We have collaborated with Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled to grow hydroponic spinach and to support the sales of their harvest. This is a meaningful way for our young preschoolers to participate in lending a helping hand to give back to society. A representative from Bishan Home came over to our school to present a slide show on how to grow vegetables using hydroponics. The slide presentation was pictorial and informative for the K1 children. They learnt that they can grow vegetables in an aquatic based environment, without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in the water to feed the plants.
This is an exciting time for the children who love growing vegetables. The children had hands-on activities to put the little spinach seedlings into the holes of the Styrofoam boxes. They saw the ‘Ebb and Flow System (Flood and Drain)’ Tank. They learnt that this hydroponic system works by temporarily flooding the grow tray. The nutrient solution from a reservoir surrounds the roots before draining back. This action is usually automated with a water pump on a timer.
