We run on a trimester system and began our third and final trimester of the year last week. This means I brought in a hand selected group of 7th graders to be our "experts" next year as 8th graders. (We are currently a 7-8th school but will be adding a 6th grade STEM program in the fall.) I am excited to bring in new students and they are all eager to learn so we shall see. Also, in preparation for the possibility of me not being employed at the school (currently part-time/temp) I have recruited a teacher to help me out and learn about caring for the system. She is a math teacher at the school and couldn't be more excited! She even wants to try and do something with aquaponics over the summer with her own kids.
So far I am surprised at how much the students aren't feeding the fish. I have a schedule up where any of the aquaponics students, teachers, or our special ed program can go, feed the fish, and write it down. They can be fed twice a day and if the box is full, you just don't feed them. So far only the aides are really taking students down to feed the fish. They love it and I'm VERY happy that the special ed program can also be a part of the system. I want to stress that this is a WHOLE school system, not just one group's.
For food we are feeding them fish food from a local farm supply store. I looked and looked for food that was a decent price, but also what they need for nutrients. TrophyFish Feed is what it is called. Is it perfect? I don't know, but they sure like it! It also is meant for sport fish so I assume it is alright to feed to fish meant for human consumption... The cheap stuff at the local pet supply chain store was not. But, the price I paid for 1.75 lbs of fish food at the pet store is more than the 25 lb bag of TrophyFish Feed. Sounds like a good price to me!
And, our fishies are growing rapidly! It is funny to watch them sometimes. They were raised in an aquarium where they could see students and know that people mean food so they come to say hi when you walk up to the tank even though our tank is not see-through. One is much paler than the others and keeps to itself in the bottom corner of the tank. When the others venture into it's territory it bullies them and chases them out. I wonder if this means we may have some baby fish soon? I did drop some extra pieces of 4" PVC (about a foot long) in the tank to give them some hiding spots in hopes that babies may show up soon.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Where to begin... the teachers?
So, I can write posts about various things if you would like, otherwise I'm just going to write about what is most recent with our system. It is already setup, plants were planted, and the fish were added last Wednesday. We had an issue with some temperature, but the heaters have been added and the fish finally ate and were active on Saturday!
This past week or two the topic came up of "we have this thing, now what?" Well, it was built for teachers to use it. If you build it they will come... right? Only, nobody's coming except to ask what it is and what is happening with it. Why are they not coming? Why are teachers not begging to find ways to use this AMAZING thing as part of their curriculum?
Turns out... they don't know what it is! If they do, they think it is a STEM program thing! Our school is piloting a STEM program alongside our CORE program. Some teachers are not as accepting of this idea, but the community is very accepting. So, they see that I built the system so it MUST be part of our STEM classes. Now, I work on the STEM team, but I teach only the CORE classes and the students working on it were hand selected from all of our team. I picked 20 students both STEM (4) and CORE (16) but it is in no way isolated to the STEM students.
So, where do we start? We have to educate the staff! Friday we are having some staff time where I will get to make a presentation to the entire staff about what the system is, how it works, and why we have it. Perhaps then they will begin thinking about how to incorporate it into classrooms?
Science is a given. There's tons of science that I see in the system but I have some issues with the other subject areas. Perhaps math can talk about the growth of plants? data from water tests? areas/volumes of the tanks/growbeds? Art can use it for drawing, inspiration, etc. But what about other classes? Any suggestions?
This past week or two the topic came up of "we have this thing, now what?" Well, it was built for teachers to use it. If you build it they will come... right? Only, nobody's coming except to ask what it is and what is happening with it. Why are they not coming? Why are teachers not begging to find ways to use this AMAZING thing as part of their curriculum?
Turns out... they don't know what it is! If they do, they think it is a STEM program thing! Our school is piloting a STEM program alongside our CORE program. Some teachers are not as accepting of this idea, but the community is very accepting. So, they see that I built the system so it MUST be part of our STEM classes. Now, I work on the STEM team, but I teach only the CORE classes and the students working on it were hand selected from all of our team. I picked 20 students both STEM (4) and CORE (16) but it is in no way isolated to the STEM students.
So, where do we start? We have to educate the staff! Friday we are having some staff time where I will get to make a presentation to the entire staff about what the system is, how it works, and why we have it. Perhaps then they will begin thinking about how to incorporate it into classrooms?
Science is a given. There's tons of science that I see in the system but I have some issues with the other subject areas. Perhaps math can talk about the growth of plants? data from water tests? areas/volumes of the tanks/growbeds? Art can use it for drawing, inspiration, etc. But what about other classes? Any suggestions?
How it Works & Setup Information
Here is some basic information that really helped in understanding how a system works and how to put one together.
This book is like a bible to me! Aquaponic Gardening: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Vegetables and Fish Together and it has an information website! Aquaponic Gardening
The other place to find good information is The Aquaponic Source
This book is like a bible to me! Aquaponic Gardening: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Vegetables and Fish Together and it has an information website! Aquaponic Gardening
The other place to find good information is The Aquaponic Source
Introduction Post
Hello Everyone!
I am currently an 8th grade science teacher who is passionate about aquaponics. There are many blogs out there that give lots of information about aquaponic systems, but nobody really has lessons and curriculum to go with them. This information is harder to find and you have to dig for it. Ideally this blog will become a place where I will gather those other blog posts and information and make them available.
Why would I do this you might ask...
Well, I had the pleasure of building a system at my school. With the permission to build it came the challenge of making it useful to the school... Not just science classes, not just our STEM program we are trying to get up and running, but EVERY class. How will we use it in every class? You will be a long for the ride if you follow along.
More about me: I went to school at the University of Hawaii-Manoa and was introduced to aquaponics when I was doing my student teaching. My mentor teacher, but more her students, did amazing things with their aquaponics system and school garden. They really emphasize sustainability and eating food that is healthy and safe. Since then, I have always wanted to teach at a school with an aquapoinic system. Last year I was at a small rural school and began designing a small setup with a 75 gal aquarium, but soon ran out of time. This year when given the opportunity I pounced!
Feel free to email me and/or comment to ask questions. Hopefully I can answer your question or direct you to somewhere to find the answer. I'm learning still, but want to compile the information I find to help others along the way.
I am currently an 8th grade science teacher who is passionate about aquaponics. There are many blogs out there that give lots of information about aquaponic systems, but nobody really has lessons and curriculum to go with them. This information is harder to find and you have to dig for it. Ideally this blog will become a place where I will gather those other blog posts and information and make them available.
Why would I do this you might ask...
Well, I had the pleasure of building a system at my school. With the permission to build it came the challenge of making it useful to the school... Not just science classes, not just our STEM program we are trying to get up and running, but EVERY class. How will we use it in every class? You will be a long for the ride if you follow along.
More about me: I went to school at the University of Hawaii-Manoa and was introduced to aquaponics when I was doing my student teaching. My mentor teacher, but more her students, did amazing things with their aquaponics system and school garden. They really emphasize sustainability and eating food that is healthy and safe. Since then, I have always wanted to teach at a school with an aquapoinic system. Last year I was at a small rural school and began designing a small setup with a 75 gal aquarium, but soon ran out of time. This year when given the opportunity I pounced!
Feel free to email me and/or comment to ask questions. Hopefully I can answer your question or direct you to somewhere to find the answer. I'm learning still, but want to compile the information I find to help others along the way.
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