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The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Can you Grow Plants with Fish?

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Can you Grow Plants with Fish?

A 4 or 5th grade STEM lesson

Alison Olcott

June 2023

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Notes for teachers

This is a simple investigation that you can easily do in your classroom to introduce Aquaponics to your students.

List of Materials

Glass jar (64 oz)
3 inch net pot
Betta fish
Fish food (for daily feedings)
Aquarium water conditioner
Starter plant with all roots exposed (wipe away dirt)
Decorative rock (optional)

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Standards

Science:

5-LS2-1 Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment

Math:

4.MD.B Represent and interpret data.

STEM:

Science and Engineering Practices

ask questions and define problems
develop and use models
analyze and interpret data
construct explanations and design solutions
engage in argument from evidence
obtain, evaluate and communicate information

Standards

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Objective(s):

Today we will build a soilless ecosystem.

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Agenda (lesson time)

Day 1: Aquaponics introduction

Day 2: Set Up System with Fish in Jar

Day 3: (Preferably one week later)

Day 4: Observations and Conclusions

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

What do plants need to grow?

Can you grow plants with fish?

Intro/Anticipatory Set/Opening

Ask the questions: Do you think you can grow plants with fish?
Have students watch a video that introduces Aquaponics. I used this one: https://az.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/stn15.sci.stem.aquaponics/farming-the-aquaponics-way/

As they are watching the video - have them make observations. You could use this sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IEUBLNMhERkC_ZBUcT8lMY7izaM376YAVvP-5VXCQTU/edit?usp=sharing

After they make/write down their observations - have them share with partners and then have a class discussion
By themselves, have them fill out the second column about what they think is happening
As a class, discuss what they wonder about and what they question.

Here are some of the questions my class came up that helped to guide our investigation:
How are we going to build without a pump?
How does the plant filter the water?
What is the fish going to eat?
Can the plant grow?
Is the fish going to eat the plant?
How long can the fish live?
Is the fish going to eat the plant’s roots?

Have students come up with a hypothesis.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

We did three jars, so divided the class into small groups to set up the jars.
Pick herb you want to grow (we picked basil)
Place rocks at bottom of the jar
Fill with water leaving an inch of air at the top to let the roots and the fish to get oxygen
Add fish, feed daily
Place in sunlight
After a week, remove dirt from herb roots as much as you can so the roots are exposed
Add the net pot to the top of the jar and place the plant in it so the roots are submerged in the water and able to spread out.

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Assessment

Create a model showing how it works. There could be a couple of models that your students could draw to demonstrate understanding:

The waste from the fish is used as fertilizer for the plants which in turn feeds the fish.
The fish food turns to fish waste (poop), which then provides fertilizer for the plants.
Plants provide a filter for the water, thus cleaning the fish tank and improving water quality.

Paper Questions (listed in notes)

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Differentiation

Setting up one system instead of multiple systems.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Try different plants
Build a bigger Aquaponics system with a pump
Compare plant growth in soil vs. with Aquaponics
Testing pH levels in each jar