Environmental literacy comes to life when students have opportunities to get their hands dirty, solve real-world problems, and see how their learning connects to the world around them. At Ellis School in Fremont, NH, middle school students are doing just that through an innovative hydroponics and aquaponics program that combines science, technology, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.
Led by educator Chris Asbell, the student-driven program transforms a school greenhouse into a living classroom where students raise trout and catfish, grow plants, design irrigation systems, and explore the connections between living organisms and the environments that support them.
Asbell, who has worked in education for 25 years, believes that hands-on experiences deepen students’ understanding of complex concepts. His approach emphasizes place-based education, connecting learning to the fields, woods, and waterways surrounding the school.
The program began with a grant to restore an unused greenhouse on school grounds. Working together, students and staff refurbished the space and built a functioning aquaponics system. Today, that greenhouse provides opportunities for students to develop skills in scientific inquiry, engineering, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Students have designed and built a timed drip irrigation system, developed code for an automatic fish feeder, constructed plant shelving, and even created their own documentary. Through these projects, they gain firsthand experience with the interconnected systems involved in growing food and caring for living organisms.
The learning also extends beyond the greenhouse and into the community. Students grow plants for a community plant sale, collaborate with a local assisted living center to plant seeds, and donate harvested produce to a local food pantry. Older students have even built a garden for second graders, creating opportunities for younger learners to experience the excitement of growing their own food.
Beyond developing academic and technical skills, the program helps students discover their strengths and build confidence.
“I believe the students gain a tremendous amount of confidence in their ability to make, fix, and run complex systems on their own,” shared Asbell in a recent New Hampshire Department of Education Class Act feature.
The Ellis School program demonstrates how environmental literacy can be integrated across disciplines while empowering students to take ownership of their learning. By connecting science, technology, food systems, and community service, students are developing practical skills, a deeper understanding of environmental systems, and the confidence to make a difference.
NH Environmental Literacy Plan Connections
Goal 1: Expand Access to Environmental Learning Across All Ages and Settings
- Hands-on environmental learning through hydroponics, aquaponics, and greenhouse activities
- Revitalization of an unused greenhouse into an accessible, ongoing learning space
- Opportunities for younger students and community members to participate in gardening and growing food
Goal 2: Empower Youth and Communities as Environmental Stewards and Changemakers
- Student-led projects involving sustainable food production, engineering, and problem-solving
- Community engagement through plant sales, food pantry donations, and intergenerational partnerships
- Development of leadership, collaboration, and decision-making skills through real-world projects
Goal 4: Create Pathways to Integrate Environmental Literacy into Curriculum and Standards
- Integration of environmental science, technology, engineering, and food systems into hands-on learning
- Application of coding, system design, and scientific inquiry to authentic challenges
- Development of practical and transferable skills that support academic learning and future career exploration
Thank you to Chris Asbell and the Ellis School community for demonstrating how environmental literacy can grow through curiosity, creativity, and meaningful hands-on experiences. Your work is helping students grow much more than plants!
Read the full NH Department of Education Class Act: Ellis School Highlights Hydroponics.
Help Put the NH Environmental Literacy Plan into Action!
Learn more about the New Hampshire Environmental Literacy Plan and explore ways your school or organization can support environmental literacy in your community:
New Hampshire Environmental Literacy Plan
Want to join the growing network of organizations supporting environmental literacy in New Hampshire?
We are still accepting letters of support for the NH Environmental Literacy Plan and would love to highlight your school or organization’s work in a future NH Environmental Literacy in Action feature. To submit a letter of support, share your story, or learn more about getting involved, contact info@nhee.org.
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