Seventh-grade students are getting a chance to reap what they sow with a hands-on lesson in hydroponics at Southern Local Jr. High School.
Teacher Amanda Wrobleski's science classroom became a veritable greenhouse this past winter as she and her pupils cultivated dozens of butterhead lettuce plants with equipment she procured last year. In February, they planted seeds in rockwool cubes made from heated basalt rock and placed them in the hydroponics system, which provides distilled water and liquid nutrients to help the seeds grow. The students then separated the rockwool and grew plants in rows, plus they were responsible for monitoring pH levels and cleaning the 30-gallon reservoir located at the base of the tank. Healthy plants grew as a result and the class got a chance to consume the produce on March 31 during their farm-to-table venture, "Lettuce for Lunch."
Wrobleski, who has an interest in gardening, began the project last year because it could be completed year-round inside the classroom. She received a $660 Best Practices Grant from the Jefferson County Educational Service Center and further financial help from the school district to defray costs for the equipment, which was purchased from CropKing of Lodi, Ohio.
"Through the hydroponics project, students are introduced to a sustainable way of living–soilless growing! They practice checking the pH levels of the nutrient solution and know how it affects plant growth in a hands-on learning experience," she said. "Once the butterhead lettuce reaches maturity, it is harvested and the seventh-grade classes have a 'Lettuce for Lunch' celebration."
Read more at The Review