NEW Project ESC@ESC: Hydroponics: Introduction to Hydroponics

Your class will be excited to explore our innovative hydroponics unit! As students are introduced to the world of hydroponics, they will learn to maintain a hydroponics system and build knowledge of plant biology. Students participate in hands-on, authentic scientific inquiry and investigate real-world applications of this cutting-edge technology. Students extend this activity as they research how hydroponics can influence our environment, our economy, and the well-being of humankind. Hydroponics is a far-reaching and fascinating topic with many facets to investigate and explore.  Knowing instructional time varies widely from classroom to classroom, we have designed this unit to be scalable and to accommodate teachers' schedules.

Aside from Project ECS@ESC's Introduction to Hydroponics Unit, GESC offers partnership opportunities for schools in its state-of-the-art Hydroponics Learning Lab. Hydroponic technology allows plants to grow in a nutrient rich solution without soil. Learners set up and maintain the Wicking hydroponics systems.

GESC also offers long-term research programs from seed to harvest: students germinate seeds, maintain plants, harvest and eat the plants. The GESC greenhouse contains four systems, these include Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), aquaponics, aeroponics, and vine-crop systems. There is a strong focus on data collection and analysis of plant growth. Students analyze water chemistry including pH, nitrate-nitrogen levels, dissolved oxygen, and dissolved carbon dioxide. Learners also have the opportunity to design a research project by changing a variable and comparing their results.