Ocean Road Primary School has re-established its aquaponics program with 15 trout fingerlings recently placed in each of the two courtyard aquaponics systems.
As part of its commitment to provide 21st century learning opportunities for students, providing access to the aquaponics system enables them access to a teaching tool for core STEM subjects.
Letting them study fish, plants and bacteria in a living ecosystem equips them with real life skills such as performing water quality tests and measuring growth rates in the plants and fish.
Year 6 students planted vegetable and herb seedlings in the garden beds prior to the trout arriving and these are now flourishing.
Year 5 and 6 science extension students involved in the Young Einsteins program and one class of year 6 students are responsible for the maintenance of the garden beds, for monitoring the water temperature in the tanks and feeding the fish.
Students and teaching staff involved in the program attended an aquaponics workshop to enable them to successfully care for the fish.
It has been an educative process for students and teaching staff alike and everyone involved is looking forward to monitoring the growth of the trout in the coming months.
The relaunch of Ocean Road Primary's aquaponics program has been made possible thanks to Alcoa's Community Partnership Program.
Rebecca Beatty is from Ocean Road Primary School.
