By Matt Hoover
USD 475 Communications Coordinator
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Junction City High School biology teacher Melissa Hoyle is bringing agriculture into her classroom this school year as her students are learning how to grow their own plants and food by utilizing the Tower Garden System from the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.
“Each summer I try to branch out and explore different science professional development opportunities that I can bring back to my classroom. I was so excited to have the opportunity to win the Tower Garden System for my students through the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom,” said Hoyle, who’s classroom was one of only three selected in the entire state of Kansas to receive the tower garden.
With the Tower Garden System, Hoyle’s students are not only learning and seeing first-hand how plants develop through our ecosystem, but also experiment with different variables that impact how well plants grow.
“This especially ties in with our ecology unit because students must be able to explain how the biotic and abiotic parts of an ecosystem are dependent on each other. I hope in the future that I am able to have my students take what they learn from the Tower Garden to explore other hydro and aquaponic models,” said Hoyle.
The Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is a statewide educational program providing resources, training and support to schools, educators and volunteers so that they can meaningfully connect children to agriculture.