Teachers TryScience

Lesson 1: Vertical Farming

1. Anticipatory Activity - Show images of conventional a farm and a vertical farm.  Without giving students any information, have them study the images and complete the See-Think-Wonder worksheet.
2. Discuss responses to the See-Think-Wonder

• This can be done as a whole class discussion, or students can discuss their responses in groups/pairs.

3. Show students film about vertical farming
4. Discuss the benefits and challenges of vertical farming.

• This can be done as a whole class discussion, or students can discuss their responses in groups or pairs.

Lesson 2: Design Challenge – Design A Skyscraper Farm
Design Challenge Protocol

1. Introduce Challenge: Introduce the design challenge including the materials that they will have to work with and the constraints of the challenge.
2.  Brainstorm: Give student teams the opportunity to brainstorm ideas. They should record their brainstorm on chart/butcher paper.
3. Drawing: Have students create a labeled drawing of the solution that they will use. Encourage students to be as detailed as possible in their drawings, with labels and dimensions. Final design should be put on butcher/chart paper.
4. Design: Give student teams materials to create their design.
5. Test #1: Students test their design to ensure that it meets all criteria stated in the challenge.
6. Evaluation: Students evaluate their design and analyze what worked well and what didn’t.
7. Modify Design: Students modify design based on their evaluation of Test #1
8. Test #2: Students test their design to ensure that it meets all criteria stated in the challenge.
9. Final Analysis: Students analyze the effect of their modifications.
10. Present: Students present their designs to their peers

• poster or powerpoint explaining their design
• demonstration of model

11. Written Report: Students write a report about their final design, how well their design met the challenge, and what further modifications they would make.
12. Budget: Students calculate the cost of their final design.

Problem:
The world’s population is increasing. With more people being born, there is a greater need for all resources (food, land, etc.).  As world population grows, land is increasingly being used to develop housing, and to grow crops that are used to feed livestock. Alternatives are needed to increase food production that is more local to provide food in developing countries and in expanding urban populations. Growing food locally will also reduce the costs of shipping food from distant locations.

Challenge Constraints:
Using the materials provided, design a model of a vertical farm that meets the following criteria:

1. Must have at least three levels.
2. Light must be able to reach all of the seedlings.
3. Water should be able to move from one level to the levels below, while still allowing saturation by each seedling.

Teacher Preparation: 

• Prepare a packet of materials (for smaller items) for each student team. Zip lock or paper bags can be used and should include:
• Duct tape
• Cotton string
• Scissors
• Markers
• Colored pencils
• #2 pencils
• Plastic tablecloths can be used to protect tables and make cleanup easier.
• The remainder of the materials can be group together on a table for the materials manager for each team to select from. Enough materials should be provided to allow each team to build their design.

Design Challenge Procedure:

• Students should work in teams of two or three. (Do not give students design supplies until they are ready to begin the actual building. Once they receive their supplies, most will want to start building right away).
• Review problem, challenge protocol, constraints and assessment rubric to give students an opportunity to ask clarifying questions.
• Students brainstorm ideas with their team. All brainstorming ideas should be written on chart/butcher paper. Each team should have several possible solutions to choose from.
• Students create a labeled drawing of their proposed solution on chart paper with dimensions.
• Students build their vertical farm according to their design.
• Students test design with water.
• After the first test, students troubleshoot and modify their design.
• Once they have modified their design, they should re-test.
• Students complete analysis questions.
• Students prepare written report of their final design which includes how well their design met the challenge, what further modifications they would make, and the cost of their final design.
• Each team presents their solution with a demonstration and explanation of how their design meets the criteria of the challenge and the total cost of their design.
• Class evaluates each team as they present.

Additional Notes:

• Depending on student level, you may choose to assign roles within the group.
• This activity can be scaled up or down to meet the needs of younger students or more advanced students.
• The level of challenge will change depending on the constraints given.
• Make as many copies of the Peer Evaluation Rubric to match the number of teams that will be presenting.