Ward's World Activity Guides

1 + ward ' s science Chinampa Engineering Challenge: Ancient Agriculture Meets Modern Hydroponics Teacher Guide Activity Overview: How have farmers adapted when land, water, climate, or other growing conditions made it difficult to grow crops? For centuries, agricultural innovation has been driven by the need to produce food despite limitations in available land, water, cli- mate, and other natural resources. Chinampas, a highly productive agricultural system developed in Mesoamerica and extensively used by the Aztecs in the Valley of Mexico, offer students a fascinating example of how people engineered productive growing environments.1 In this hands-on Ag Science challenge, students explore the agricultural thinking behind chinampas and connect it to modern approaches to growing plants, including hydroponics and controlled-environment agriculture. Working in teams, students design and build their own small-scale, water-supported growing system using a common set of materials. There is no single "right" design. Students must decide how to construct a stable growing platform, support growing media and seeds, and provide plants with access to moisture. They observe plant growth and system performance, compare their results with those of other teams, and propose improvements based on what they learn. 1 FAO.org. Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) "Chinampas Agricultural System in Mexico City, Mexico" Recommended Grade Level(s): Appropriate for: Middle School: Provide more instructor guidance and have the class build a similar design step by step. Introductory High School Ag Science Courses: Use the activity as a more open-ended engineering challenge, allowing teams to develop, test, compare, and refine their own designs within the established criteria and constraints. Time Requirements: • Hands-On Activity: Approximately 60 minutes • Observation Period: Approximately 1–2 weeks, with brief periodic observations • Optional Extension: Additional time for background instruction, extended analysis, or design refinement Learning Objectives: Students will: • Explain how agricultural challenges can drive innovation • Describe the basic purpose and characteristics of chinampa agriculture • Design a growing system that meets established criteria and constraints • Observe how water, light, growing media, and system design contribute to plant growth • Collect and compare observations about plant growth and system performance • Use evidence to evaluate and improve a design • Identify connections and differences between historical chinampa agriculture and modern hydroponic growing systems National Science Standards Alignment NGSS MS-ETS1-1: Students define a design problem and develop a solution within specified criteria and constraints. MS-ETS1-2: Students compare different team designs and evaluate how well they meet the challenge. MS-ETS1-3: Students use observations and performance data to identify successful design features. MS-ETS1-4: Students use evidence from testing to propose or make improvements to their designs. MS-LS1-5: Students observe plant growth under defined environmental conditions. MS-LS1-6: Students consider the role of water, light, and other resources in supporting plant growth.

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