,

       sidewalks, driveways etc.

2. Using the sketch and measurements, develop an accurate and clear layout of the site,

Showing all points that need consideration regarding the irrigation system

 

Lesson 4— Selecting the Irrigation System

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1.   Determine the best irrigation system for a given lawn or landscape.
2. Determine the number and type of sprinklers to use for complete coverage.
3. Give reasons for selecting a particular brand of system.
4. Give reasons for selecting the controller and sprinklers for the system.

 

Lesson 5— The Electrical System

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Connect the field wires to a valve solenoid following manufacturer’s specifications.
2. Connect 120 volt power to a low voltage transformer to operate a doorbell.
3. Connect a single pole light switch to a light to aid in understanding the flow of electricity.
4. Identify wire sizes by reading the plastic wire coatings.
5. Identify the U.L. on electrical supplies.

 

Lesson 6— The Plumbing System

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Cut pipe (of different types) to a specified length.
2. Properly join PVC pipe using the demonstrated solvent welding method.
3. Properly join PE pipe using PE pipe clamps or hose clamps.
4. Properly cut and thread galvanized steel pipe.
5. Properly cut and solder copper pipe.

 

Lesson 7— Programming an Irrigation Controller

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Program an irrigation controller to turn specified valves on and off at specified intervals.
2. Explain in detail how the field wires are connected to the controller, this includes the ground and the neutral.
3. Explain all the features of the controller and how each is programmed to work.
4. Demonstrate how to install the back up battery for the clock.
5. Demonstrate how to program the controller for calendar date, time of day and watering intervals.
6. Be able to explain their watering interval selection.

 

Lesson 8— Replacing the Irrigation Valve

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Locate the valves, carefully dig up the valve box, remove the valve (either by cutting it out if

     it is glued in place or by disassembly, if it is screwed together with threaded fittings).

3. Locate and carefully dig up valve boxes around valves that need to be replaced. Do this

without damage to surrounding pipe.

3. Remove the valve either by cutting it out if it is glued in place or by disassembly if it is  

       screwed together with threaded fittings.

4. Select correct valve for replacement.
5. Reinstall valve using PVC pipe and fittings.
6. Test valve with full water pressure (must have zero water leaks).
7. Replace valve box and smooth all disturbed soil.
8. Clean and return tools to their proper location.

 

 

 

 

UNIT G        Pest Management

Lesson 1— Lawn Weeds and Controls

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Identify two grassy weeds and five broadleaf weeds.
2. Describe the basic weed control used on lawns.
3. List three common types of herbicides used for lawn weed control.

 

Lesson 2— Lawn Diseases and Controls

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Identify five major turfgrass diseases: dollar spot, brown patch, pythium blight, snow molds,

     and spring dead spot

2. Describe the main disease control methods
3. Explain how to prevent turfgrass disease by cultural management
4. Describe the concept of pathological nematodes and control

 

Lesson 3— Turfgrass Insect Pests and Controls

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Describe the two major ways in which lawn insect pests attack turfgrasses.
2. Identify five insect species that are serious pests of turfgrasses.
3. Describe the life cycle and characteristics of major turf insects: white grubs, cut worms,

   . armyworms, chinch bugs, and mole crickets

4. Explain the main insect control methods.

 

 

UNIT H        Turfgrass Production

Lesson 1— Turfgrass Sod Production

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Describe the advantages of establishing a new lawn using sod.
2. List steps of normal sod production.
3. List suitable turfgrass species for sod production and explain why
4. List turfgrass species used for sod production.

 

Lesson 2— Turfgrass Seed Production

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Describe the importance of turfgrass seed production.
2. List main regions of seed production in our country.
3. List basic steps of turfgrass seed production.
4. Read and understand the seed label.

 

 

UNIT I          Turf Equipment and Maintenance

Lesson 1— How Small Engines Work

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1   Learn the basic components of small engines used on golf course equipment.

2. Explain the function of each of these components in two and four cycle engines.
3. List at least five (5) maintenance procedures recommended for these engines by

     the  manufacturer

 .

Lesson 2— Compare and Contrast Diesel and Gasoline Engines 

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Identify the basic components of a diesel engine used on golf course equipment.
2. Define the above terms as they relate to the proper functioning of a diesel engine.
3. Identify the correct maintenance procedures for diesel engines used on golf courses.
4. Identify six important differences between fuels and lubricants used in golf course diesel and

                                                 gasoline engines.

 

 

 

Lesson 3— Identification and Care of Hand Tools

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Make a selection of hand tools necessary to complete activities that are chosen by the

     teacher.

2. Demonstrate how to properly use each hand tool selected

     .                              3.  Demonstrate how to properly care and maintain each hand tool selected.

 

Lesson 4— Small Gasoline Engine Maintenance

Student Objectives,  Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Properly change the oil in a lawn mower or other small gasoline engine powered tool.
2. Properly service the air cleaner.
3. Clean fuel tank and fuel line.
4. Clean carburetor float bowl.
5. Replace the spark plug
6. Examine engine for loosened bolts or other parts such as the muffler and retighten.
7. Clean engine of all dirt and debris
8. Remove and sharpen the mower blades.

 

 

Unit J  Developing Communication Skills

Lesson 1—Introduction to Communication

Student Learning Objectives: Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Define communication and explain its purpose.
2. Identify the components of the communication process.
3. Identify the five different levels of communication.
4. Explain the barriers of successful communication.
5. Explain the relationship between communication and leadership.

 

Lesson 2—Organizing and Presenting a Persuasive Message

Student Learning Objectives: Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Explain the steps in preparing a persuasive message.
2. Describe delivery techniques in a persuasive message.

 

Lesson 3—Using Communication Skills In Appropriate Situations

Student Learning Objectives: Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Understand the role of communication skills in the workplace.
2. Understand how to present a problem to a supervisor.
3. Identify the techniques used in requesting information from a supervisor.
4. Explain the role of written communication in an agribusiness.

 

Unit K  Gaining Employment

Lesson 1—Developing Goals

Student Learning Objectives: Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Explain the process of goal setting.
2. Describe the terms and types of goals.
3. Explain some aspects of effective goals.

 

Lesson 2—Finding a Job

Student Learning Objectives. Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Describe information sources for job opportunities.
2. Develop a system to evaluate job openings.

 

 

Lesson 3—Applying for a Job

Student Learning Objectives. Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Explain how to research a job opportunity.
2. Describe two methods of applying for a job.
3. Identify the common types of information requested on a job application form..

 

Lesson 4—Writing a Résumé and Letter of Application

Student Learning Objectives. Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives:

1. Explain the purpose of a résumé.
2. List the main items that should be included in a résumé.
3. Describe the purpose of a letter of application and its primary elements.