New York Sun Works Inc

BUILD INNOVATIVE SCIENCE LABS IN URBAN SCHOOLS USING HYDROPONIC FARMING TECHNOLOGY

NY SUN WORKS IS AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING K THROUGH 12 GRADE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE EDUCATION IN NYC METRO AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH BUILDING 21ST CENTURY URBAN FARMING/SCIENCE LABS, A HANDS-ON INTEGRATED CURRICULUM, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SCIENCE LAB:A NY SUNWORKS HYDROPONIC CLASSROOM IS TYPICALLY BUILT AS A TRADITIONAL GREENHOUSE TO ACCOMMODATE A HYDROPONIC URBAN FARM AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LABORATORY. GRADE SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL GROW FOOD, WHILE LEARNING HANDS-ON ABOUT NUTRITION, WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, EFFICIENT LAND USE, CLIMATE CHANGE, BIODIVERSITY, CONSERVATION, CONTAMINATION, POLLUTION, WASTE MANAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. TO FACILITATE THIS HANDS-ON LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, THE GREENHOUSE PROJECT LABORATORY WILL ALSO INCLUDE SOLAR PANELS, HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS, A RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEM, A WEATHER STATION AND A VERMI COMPOSTING STATION. CURRICULUM:NEW YORK SUN WORKS HAS DEVELOPED A K-8TH GRADE INNOVATIVE HANDS-ON INTEGRATED SCIENCE CURRICULUM. THE GREENHOUSE PROJECT KINDERGARTEN THROUGH STH GRADE CORE CURRICULUM INTRODUCES STUDENTS TO CUTTING-EDGETECHNOLOGY AND CONNECTS SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH SUSTAINABLE URBAN FARMING. THE CURRICULUM HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO INSPIRE STUDENTS TO ASK QUESTIONS, INVESTIGATE SYSTEMS, MAKE PREDICTIONS, AND DESIGN SOLUTIONS. THE CURRICULUM EMPHASIZES THE CHILD'S PERSPECTIVE IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNING AND PROMOTES PROJECT BASED, CRITICAL THINKING, AND COLLABORATIVE WORK. UNDERSTANDING IS ACHIEVED THROUGH DISCUSSIONS AND COLLABORATION AS A RESULT OF THE COMBINATION OF PRACTICE AND CONCEPTUAL EXPLANATIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE CURRICULUM, DURING 2020 NY SUN WORKS INTRODUCED THE HOME HYDROPONICS KITS. EACH KIT CONTAINS MATERIALS FROM THE GREENHOUSE CLASSROOM THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO GROW AND CARE FOR MULTIPLE SEEDLINGS AT HOME WITHOUT SOIL, INCLUDING FIVE SEE VARIETIES, PLANT NUTRIENTS, CLAY PEBBLES, CONTAINERS FOR THE PLANTS AND SUPPLIES FOR TESTING AND CARING FOR THE PLANTS. THE KITS ALSO OFFER STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSPLANT THE SEEDLINGS INTO PASSIVE HYDROPONIC SYSTEM THAT THEY CONSTRUCT WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS FROM THEIR OWN HOMES.NEW YORK SUN WORKS HAS IDENTIFIED TEACHER SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF THE GREENHOUSE PROJECT INITIATIVE. NYSW HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER A DYNAMIC TEAM OF SCIENTISTS, TECHNICIANS, URBAN FARMERS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES FOR AN ENGAGING COURSE WHICH FOCUSES ON A RANGE OF CURRENT TOPICS IN URBAN SUSTAINABILITY. THIS COURSE WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MANHATTAN SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN P.S. 333 TO SUPPORT TEACHERS' ABILITY TO PROVIDE AN ENGAGING STEM SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION TO THEIR STUDENTS AND HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S AFTER SCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (ASPDP). PARTICIPATING TEACHERS RECEIVE 3 PROFESSIONAL CREDITS FOR THE COURSE, WHICH CAN BE APPLIED TO THE NYS 175-HOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENT. PARTICIPATING TEACHERS ARE PROVIDED WITH ALL ASSOCIATED MATERIALS, INCLUDING SMALL HYDROPONIC KITS AND COMPOSTING BINS FOR CLASSROOM USE. THIS COURSE HAS BEEN OFFERED 6 CONSECUTIVE TIMES AND WILL BE OFFERED ON AN ONGOING BASIS 3 TIMES PER YEAR.