This project aims to cultivate students' understanding of how hydroponics can contribute to food sustainability, while exploring the interconnectedness of Earth's water cycle. Through hands-on construction and monitoring of individual hydroponic systems, students will directly engage with scientific principles and sustainable agriculture concepts. The experience is designed to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and communicative skills as students engage with peers, teachers, and community members, connecting their learning to real-world contexts.
Learning goals
This project aims to deepen students’ understanding of hydroponic systems as a model for sustainability, emphasizing the connection to Earth's water cycle powered by sunlight and gravity. Through hands-on engagement, students will enhance competencies in critical thinking, self-directed learning, and effective communication, aligning with Next Generation Science Standards. Students will develop scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills while building personal connections to sustainability practices. Simultaneously, they will grow academically and personally by reflecting on and improving their work through structured feedback and iterative design processes.
Standards
[Next Generation Science Standards] MS-ESS2-4 - Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
Competencies
Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
Products
Students will create small-scale hydroponic systems that reflect Earth's water cycle. They will focus on sustainability by growing fresh produce, maintaining and optimizing their setups throughout the project. The systems will serve as evidence of their learning about complex environmental interactions and their capacity to innovate solutions for real-world challenges. By the end of the project, students will have developed a detailed model of their system, allowing them to present their findings to peers and community members during the Hydroponic Science Fair.
Launch
Kick off the project with a 'Sustainability Challenge Workshop,' where students collaboratively engage in hands-on challenges related to real-world hydroponic system issues, such as optimizing water distribution and sunlight capture. This workshop fosters teamwork and critical thinking, encouraging students to creatively approach the design and construction of their own hydroponic systems. Students will start building connections between the project and the Earth's water cycle, setting the stage for further exploration and discovery over the course of the project.
Exhibition
At the Hydroponic Science Fair, students will exhibit their completed hydroponic systems to peers, families, and community members. Each student or group will demonstrate their system in action and explain its design, the challenges faced, and how it reflects the Earth's water cycle. The exhibition will include interactive question-and-answer sessions where visitors can learn more about the sustainability of hydroponics and connect with the students' real-world applications. This event enables students to showcase their communication skills and share their insights and achievements from the project.
