Kiki's Sun Curve curricula
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Botany
Much of the Sun Curve fits with the standard Montessori biology curriculum.
The Sun Curve leads directly into (or from) the Needs of the Plant, which is an early biology lesson. Because the plants growing in the Sun Curve are growing in this unusual situation, this sparks the discussion of what plants actually need: do the need dirt? do they need to live flat? can their water be recirculated, or do they need the fish?
- In the classroom, discuss the needs of the plant (according to the standard Montessori lesson.)
- Go and observe the Sun Curve and discuss how those needs are met.
Particular points of interest:
- Soil -- why aren't Sun Curve plants planted in soil?
- Water -- why do you need fish in the system?
- Orientation -- can plants grow vertically? What issues are there with vertically grown plants?
Types of plants -- what types of plants would grow best in the Sun Curve, and why? Are there places (top or bottom, side or middle) certain plants would grow better or worse?
Zoology
Similar to botany, the Sun Curve leads easily from or to standard Montessori lessons:
- In the classroom, discuss the needs of animals, in particular, fish.
- Go and observe the Sun Curve and discuss how those needs are met.
Particular points of interest:
- Ask the students if there are fish that would not do well in the Sun Curve aquaponics.
- Discuss the requirement of adding fish food. Are there ways to make the system self-contained? Why or why not?
- Why do aquariums require a filter? Why does this system not require a filter?
- What other animals might be introduced into this system?
- What about insects?
Math/construction
Any building project involves math. Particularly if you do extensive planning before construction.
Possible points of discussion/calculation:
- How much weight would a chainlink Sun Curve have? Can the current chainlink support the weight?
- how much does water weigh?
- how much water would it hold?
- how much water/weight do the plants contribute?
- what attachment methods could be used? which are the dis/advantages of each?
- what water use can be expected? what factors contribute to water use?
- what evaporation can be expected? how can evaporation be reduced?
- what methods of water delivery can be used? the sprayers seemed to get clogged -- what else can be used?
- what pumping methods can be used?
- make a complete list of parts needed -- what materials/supplies can be used for each part
- how much of each material is needed for construction? can any of that be donated or found?
- what types of skills are needed to build? what can be learned on our own? what will require expert help? what will require expert-only building?
- what materials will affect the plants or fish? plastics, metals, coatings, manufacturing related additives (eg mold release.)
- what issues arise once constructed?
- are there ways to eliminate electricity?
- are there other ways to simplify the design?
- possible constraints in design:
- portability
- available materials
- weekend neglect issues
- summer neglect issues
- plant choices/constraints (eg seasons, local weather, etc.)
Socio-economic
This section meshes with Economic Geography areas of the Montessori curriculum. Questions to ask:
- Why would the Sun Curve be useful in 3rd world countries?
- What are the limits in each area? (eg transportation, available materials, water availability, etc)
