Other
Engineering Vertical Farms
Middle School
Molecules & Organisms
Camps/STEM Classes
Students design a vertical farm to increase the amount of food that can be grown in a small space.
unit Overview
Youth use the Engineering Design Process to design a vertical farm that can help feed a community. They investigate water systems and ways to direct light to a specified area to meet the needs of the farm.
- 8 activities
- 50–60 Minutes per activity
Standards Alignment
We’ve developed each EiE unit with careful attention to educational standards in both science and technology/engineering.
unit Resources
Digital Resources (FREE)
YES provides these materials free of charge! Use the link below to download resources from our Google Drive.
Download ResourcesPurchase Materials
Educator Guide Pack -
$69
- Full-color print educator guide, plus multiple sets of heavy-duty reusable color-print resources (ex. vocabulary cards, materials glossaries, station signs, and student instructions) for the class.
Materials Kit -
$699
- Hands-on materials to support 24 learners.
Unit Map
Youth are introduced to engineering as they work in teams to engineer a tower that can support a container of water.
Youth explore a definition of technology and are introduced to vertical farms and the idea that they will work to engineer a model vertical farm for a place called Greentown.
Youth engineer a window garden from recycled bottles.
Youth engineer a water pump system that can deliver water to different locations.
Youth design a lighting system to direct light to a specified area.
Youth are introduced to their final design challenge: creating a room of a vertical farm for Greentown.
Groups test and improve their vertical farm rooms.
Youth communicate their work to the Greentown City Council.
Videos for Students
What Are Vertical Farms?
Water Systems
Light Systems
Criteria, Constraints, and Tradeoffs
Improving the Design
