Kelli Rebholz, Flint Hill Elementary MOID teacher, reports that her Hands-On Learning through Hydroponics project has been user friendly, fast, and rewarding for her students. With support from the Newton Education Foundation’s Farm‑to‑School funds, students have been introduced to plant science, healthy eating, and sustainable agriculture through a new indoor hydroponics garden.
The classroom hydroponics project was planted on September 26, 2025, featuring a variety of herbs and greens including lettuce, basil, spinach, dill, chives, and cilantro. Since planting, the students and staff have loved checking the daily progress and observing the growth cycle of each plant. The system provided an engaging, hands-on learning experience that incorporates science, responsibility, and life skills into the classroom’s daily routines.
The students celebrated their first lettuce harvest on October 29, which was an exciting milestone! Students were able to participate in harvesting, tasting, and sharing their fresh produce, helping them make real-world connections to healthy living and sustainability.
Our hydroponics garden has given our students the chance to see that their care, consistency, and patience truly make things grow—both in the garden and in themselves.
— Kelli Rebholz
As the project continues to grow, a long-term goal is to develop a school-based business using the hydroponic produce. Funds raised will directly support Community-Based Instruction (CBI) trips for the self-contained department, allowing students to apply their classroom learning in real-world community settings.
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