In this lesson, students will learn about the specific needs of plants, design a rainwater irrigation system and test the effectiveness of the system. A standard plot of garden plants will be exposed to the rain water delivery systems designed by students. Students will then measure the growth of their plants irrigated by different systems.

By 2050, it’s estimated that 80 percent of the world’s 9.2 billion population will live in urban areas. In this lesson students will gain an understanding of what a seed needs in order to grow into a healthy plant, and what a vertical farm is by comparing and contrasting this method of food production with conven-tional farming methods. Students will design their own rubric; research best practices; create blueprints; and modify and build a working model of an indoor vertical hydroponic farm through collaborative efforts using recycled materials. This closed system should last six or more months, which allows students time for reflection, entertainment and a healthy snack.

Students will use a greenhouse to germinate seeds and grow plants to better understand the science and dynamics of a greenhouse. For schools without greenhouses students will research, design and create a cost analysis of building a greenhouse at school.

Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are a very hot topic, but how much do you really know about the science be-hind them? Through science, farmers have been able to reduce the amount of pesticides used, increase yields and improve flavor. This lesson will explore what a GMO is and why we are using them in today’s agriculture.

GMO informational website: www.GMOanswers.com

This lesson and associated experiments will introduce students to the reasons why irrigation is needed to feed the world and the different types of irrigation being used.

Students will evaluate their meal selections, determine the caloric content and evaluate eating and exercise options to maintain a healthy weight.

USDA’s “Nutrient Database” will be the focus of research to identify which foods contain necessary nutrients and which foods grown in the garden are most nutrient dense or will meet specific nutritional needs.

Students explore the meaning of essential nutrients, using periodic tables to compare the elements that are essential to people and plants. Students make predictions as to where in the environment plants obtain each of their essential elements.

This lesson is a sensory exploration of the herbs and spices that create food scents and flavors with a mystery twist- geographic and cultural examination. Herb growing in the garden will be encouraged. Students will be asked to explore antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that herbs provide.

Using a WebQuest, students will research foods grown in Florida and nutritional requirements of different age groups to determine if survival consuming only foods from Florida is possible.