Towards the end of the first semester, Mr. Alido was made aware of a grant through the North Dakota Department of Agriculture for a hydroponic garden from Laura Hinrichs "Miss Lady". He applied for the grant and was notified on January 5th that Mott-Regent would be receiving the garden. Planting started in mid-February using sponges. After about two weeks, the plants were transplanted to the hydroponic system.
According to Mr. Alido, the hydroponics project aims to integrate hands-on learning with sustainable agricultural practices across multiple grade levels.
During the first cycle, canola plants and lettuce were successfully grown and cultivated using the hydroponic system. High School students from Biology and Environmental Science actively participated.
The Biology class utilized the canola plants to support the study of photosynthesis, plant structure and function, vascular tissues in stems and roots, and pollen grains collected from canola flowers.
The lettuce plants were used in Environmental Science class for a comparative study between soil-grown and hydroponically grown plants. This activity helped students understand the importance of nutrient solutions in plant growth and light as a factor in photosynthesis.
On March 25, the 5th Grade students visited the Science Laboratory as part of and outreach and experiential learning activity. During the visit, students observed the hydroponic tower system in operation, examined canola plant specimens and focused on pollen grains located in the anther and pistil, and they participated in hands-on planting of lettuce and basil seeds using sponge media. This activity marked the second cycle of the hydroponics project. This experience enhanced student engagement and introduced younger learners to basic concepts in plant biology and sustainable farming.
Mr. Alido recommends we continue to expand the hydroponics project to include more plant varieties, integrate additional data collection activities for student research, provide more opportunities for cross-grade collaboration and lab visits, and provide hydroponics plants in every classroom of the Elementary to encourage students hands on learning in Science.
