THE EARTH STEWARDSHIP PROJECT
The Earth
Stewardship Project is a cross-disciplinary project-based scientific endeavor
that addresses concepts in physics, chemistry, biology and environmental
science. This project provides students
with the opportunity to develop 21st century skills and abilities
and the self-efficacy to confront complex multidisciplinary challenges as both
problem solvers and as innovators.
The genius
of the Earth Stewardship Project stems from years of research and design of new
educational pedagogy that most effectively addresses the learning of concepts
in science. This new project involves student
research and experimentation into the physical and chemical conditions
necessary to optimize plant growth while utilizing natural organic fertilizers
and carbon-free sources of energy. The
goal of the project is to find the best means by which to produce organically
grown herbs and vegetables. A number of
innovative methodologies will be investigated by students conducting
experiments during this year-long project.
The essential components of the project are the following: Developing hydroponics plant systems, designing
aquaponic fish- plant systems, creating multiple greenhouse plant production
units and cultivating the production of vermicompost from worm farms.
Students
will be involved in the physical and chemical alteration of plant growing
mediums. Scientific measurements of soil
densities, moisture content, pH, nutrient concentrations, and plant vitality
will help to frame the desired plant growth process. The objective of the project is for the
students to discover optimal growing conditions that will maximize the overall
garden productivity. Throughout this
long-term scientific research project students will be in consultation with
plant experts, experiment with new ideas to increase plant vitality, collect
data, analysis results, write conclusions, design prototype models and publish
their findings.
The Earth
Stewardship Project challenges students initial understanding that they bring
to the classroom in chemistry, physics and biology, but it goes further
emphasizing the need to test and design more productive plant systems. Students will focus upon critical factors
that influence plant growth. This process
of doing science requires applying researched ideas into the development of new
prototype designs that contribute to plant growth and vitality.
From the
genius as an isolated classroom science project, the Earth Stewardship Project
will grow to have influence upon the entire school building community. Besides the direct hands-on learning aspect
of this project in the science classroom, it can influence curricula in math,
business and the language arts as these students are asked to contribute their
skills and abilities to help support the project. This rippling effect is influential upon
other academic disciplines and will be an important contributing factor to
establishing a culture of inquiry
within the school creating an institution of learning.
1 comment:
Great Idea !!!
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