Growing plants with hydroponics. Incubating eggs in preparation for chicks to hatch. Comparing growth rates of plants grown in greenhouses and other planting sources.
Sounds like the work of an agricultural scientist, doesn’t it?
Actually, these — and many other important tasks — are all assignments SIS students accomplished this year as part of a multi-disciplinary school project which culminated with a large-scale student-run Garden Market.
“The overall goal was for students to learn how much time and effort it takes to grow food and get eggs,” Dr. Lisa Stovall said. “I wanted kids to learn how hard farmers work to get food to tables. I also wanted the kids to have FUN!”
All students at SIS were a part of this large-scale project. Fifth graders who are also a part of the Jr. FFA program planted seeds — several varieties of vegetables and herbs using hydroponic systems and small greenhouses which were purchased by Principal Sara Staley using donated funds from various sources (including the Sunnyvale Education Foundation).
“We observed the differences in growth in different planting sources,” Stovall said. “Greenhouses and hydroponics were placed in the main hallway by the office so the whole school could observe. Other pots of plants were placed in teachers’ rooms who had good windows and light sources. Jr. FFA kids watered and took care of plants throughout the school.”
Chicks were hatched and raised in all three SIS pods using incubators and brooder boxes (also purchased by Staley using donated funds). Students applied learning standards in Math and Science as they hatched the chicks.
“In Science, we really tapped into the life cycle of our chicks and plants,” Stovall said. “We also learned about the membrane of the egg and how it sometimes gets in the way of the chick getting out of the egg. The incubators were put in science classrooms so that kids could watch the chicks hatch. In Math, we used probability to calculate how many chicks would hatch and of those how many would be roosters. We also observed and how tired the chicks are when they finally hatch.”
The ultimate goal of this long-term project was to create a Garden Market at SIS. Students sold their chicks, eggs, vegetables and herbs along with some homemade salse (made by Dr. Stovall and Mrs. Turnipseed) and made a grand total of $400! The funds will go right back into next year’s project account. Dr. Stovall thinks it’s a win for students on many levels.
“Kids don’t get to see the food they eat, being grown or raised because all they have to do is go to the store…and now food is even delivered,” Stovall said. “I think students need to experience growing things, raising animals, seeing things die, seeing things struggle, and even having to restart. This is what makes us have more awareness of the world around us.”