New aquaponics curriculum brings STEM and sustainable agriculture to the classroom

Posted February 4th, 2025 in Aquaculture, Featured, K-12 Education
aquaponics curriculum

Aquaponics, a method for raising fish and plants together, can provide a hands-on way for students to learn scientific concepts while they are introduced to sustainable agriculture. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) announces a new aquaponics curriculum to help educators make these connections.

“By equipping Great Lakes students with the knowledge and skills needed for careers in sustainable agriculture, we are opening doors to future opportunities and helping to shape the next generation of environmental stewards and innovators,” said Julie Fiorito, IISG Great Lakes K-12 education specialist.

In an aquaponics system, fish are raised in tanks, and the nutrient-rich wastewater is circulated to plants growing hydroponically. The plants take up the water and nutrients, thereby cleaning the water, which is then returned to the fish tanks. Because it is a closed system, water and waste are used efficiently.

For teachers that have an aquaponics system already established or those who are interested in this learning approach, the curriculum—Aquaponics: Farming Fish, Growing Greens—offers 10 lessons that walk students through the ABCs of aquaponics.

“As educators and students work their way through the curriculum, they will learn about water quality and environmental science through the lens of a water-based agricultural system that they can grow their own food with,” said Amy Shambach, IISG aquaculture marketing outreach associate.

Aquaponics offers a hands-on way to learn STEAM—science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and math. The curriculum incorporates activities that involve reading comprehension, data analysis and basic math skills, plus includes lessons, PowerPoints and YouTube links. It is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.

Aquaponics: Farming Fish, Growing Greens covers aquaponics comprehensively, but it is also designed so that an educator can pull out a single component to reinforce classwork while connecting to the school’s aquaponic activities, although not necessarily.

At this point, six high schools in Illinois and Indiana are raising fish, and in some cases, plants too, in classrooms, greenhouses, or other school spaces using donated equipment from commercial operations. IISG’s Andrew Coursey worked closely with educators in Illinois and Indiana to help design and set up aquaponics systems and then provided support to help engage students. Coursey has since moved on to another position, but IISG’s school support is ongoing.

You can find more information about the curriculum on the IISG website. A related  resource, Know Your H2O provides the opportunity for educators to borrow water monitoring equipment used by commercial aquaculture producers.

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Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in coastal and Great Lakes states that encourage the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, education, outreach and technology transfer. In partnership with the University of Illinois Extension, and Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant brings science together with communities for solutions that work.

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Find us at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, March 27–29! We’re linking Subnautica with Great Lakes science through fun, hands‑on activities about food webs, invasive species, and aquaponics.

Come geek out with us!

🔗 in bio for event info

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18072583901167383
Find us at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, March 27–29! We’re linking Subnautica with Great Lakes science through fun, hands‑on activities about food webs, invasive species, and aquaponics.Come geek out with us! 🔗 in bio for event info

Coastal protection is not limited to concrete, rocks, and steel. Coastal protection solutions exist on a spectrum, ranging from softer “green” solutions to harder “gray” structures.

Nature-based coastal solutions fall between green and gray techniques, providing multiple benefits to people and habitats.

Our three-part video series, Nature-Based Coastal Solutions in the Great Lakes, is now available to watch. Learn how nature-based coastal solutions, including nature-driven and hybrid approaches, can protect shorelines while supporting ecosystems and communities.

Watch the 3-part video series at the link in bio.

(Photo credit: Liz Spitzer, Illinois State Geological Survey, Coastal Research Group)

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17873389053437520
Coastal protection is not limited to concrete, rocks, and steel. Coastal protection solutions exist on a spectrum, ranging from softer “green” solutions to harder “gray” structures.Nature-based coastal solutions fall between green and gray techniques, providing multiple benefits to people and habitats.Our three-part video series, Nature-Based Coastal Solutions in the Great Lakes, is now available to watch. Learn how nature-based coastal solutions, including nature-driven and hybrid approaches, can protect shorelines while supporting ecosystems and communities.Watch the 3-part video series at the link in bio.(Photo credit: Liz Spitzer, Illinois State Geological Survey, Coastal Research Group)

Managers and researchers can be faced with a need to classify the risk of new crayfish invaders. Rapid assessment tools, such as the Science-based Tools for Assessing Invasion Risk (STAIR), can assist in this process by providing a streamlined framework for analysis and decision-making.

Join us for an ICC webinar with John Bieber from Loyola University Chicago to learn how rapid assessment tools are used to classify invasive species risk and how STAIR can support invasive crayfish management.

Learn more at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17849711064650127
Managers and researchers can be faced with a need to classify the risk of new crayfish invaders. Rapid assessment tools, such as the Science-based Tools for Assessing Invasion Risk (STAIR), can assist in this process by providing a streamlined framework for analysis and decision-making.Join us for an ICC webinar with John Bieber from Loyola University Chicago to learn how rapid assessment tools are used to classify invasive species risk and how STAIR can support invasive crayfish management.Learn more at the link in bio.