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Chinampa Engineering Challenge:
Ancient Agriculture Meets Modern Hydroponics
Teacher Guide (continued)
When educators took on this challenge at the New York Association of Agricultural Educators Conference, they developed
different solutions using the provided materials. Encourage students to experiment with their own ideas rather than working
toward a single "correct" design.
Tip: Consider sharing these examples only after teams have developed their initial designs. This helps preserve open-ended
problem-solving while giving students an opportunity to compare different approaches.
Part 4: Plant and Observe
Once the structure is stable, students add the designated amount of growing medium and plant the provided seeds.
Place the systems in their designated growing location.
Have students make observations at regular intervals during the next one to two weeks. Depending on your classroom schedule,
two or three observation points may be sufficient.
Students should record:
• Germination
• Plant growth or height
• Visible root development, when observable
• System stability
Encourage students to note unexpected changes as well.
