Aquaponics
Welcome to the River Eves Aquaponics Lab!
Aquaponics is an innovative, self-sustaining ecosystem that combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil). In this closed-loop system, fish waste provides natural nutrients to grow fresh plants. In return, the plants filter and purify the water, creating a clean environment for the fish to thrive.
As a certified STEM school, our Aquaponics Lab serves as a premier hands-on learning environment, bringing education to life. This living lab allows students to tackle real-world environmental challenges, connect concepts across content areas, and practice environmental stewardship and conservation while applying our Engineering Design Model (EDM).
Aquaponics Across the Grades
Our students use the lab to gather real data and explore various Science concepts at every grade level:
Kindergarten: Explore: physical attributes of Earth materials, living vs. non-living things and organisms’ attributes
1st Grade: Study: needs of plants and animals, plant structures and growth habits
2nd Grade: Investigate: essential needs of growing plants and life cycles of plants and animals
3rd Grade: Analyze: attributes of plants, animals, and habitats, animal adaptations, aquatic habitats, impact of water on environments, soil-free environments, and life in unique ecosystems
4th Grade: Examine: water cycle, flow of energy through and changes in an ecosystem, and roles of organisms in an ecosystem
5th Grade: Inspect: plant and animal classification, inherited vs. acquired characteristics of organisms, plant and animal cellular structures, genetics, and beneficial vs. harmful bacteria
Deepening Our Learning
The Aquaponics Lab provides students with opportunities for advanced and hands-on inquiry in Science as well as cross-curricular learning. Students use design thinking to explore and apply multiple concepts across Science disciplines: Life, Physical, and Earth Science.
Funded by contributions and donations to the River Eves Educational Foundation.
