Download FOOD SHORTAGES

USING STEM TO ADDRESS
FOOD SHORTAGES
Submitted by
Justin Benz & Stan Studzinzki
Paul M. Hodgson Vo-tech High School
Delaware
USING STEM TO ADDRESS
FOOD SHORTAGES
Recommended for grades:
th
11-12
DELAWARE
CONCEPTUALOVERVIEW:
ACTIVITIES:
The main idea of the project is to develop an innovative solution to address current
and future food shortages involving creative and sustainable food production
practices.
STUDENTGOALS:
To provide students with the opportunity to use their vocational training in an
authentic context that applies and extends their knowledge in math and science. The
students will learn the value and see the payoff of working together as a team to
tackle a problem and develop a solution that will have positive effects on the local
community.
COMMUNITYGOALS:
To show the community that they can improve the quality of their own lives while
they reduce their carbon footprint by using less utility supplies; electric, gas, and
water, by demonstrating alternative methods of agriculture for urban residents who
do not have space for traditional food production.
Submitted by/Justin Benz & Stan Studzinzki
Paul M. Hodgson Vo-tech High School/Delaware
Students will be placed into small groups to brainstorm ideas and write down
their research-based findings that can be used to formulate a positive
outcome based on the problem that was posed to them. Students within
each of the research groups will assign roles that they will engage in
throughout the project. The roles the students will assume are; project
manager, designer, recorder, technical draftsmen, data collection, and budget
manager. Each of these roles play a critical part in the success of the project
and gives each person in the group an individual responsibility / accountability
for each week when the research groups collaborate.
Once they have this information, the students will start to sketch out their
designs for the project and start to make lists of the materials they will need
to procure to build their prototype. Student groups will fabricate their
prototypes using the tools of the millwright shop, the greenhouse, and the
environmental lab. The design will be tested by the group numerous times
and refined until the students are able to get a consistent outcome when they
use the physical product.
Next Generation Standards/HS-ESS3-2, HS-ESS3-4, HS-ETS1-1,
HS-ETS1-2, HS-ETS1-3
USING STEM TO ADDRESS
FOOD SHORTAGES
Recommended for grade:
th
11-12
DELAWARE
ACTIVITIES (continued):
Once the testing phase is done, the research groups will unveil their prototype to the other research groups. Final sketches will be updated to reflect the true dimensions
and design of the prototype, and the materials list is updated. Each research group will develop a multimedia presentation to explain the prototype, the development
process, the materials used, and the way it will accomplish the desired outcome(s). Students will then demonstrate how their prototype works to the other student
research groups.
Numerous math and science skills will be used in the process, including measuring precisely, applying corresponding formulas, performing calculations, drawing to scale,
and preparing a budget. The design work and testing phase will immerse the students in the scientific process; it involves many calculations and encourages students to
think critically. Students gain valuable experience in communicating with others using mathematical and scientific terminology accurately during the process of designing
and delivering a multimedia presentation of their research findings.
The final aspect of the project will be building a working model that will incorporate all the best design attributes from the research and development groups’ prototypes.
All the students involved in the project will build this working model. They will again be broken into collaborative groups in order to fabricate the tanks, filters, growing
beds, etc. This phase will be engaging for the students because they are afforded the opportunity to cross-train their peers with the skills they have honed over the past
few years in their vocational area.
Submitted by/Justin Benz & Stan Studzinzki
Paul M. Hodgson Vo-tech High School/Delaware
Next Generation Standards/HS-ESS3-2, HS-ESS3-4, HS-ETS1-1,
HS-ETS1-2, HS-ETS1-3