Virtual Field Trip: Aquaponics 101
Summary
Join EarthEcho International, 2017 EarthEcho Expeditions Fellow, Jim Trogdon, and Paul Brentlinger, CEO of CropKing Inc. as we learn all about aquaponics. We will review the history of aquaponics, explore how students can build an affordable system for your classroom, and discuss why aquaponics is so important for water conservation and a sustainable future of food production.
Panelists
Mr. Jim Trogdon:
After 25 years of teaching middle school science, Jim has found experiential learning to be the most successful educational environment. His students at Coventry Middle School in Akron, Ohio, work collaboratively with Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio State University’s Stone Lab Aquatic Research Center, The Wilds in Cumberland, OH and EarthEcho International. Part of their work in the field involves their own unique aquatic community as Coventry Middle School is surrounded by a group of glacial kettle lakes that provide water for industry, recreation, and a rich history as feeder lakes for the Ohio and Erie Canal. Jim and his students work year round with Ohio’s Division of Wildlife to build an appreciation for and to preserve this incredible natural resource.
Jim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science Education and Master’s degree in Outdoor and Environmental Education both from the University of Akron. He is thrilled and honored to be part of EarthEcho’s Leadership, Education, and Advisory Panel. He believes that “Today’s young people will be making crucial decisions concerning our planet’s health and EarthEcho is providing the tools and knowledge they will need to make good choices.” He is looking forward to sharing his experiences with other educators, as well as, working with and learning from educators throughout the country.
Mr. Paul Brentlinger
Paul Brentlinger is President of CropKing Inc., based out of Lodi, OH. He has extensive knowledge of growing high-quality food products and is a hydroponics and controlled environmental agriculture expert who has spoken at the University of Florida, Indoor-Ag Con, and a variety of other conferences. Having been in business for over 35 years, CropKing is the leader in commercial hydroponics and growing systems, with many techniques and practices applicable to a wide variety of crops. Under Paul’s leadership, CropKing manufactures hydroponic systems, distributes a variety of products and supports produce growers worldwide through technical services and education.
Classroom Resources
Aquaponics 101
In this curricular guide, middle school students learn about an alternative farming technique that addresses water use in agricultural farming, the environmental impacts of fish farms, and urban development and population growth. This guide promotes 21st-century skills by engaging students in the history of aquaponics through various texts; improving their communication skills by explaining how an aquaponics system works; and engineering your own classroom aquaponics unit through an interactive design challenge!
Classroom Resources:
- EarthEcho Expeditions: Water by Design - Aquaponics 101: A Guide to Understanding and Building Your Own Aquaponics System.
- EarthEcho Expeditions: Water by Design - Aquaponics Farm Visit
- EarthEcho Expeditions: Water by Design - STEM Career Close Up - Aquaponics Farmer and Chef Adam Navidi
- Crop King Inc.
Science Standards
NGSS STANDARDS :
MS-ESS3-2. Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems • Human activities have significantly altered the biosphere, sometimes damaging or destroying natural habitats and causing the extinction of other species. But changes to Earth’s environments can have different impacts (negative and positive) for different living things. • Typically as human populations and per-capita consumption of natural resources increase, so do the negative impacts on Earth unless the activities and technologies involved are engineered otherwise.
MS-ESS3-4. Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems.
Ocean Literacy Principles (OLP):
Principle 6: The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.
- The ocean affects every human life. It supplies freshwater (most rain comes from the ocean) and nearly all Earth’s oxygen. The ocean moderates the Earth’s climate influences our weather and affects human health.
- Everyone is responsible for caring for the ocean. The ocean sustains life on Earth and humans must live in ways that sustain the ocean. Individual and collective actions are needed to effectively manage ocean resources for all.