Middle School Curriculum
Unit 9: Plant Science
Lesson 9: The Use of Hydroponics in Growing Plants
Student Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Explain the concept of hydroponics.
List the three major nutrient requirements.
Identify the parts of a hydroponic unit.
List four general facts about soilless farming.
List three advantages of growing plants hydroponically.
Agriculture QCC: ..................................................................................................................13, 14, 18, 20, 24
Language Arts QCC:…………………………………………………………………………………6-71, 74
7-67, 70
8-67, 70
Mathematics QCC:……………………………………………………………………………….…6-1, 8, 48
7-1, 13
8-1, 15
References
Herren, Ray V. Exploring Agriscience. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
Hydroponics: An Introduction to Soilless Agriculture. (Video). Columbus: Ohio Agricultural
Curriculum Materials Service.
Lee, Jasper S. Agriscience Discovery. Danville, IL: Interstate Publishers, Inc.
Morgan, Elizabeth M. Agriscience Explorations. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Interstate
Equipment, Supplies, Materials
hydroponic unit
oasis cubes
seeds
nutrients
TV/VCR
overhead projector
Transparencies 7GA 4.71 and 7GA 4.72
Teaching Procedure
Introduction and Mental Set
This lesson defines hydroponics and discusses what is needed to grow plants hydroponically,
equipment necessary to set up a hydroponics unit, general facts about hydroponics, and the
advantages of growing plants hydroponically.
1. Show video on hydroponics.
Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9
Updated May 2004
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2. Demonstrate a working hydroponic system.
Assignment
1. Have students research the history of growing plants without soil.
2. Have students design a system for growing plants hydroponically.
3. Have students read an article about a successful hydroponic farming operation.
Discussion
1. Question: What is hydroponics? Display and discuss transparency 7GA 4.7.1.
Answer: Hydroponics is the science of growing plants in water rather than soil.
2. Question: What is needed to grow plants hydroponically?
Answer:
 water
 nutrients
 growing media (e.g., oasis cubes, sand, sawdust)
 pump
 reservoir
3. Question: What nutrients are needed for a hydroponic unit?
Answer:
 soluble fertilizer
 calcium nitrate
 magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
4. Question: What are the parts of a hydroponic unit? (draw or show)
Answer:
 submersible pump
 hose
 header pipe
 cutters or PVC pipe
 drainage trough
 reservoir
5. Question: How does a hydroponics system work?
Answer: The nutrient solution is pumped from the reservoir through a hose to the header pipe.
There, the solution is distributed to the gutters or PVC pipes. The nutrients then flow down
(across the root area) to the drainage trough. From there, the water solution flows back to the
reservoir to complete the cycle. Display and Discuss transparency 7GA 4.7.2.
General Facts About Hydroponics:
 Any plant can be grown in a hydroponic system.
 About one fourth as much water is needed as in conventional farming.
 The production of plants can be six times as great as conventional growth.
 Almost any type of hydroponic system will produce acceptable growth.
 Hydroponic systems will be used to grow food on U.S. space stations.
 Construction of a hydroponic system is easy and inexpensive.
Advantages of Hydroponics:
Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9
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 The taste, quality, appearance, uniformity, and shelf life of hydroponically grown
vegetables are superior.
 No sterilization of growing media is required.
 Nutrition is easily controlled within the reservoir.
 No weeds or soil diseases exist, and cultivation is unnecessary.
 Uniform water is available to plants.
 Less water and fertilizer is needed.
 Root zone heating is possible by heating the nutrient solution.
Other Activities
1. Visit a greenhouse or research facility that uses hydroponics.
2. Have students design a hydroponics system that could be used in a space station with no gravity.
3. Test and adjust the pH of the nutrient solution.
4. Conduct an agriscience project with hydroponics.
5. Have students bring in seeds to be planted hydroponically.
6. Construct a small hydroponics unit or obtain a hydroponics kit.
Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9
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ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS
Language Arts
Middle School Connections in Agriculture Education
Language Arts QCC: Grade 6-71, 74
7-67, 70
8-67, 70
Name____________________________________ Period____ Date______________
Imagine that you have a friend in Ireland who is very interested in agriculture and especially in crop production.
Write a letter to your friend in Ireland and explain hydroponics to him or her. Remember to include the parts of
a letter, including a greeting, opening, body, and closing.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9
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ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS
Mathematics
Middle School Connections in Agriculture Education
Mathematics QCC: Grade 6- 1, 8, 48
7- 1, 13
8- 1, 15
Name____________________________________ Period____ Date______________
1. The production of plants in hydroponics can be 6 times as great as conventional growth. If you produce 200
marigold plants during the school year through conventional growth, how many marigold plants could you have
produced through hydroponic growth?
2. If the marigolds you produced were worth $2.00 a plant, what would your profit be for conventional growth?
3. If the marigolds you produced were worth $1.50 a plant, what would your profit be if you grew the marigolds
hydroponically?
Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9
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Answers:
1. 1,200 marigold plants
2. $400.00
3. $1,800.00
Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9
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Summary
Conclusion
Plants can be grown without soil using hydroponics. Although hydroponics has been a science for
hundreds of years, it has recently become an accepted form of crop production. It can be a highly
profitable form of producing crops, especially fresh vegetables. Hydroponics could also be the
answer to many of the world's land and food shortage problems.
Evaluation
Written quiz
Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9
Updated May 2004
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7GA 4.7.1
HYDROPONICS
What is hydroponics?
 Hydroponics is the science of growing plants
in water rather than soil.
What is needed to grow plants
hydroponically?
 water
 nutrients
 plant support system
 PUMP
 reservoir
What nutrients are needed for a hydroponic
unit?
 soluble fertilizer
 calcium nitrate
 magnesium sulfate
Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9
Updated May 2004
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7GA 4.7.1
HYDROPONIC FACTS
 Any plant can be grown in a hydroponic
system.
 About one fourth as much water is needed
as in conventional farming.
 The production of plants can be six times
as great as conventional growth.
 Almost any type of hydroponic system will
produce acceptable growth.
 Hydroponic systems will be used to grow
food on U.S. space
stations.
< Construction of a
hydroponic system is
easy and
inexpensive
Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9
Updated May 2004
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