Last December, Jeff Verkaik's fifth-graders at Zinser Elementary said they had never heard of hydroponics, nor were they sure how plants could grow without soil. Known for his passion for plants, Verkaik introduced hydroponic and aquaponic growing systems to his students. He said they saw the opportunity for project-based learning and took full ownership of it.
A group of 15 fifth-graders banded together with parent volunteers, overseen by their teacher for three after-school meetings, to build a structure to house a fish tank, water carrying system and several kinds of plants in Zinser's extended learning area.
Fifth-grader Mia Van Koevering said she went from thinking "aqua-what?" to being able to explain how an aquaponics system works. "I learned a lot from this project and now I'm totally obsessed with (hydroponics)," she said.
Mia's classmate Skylar Antvelink said the project was a lot of work, "but really fun and it turned out really well."
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