Southern Local Jr. High students in teacher Amanda Wrobleski’s seventh-grade science class are getting a hands-on lesson by growing lettuce in a hydroponics system that Wrobleski acquired last year. The goal is to show students science in action and literally reap the rewards by feasting on the food in class. Pictured are, from left, McKenzie Sloan, Paisley Tice and Peyton Dowling as they review the growing plants. (Submitted photo)

SALINEVILLE — Seventh-grade students are getting a chance to reap what they sow with a hands-on lesson in hydroponics at Southern Local Jr. High School.

Teacher Amanda Wrobleski’s science classroom became a veritable greenhouse this past winter as she and her pupils cultivated dozens of butterhead lettuce plants with equipment she procured last year. In February, they planted seeds in rockwool cubes made from heated basalt rock and placed them in the hydroponics system, which provides distilled water and liquid nutrients to help the seeds grow. The students then separated the rockwool and grew plants in rows, plus they were responsible for monitoring pH levels and cleaning the 30-gallon reservoir located at the base of the tank. Healthy plants grew as a result and the class got a chance to consume the produce on March 31 during their farm-to-table venture, “Lettuce for Lunch.”

Wrobleski, who has an interest in gardening, began the project last year because it could be completed year-round inside the classroom. She received a $660 Best Practices Grant from the Jefferson County Educational Service Center and further financial help from the school district to defray costs for the equipment, which was purchased from CropKing of Lodi, Ohio.

“Through the hydroponics project, students are introduced to a sustainable way of living–soilless growing! They practice checking the pH levels of the nutrient solution and know how it affects plant growth in a hands-on learning experience,” she said. “Once the butterhead lettuce reaches maturity, it is harvested and the seventh-grade classes have a ‘Lettuce for Lunch’ celebration.”

Wrobleski has kept informed on the process to help sprout more ideas.

“I attended a professional development on ‘Hydroponics in the Classroom’ through CropKing, our classroom hydroponics system supplier, in October and this experience gave us ways to expand hydroponics in the classroom.”

She added that students have enjoyed being involved in the scientific process.

“The students have thoroughly enjoyed checking the growth of the lettuce day by day, especially on a Monday morning when we notice the largest growth,” she commented.

Pupils McKenzie Sloan and Maddie Smith said it has been interesting to see their work bear fruit–or in this case, vegetables.

“I liked the fact that we get to experience this,” said Sloan. “I’ve learned how to change the water and test the pH levels to help it grow. It’s really fun seeing it happen and it teaches us a lot.”

“It was really fun seeing how they progressed and got bigger,” added Smith.