Classroom aquaculture extension programs can be used to teach complex science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts and increase student awareness of sustainable food production systems. Making real-world connections between where food comes from and how to make nutritious meal choices is essential for all consumers; aquaculture curricula can allow youth to develop food literacy skills earlier.
Kentucky State University K-12 Aquaculture Extension team delivers educational aquaculture programs, aquaponics systems and aquaponics curriculum to central Kentucky High schools. Locust Trace AgriScience Center in Lexington, Kentucky is one of the 12 public high school that have been a part of the “Aquaponics in the Classroom” program. An aquaponics system was donated to the school as part of a grant project and the students participated in a 12-week aquaponics project based investigation (APBI) where they monitored fish health, water quality parameters and plant growth. This school also has an approximately 1,000 gallon recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in their greenhouse that is used to demonstrate more intensive fish rearing protocols.
Kentucky State University donated approximately 40 channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) weighing approximately 680g each for stocking into the greenhouse RAS. Students helped with stocking the fish into the cycled RAS and monitored fish health for 2 weeks. In addition, an anatomy and filleting demonstration was given on the stocking day to introduce the students to dissection. After harvesting the fish, the students participated in a “Hook to Cook Guidebook” activity as a part of their final examination. Students worked together to dissect, identify internal anatomy and fillet the fish. The students gave presentations where they described the process of producing catfish and then cooked the catfish into healthy recipes. A post-interview with the teacher revealed that her students really enjoyed this activity and they had good retention of the information. Students were encouraged to try fish products, think about the sources of their foods and develop food preparation and culinary skills. Hands-on aquaculture extension activities can make lasting impressions on students by allowing experiential learners to immerse themselves in the material and apply these lessons when faced with STEM problem-solving challenges.