# RB-362

SAEP ACTIVITIES FOR HORTICULTURAL PLANT PRODUCTION

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This publication contains a partial listing of potential SAEP activities that can be used 10 enhance learning. Plan, seek approvlll of, and verify the activities with the teacher of agricultural science and technology.

A. Knowledge of the Employabi lity Characteristics of a Successful Worker in the Modern Workplace

• Search the Internet for careers in the horticultural plant industry and repon findings to the class.

• Select a title of a career in the horticultural plant production industry, Research and prepare a written repon on the career title as to job avail abil ity, salary, educational requirements, work duties, working conditions, and career advancement.

• Report on general trends in the horticultural plant production industry. Include labor efficiency, costs of equipment, equipment utilization, average bid efficiency, and overhead/transportation costs.

• Tour a horticultural related business in the community. Report on the type of business and the clientele it serves.

• Attend a college "career day." Collect informati on and report on types of career preparation programs offered by the college.

• Write for various career materia ls available from public institutions and private businesses. Label and file the collection of occupational and career materials.

• Write to five colleges or universities seeking information on degree programs offered in horticulture.

• Research and report on international careers in horticulture.

• Write a newspaper article to help publicize the importance of career planning to young people in the community. Secure the services of the journalism teacher to assist in publishing the article in the school or local newspaper.

• Research and report on record keeping systems used in hort icultural related enterprises.

• Develop plans for a Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAEP).

• Develop a computer-generated budget for a specific SAEP.

• Write an article for the school or local newspaper featuring an SAEP.

• Prepare a special Supervised Agricultural Experience Program public relations activity during National FFA Week.

• Prepare and produce an Agriscience Department I FFA exhibit for public viewing.

• Train for and participate in a horticulture related career development event.

• Train for and participate in a leadersh ip development event. ~ I ~

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• Complete applications for awards in agriculturelhorticulture.

• Compile a professional portfolio showing all honors, awards, and work experiences in agricu!ture!horticu!ture.

• Organize and present a workshop on horticultural plant production to a school or civ ic group.

• Develop an agricultural science department li brary file and/or personal file of career preparation materials.

• List the types of horti cultural·related businesses in the community. Interview employees of the businesses to di scuss their jobs. What level of education is needed for the different positions in each business?

• Interview a professional in the horticultural plant production industry and report on career and employment opportunities in horticultural plant producti on.

• Work for a day in a horti cultural plant production operation.

• Complete a professional cert ificati on course related to horticultu re.

• Complete an app li cation for ajob related 10 agriculturelhorticulture.

• Prepare a personal resume.

• Prepare a letter of applicati on for em ployment.

• Prepare for a job interview. Conduct and videotape a mock interview. Allow the teacher or another student to serve as the interviewer.

• Interview a horticultural plant grower or manager and report on wage verification, labor efficiency, equipment usage/depreciation, and cost records.

• Prepare and distribute Agriscience Department I FFA newsletters in the school and community.

• Interview a past recipient of the State FF A Degree and describe characteristics of hi s/her sllccessful SAEPs.

• Obtain parental input o n an individual SAEP.

• Serve as an officer or as a committee member of an agricu ltu rallhorticuhural organ ization.

• Prepare a li st o f horticultural occupations that involve using mathematics, researching, identifying plants, speaking to groups, working outdoors, working indoors, using computers, using mechanical equipment, improv ing the environ ment, working with other people, etc.

• Prepare a display that illustrates different careers related to agriCUlture or horticulture.

• Discuss career opportunities in horticultural plant production with a school counselor.

• Complete a career interest survey.

• Analyze the records of a horticu ltural plant production operat ion and assess labor efficiency, equipment costs, profit/loss, etc .

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• Record times, costs, labor requirements, and equipment usage for growing a greenhouse or nursery crop.

• For an FFA meeting, host a speaker from a landscape related business to discuss trends in the industry.

• Review SAEP records of former agriscience students.

• Conduct exercises in completing financial "expense and income" sheets for an agricultural/horticultural enterpri se.

Other Approved Activities:

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B. Classify and Identify Plants Used in Horticulturall'lant Production

• Develop a card file for ten horti cultural plants (include pictures, sc ientific and common names, and other information for each plant).

• Collect and mount ten different hort icultural plant leaves (label with species, variety, and cultivar names).

• Us ing note cards and an ink stamp pad, prepare ink imprints of leaves from ten different horticultural plants.

• Develop a taxonomic key for identifying ten different shrubs and/or trees.

• Identify five different horticultural plants or trees in the community with the use of a taxonomic key.

• Develop a computer database for identifying and selecting horticu ltural plants based on thei r characteristi cs.

• Tour a nursery and identify various plants in stock.

• Collect and di splay illustrations, photographs, and literature on new varieties and cultivars of horti cu ltural plants.

• Prepare a report on the origin , uses, cultural requirements, and identification characterist ics of a plant produced in the horti cu ltural industry.

Other Approved Activities:

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C. Recognize Plant Propagation Techniques Related to Horticultural Plant Production

• Root ten horti cultural plant cuttings in several different rooting media. Record the length of time it takes for the cunings to root and the number, average length , and quality of roots produced.

• Research and compile a li st of products (food or non-food) deri ved from horticultural plant seeds and/or seed by-products.

• Prepare dried/pressed flower specimens from ten different horticultural plants. - 3 -

• Prepare a display showing the differences between woody and herbaceous stems.

• Prepare a display showing differences between complete and incomplete flowers.

• Germinate seeds from five annual and five perennial horti cultural plants. Transplant the seedlings when they reach the proper size.

• Compi le a collection of ten different horti cultural plant seeds. For each seed in the collecti on, identify the name of the plant from which it came.

• Collect ten different specimens of modified roots, stems, and leaves of horticuhural plants.

• Acquire seeds of five monoco! and fi ve dicot horticultural plants. Carefully di ssect the seeds, make sketches, and identify and label the various structures.

• Set up an experiment that will demonstrate a plant process such as photosynthesis, transpi ration, respiration, or translocat ion.

• Sel up an experiment to determine the effect planting depth has on horticultural plant seed germinat ion.

• Design an experi ment to determine seed gennination percentages of different horticultural plams.

• Conduct an experiment to show the effects seed strat ificati on and scarification have on seed germination for different horticultural plants.

• Perform an experi ment to show the effects moisture, temperature, and/or light have on seed germination for different hort icultura l plants.

• Conduct an experiment to show differences in germination between monocot and dicot horticultural plant seeds. Record daily observations.

• Propagate five different horticultural plants using layering techniques.

• Propagate five different horticultural plants using tissue cultu re techniques.

• Propagate five different horticultural plan ts using division and separation techniques.

• Propagate five different horticultural plants using budding and graft ing techniques.

• Propagate five different horticultural plants from stem, leaf, and rooL cuttings.

• Prepare five microscope slides showing various types of plant cell s.

• Cross-pollinate two similar types of flowering plants.

• Demonstrate proper seeding techniques used in horticultural plant production.

• Compile a li st of information provided on the labels of various horticultural plant seed packets. Compare the informati on.

Other Approved Activities:

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D. Identify Structures and Equipment Used in Horticultural Plant Production

• Set up a display showing the various types of pouing containers used in hortjcuhural plant production.

• Prepare a display showing the different types of greenhouse struclUres.

• Design a plan for constructing a production greenhouse. Calculate the requirements for cooling, ventilation, and heating. Using a horticultural supply catalog, determine the type, size, and amount of equipment needed for satisfyi ng the cooling, ventilation, and heating requirements.

• Assist with the construction of a greenhouse, co ldframe, or hotbed.

• Develop and use an inventory system for tools and equipment that are maintained and stored in a greenhouse or nursery.

• Tour a commercial greenhouse or nursery and observe the types of maintenance necessary for structures and equipment.

• Interview a greenhouse or nursery owner to discuss proper procedures in maintaining large power equipment.

• For five types of greenhouse environmental control equipment, make a chart showing maintenance act ivities to be performed periodically.

• Determine the demographics (physical, environmental, economic, and personal factors) for constructing a production greenhouse on a selected site.

• Contact a supplier concerning types of structures and construct ion materials for greenhouses. Report findings.

• Construct a greenhouse model to scalc.

• Demonstrate the proper handling. operation, maintenance, and storage of a hand tool or small power tool used in horticultural plant production.

• Develop a maintenance schedule for hand tools, small power tools, and large power equipment used in a greenhouse or nursery.

• Build a storage area for tools and equipment used in a greenhouse or nursery.

• Sharpen the cutt ing edges of three different horticultural hand tools.

Other Approved Activities:

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E. Apply Safe Work Practices in Horticultural Plant Production

• Enroll in and satisfactorily complete a first-aid course.

• Design and build a safe, efficient storage rack, cabinet, etc. for storing tools.

• Prepare a safe storage area for all chemicals used in a greenhouse or nursery.

• Construct a chart of ten common chemicals used in the greenhouse or nursery. Include storage. disposal. and safety precautions during use.

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• Interview a greenhouse or nursery owner concern ing safety practices for application, storage, and disposal of chemicals.

• Interview the crew supervisor of a horticultural plant production operation and record everyday safety precautions that the crew employs on the job.

• Interv iew an electrician and report on electrical safety practices to observe III a greenhouse or nursery.

• Demonstrate five personal safety practices to use when working with horticultural chemicals, tools, and equipment.

• Construct five safety signs for use in a greenhouse or nursery.

• Present a program on first-aid procedures used on poisoned victims.

• Request information from the Poison Control Center on safe use and storage of horticultural chemicals and on applyi ng first-aid to poisoned victims. Display received infonnation on the bullet in board.

Other Approved Activities:

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F. Recognize the Requirements for Growing Horticultural Plants

• Steril ize soil media using either heat or chemical methods. Record the procedures and safety precautions for the method used.

• Produce a crop of fo liage plants. Start the crop from cutti ngs taken from stock plants. Make a production schedule for the crop and keep a daily record of production acti viti es for the crop.

• Prepare a compost pile. For three weeks, keep daily records of the temperature wi thin the compost. Observe the time it takes for composting to be complete.

• Grow simi lar horticultural plants in steri li zed media and in unsterilized media. Record the health and vigor of the plan ts grown in each trial.

• Grow similar horticultural plants in containers of fie ld soi l and in containers of soi lless media. Through the course of several weeks, observe and record the growth and health of the plants.

• Clean and steri lize the tools and equipme nt used in the greenhouse or nu rsery.

• Calcu late the bulk density, porosity, and water holding capacity for a field soi l sample and a soi lless media sample. Compare the results.

• Set up an experiment to demonstrate the effect that fertilizer concentration has on horticultural plant growth.

• Interv iew the manager of a production nursery. Make a record of the various types of activities that are involved in nursery crop product ion.

• Tour a commercial horticultural operation that mixes its growing media. Observe how the media is mi xed and the materials incorporated into the mixture.

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• Secure and send a soil , plant tissue, or water sample to a testing laboratory. Interpret the results and recommendations of the test analysis.

• Research laws that regulate pesticide use in horticultural plant production.

• Prepare a specialty plant horticultural specimen (for example, hanging basket, IVy on totem pole, dish garden, terrarium, and bonsai).

• Prepare a plan for a production fie ld for growing nursery stock. Indicate the size of the field, spacing between plants and rows, and the number of plants to be planted in the field.

• Prepare a collection of ten insects. Label each insect wi th its common and sc ientifi c names. Label each insect as harmful or beneficial to horti cultural plant production.

• Maintain a record of watering, fertili zing, pruning. and transplanting for nursery stock grown in the field or in con tainers.

• Develop and prepare a horticultural plant growing medium using various organic and inorganic components. Record why each component was selected and what purpose it wi ll serve in the growing medium.

• Develop a production schedule for a nowering greenhouse crop.

• Demonstrate the effec ts that over-watering and under-watering have on horticultural plant growth.

• Collect samples of five different mulching materials used in horticulture. Record whether they are organic or inorganic.

• Collect samples of five different growing media components.

• Collect five specimens of diseased horticultural plants and identify the di sease-causing pathogens.

• Collect and prepare dried, pressed specimens of five different weeds found in your area. Label each specimen with its common and sc ientific names.

• "Ball and burlap" a tree or shrub.

• Usi ng a pH meter and a conducti vi ty meter, determine the pH and soluble salts levels in a sample of growing medium and in a sample of water.

Other Approved Activi ti es:

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G. Identify and Manage the Environmental Conditions Required in Horticultural Plant Production

• Visit a producti on greenhouse and observe the methods used to control greenhouse environment.

• Set up an experiment to determi ne the effects that light duration has on horticultural plant growth responses.

• Set up a demonstration to explain the "greenhouse effect."

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• Keep a log of the dai ly maximum and minimum temperatures recorded inside a greenhouse and outdoors for one month.

• Install a greenhouse heating or cooling unit.

• Discuss ideal growing conditions for five different types of horti cu ltural plants (for example, Easter lilies, poinsettias, and chrysanthemums).

• Apply shade to a greenhouse.

Other Approved Activities:

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H. Develop Crop Scheduling and Marketing Techniques Related to Horticultural Plant Production

• Research and report on the influence of horticulture on world trade.

• Develop a plan for establi shing a retail or wholesa le horticulture business.

• Assist in organizing a horticultural plant sale. Select plants, establ ish prices, and advert ise through the school and loca l media.

• Interview a greenhouse or nursery manager concern ing marketing techniques.

• Interview a florist concerning the seasonal demand of flowers.

• Report on advan tages and disadvantages of growing holiday plants as related to marketing and profitability.

• Identi fy the different types of horticultural businesses in you r area.

• Contact a horticulture wholesaler concerning different shipping techniques.

• Collect catalogs from horticu ltural supply companies and report on vari ous marketing strategies of the companies.

• Design a marketing slogan for a horticu ltu re business. Explain the slogan.

Other Approved Acti vities:

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• July 2002 editi on

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