Lesson VOC 70
Task: Remove weeds with a hoe.
Prerequisites: ADT 3, COG 11, VOC 5
Concept: This activity can relate to a variety of gardening, landscaping, or even farming types of work settings. The use of a hoe should be gentle so as to not disturb the nearby plants that need to be maintained. The overall action is a gentle chopping motion with a slight pulling of the weed toward the user. The most teachable moment for the total task is during a seasonal period where this task is useful; however, the fundamental actions of Steps 1 through 4 can be practiced at any time.
Behavioral Objective: When directed by a "supervisor," the student will use a hoe to remove weeds, while not harming desired plants, from a garden area to a 90% accuracy level for 20 trials.
Materials: Two hoes, plastic bags, and a garden spot where weeding will need to be performed.
Task Analysis:
1. Escort the student to the location where the hoe is kept. Continue this step until the student can go to this storage area and retrieve a hoe upon only a verbal request.
2. Prompt the student to hold the hoe in a manner that will allow for the ability to use it effectively.
3. With both yourself and the student holding a hoe, use motor imitation to teach the gentle chopping motion that is needed to break up the soil around a weed.
4. Continue Step 3, adding a forward pulling motion after the soil has been broken up.
5. Verbally guide the student in retrieving a weed that has been dug up and placing it in a plastic trash bag.
6. Continue Step 5 for an identified area. Demonstrate and then prompt the student to discard the plastic trash bag with the weeds in an appropriate receptacle.
7. Combine the concepts of Steps 1 through 6 into one total-task verbal request.