Leading the way in sustainable education, EtonHouse International School Broadrick is the first school in Singapore to house its very own aquaponics project. This innovative farming method combines aquaculture and hydroponics and is free from soil, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, making it an environmentally-friendly way to grow fresh produce.
Working in collaboration with V-Plus Agritech, a Singapore-based company that empowers individuals and communities in smart and sustainable farming, the whole school community has been actively involved in the project. From discussions with school chefs on what crops to grow to participation in the harvesting process, students join the V-Plus team to learn more about caring for plants during growth and how to harvest them safely. Pre-school children are also part of the planting process and have learned about the parts of a plant from their teachers and the V-Plus team.
The aquaponics project has additionally provided practical STEAM lessons to students, an essential part of EtonHouse Broadrick’s education approach. By working across several disciplines concurrently, students are exposed to real-world situations that make learning more engaging and relatable. For example, students learn about engineering principles of how the designs and parts come together to make the farm work sustainably and effectively, then try designing their own farms. Recently, as part of a STEAM challenge, students designed “Bird Repellers” made of recycled materials to protect the farm from local birdlife, where they applied the technology and science concepts they learned in school.
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