Our Sustainable Selves – Pine Hill Middle School teachers are capturing student interest in alternative forms of gardening through the study of aquaponics. Students are learning the importance of alternative farming methods to create a self-sustaining home, of eating and preparing healthy foods, and of successful ways to run a business.
The aquaponics project is located in Amanda Thistle-Natalie’s classroom. The classes learn the difference between heterotrophic and autotrophic organisms. They also learn about nutrient cycling, and they measure levels of plant growth, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.