We have 5 lessons for each grade K-5. All five lessons are designed to be taught together as a one week module and each module is aligned with an Essential Standard for Science.

Developed in partnership with the Kenan Fellows Program at North Carolina State University, this open-source curriculum can be used within the school year, after-school, or as a summer program. Students development of innovative blog posts, experience creating different nutritious recipes and foods to try at home, develop knowledge of growing and maintaining an aquaponics system, produce and perform an engaging speech through a mock “Ted Talk.” Students receive a certificate of completion.

We have (3) 2-day lab activities for Earth and Environmental Science, each lab aligns with an Essential Standard.

Day 1: Lesson focused on vocabulary and a Case Study to drive scientific comprehension.
Day 2: Lab/ Experiment in the Greenhouse. This is a worksheet-based lab report (Honors/ AP can differentiate by following up with a full lab report activity). Additional differentiation can be made for ELS, EC, and OCS students.

Students who enroll in the Entrepreneurship CTE class(es) get real-world experience in operating a business. The Aquaponics Lab grows both fish and vegetables in a sustainable way. The fish provide fertilizer for the vegetables through their waste, and the vegetables remove excess nutrients from the water, making it safer for the fish.

In addition to learning the science required to operate an aquaponics system, students also track inventory, create cropping schedules, work in teams, complete daily standard operating procedures, write invoices, and sell produce directly to restaurants. Through this experience, students develop job skills, work ethic, and communication skills. Beyond Entrepreneurship CTE, the Aquaponics Lab can be utilized by various other CTE classes such as Culinary CTE and Horticulture CTE.

Our 10 module Aquaponics Training Course offers a practical and easy-to-understand approach to learning how to operate an aquaponics facility. Training starts in the greenhouse and is reinforced in the classroom. Students complete the course after they have passed the assessments on all 10 modules and have completed 100 hours of greenhouse operations.