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    Essential Reading

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    The broad strokes of the Edible Learning Lab Program.

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    A guide to help teachers visualize their edible education program.

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    Learn how to turn your farm into an edible classroom.

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  • Lessons

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    Beginner Lessons

    The Beginner Lessons form the foundation with a sound overview of the core concepts of food production.

    Intermediate Lessons

    The Intermediate Lessons allow students to experiment and prove the core concepts.

    Advanced Lessons

    The Advanced Lessons give students an opportunity to apply what they've learned in the previous levels.

    Lessons By Station

    Seed Starting Curriculum

    Soil Management Curriculum

    Vermiculture Curriculum

    Hydroponics Curriculum

    Composting Curriculum

    Water Management Curriculum

    Seed Saving Curriculum

    Teaching Kitchen Curriculum

  • Blog

    Our Top Posts

    What is a Food Desert?

    Gain insight into food deserts, the communities they impact, and how edible education may offer a solution.

    The Difference Between Rainwater and Tap Water

    Not all water is created equal especially when we're talking about the health and development of plants and people.

    Why Rain is Important

    Rain or the lack of an adequate supply can have profound effects on farming and the communities that rely on the harvest.

    Anatomy of a Seed

    It all begins with a seed and this article dives deep into the 5 primary parts of the seed that make it all possible.

Thirst Quencher

Thirst Quencher

Drinks for All My Friends
Lesson: 2.3
Level:
Intermediate
Station: Soil Management
Format: Class Project
Rating:
Intermediate Lesson 2.3 Thirst Quencher

Lesson Overview

Watering can be a tedious task and in the flagship Edible Learning Lab we have students perform that function by hand. This lesson explores the design of a flood table and tasks students with crafting a new and improved version.

Goals

  • Students will be able to describe how an automated watering system functions.

Outcomes

Students will analyze the design of Bright Agrotech’s Flood Table in order to design a better timed watering system for the Lab.

Teach the Teacher

  • When to Water Plants
  • Bright Agrotech DIY Flood Table

Tools & Materials

  • CAD program or grid paper
  • Pencil
  • Scale or ruler
  • SMART Board

Activity

From day one in the flagship Edible Learning Lab we decided that the process of watering starts each day would be managed by the students. It’s important for students to learn how to be responsible, develop fine motor skills, and use hands-on observation to assess just how much water the young starts need.

The plants in our Lab have been watered every single day since September 2016 and that task can get old for even the most engaged students. It doesn’t take long to water a table of 500 starts but who doesn’t like automation. Right!

There are several designs in use today for watering tables that make the daily process of watering starts a no-brainer. Check out the timed watering system for flats created by the BA flood table (Additional Resource). What could be improved? Is there a way to build it for less?

Design a timed watering system for your Lab’s seed starting station that will automatically water plants when you’re out of school. Draft a design as a first step, and then build it out for operational use.

Related Lessons

Give the Advanced lesson a try now that you’ve completed the Intermediate Lesson! Or revisit the Beginner Lesson as needed.

This lesson, and all other lessons on this website, are intended for use by teachers in the classroom. These lessons are protected by US and International copyright laws. Reproduction or distribution of lesson content, supporting materials, or digital creative is prohibited with written permission from Modern Steader LLC.

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