New Hands-on Class in Horticulture

Many faculty and staff in the Bridgeton Public Schools are champions for hands-on learning through gardening.  Specifically, the Math and Science Supervisor at Bridgeton High School, Jennifer DeShields, has dedicated herself to ensuring that the hydroponic greenhouse at the high school will be a success.  She created curriculum to ensure that the greenhouse is utilized, and in the 20-21 school year introduced a new Horticulture class at the high school.  DeShields stated, “It was created to be a hands-on course grounded in the New Jersey Student Learning Standards that deal with life science, engineering design, and physical science with a focus on energy. In addition to traditional assessments, there are also two project-based assessments that deal with careers in horticulture and production”.  Unfortunately, due to COVID the students have not been able to be in person  to utilize the hydroponic system in their outdoor classroom.  However, the Horticulture curriculum covers a variety of topics that students can still explore virtually:

• Introduction to Horticulture and Safety
• Plant Science
• Plant Growth & Propagation
• Hydroponics/ Aquaponics
• Pest Management
• Production
• Soil Grown Plants
• Careers
• Using Plants in the Landscape

Plans are being made to send home hydroponic kits to allow the students in the class to replicate what they would have been learning hands-on by using the larger hydroponic system in the greenhouse.