Design, Budget, Harvest | Grade 9s Apply Math Skills at Northcote

Our Grade 9 Math classes recently ventured to our Northcote Campus for an immersive and educational experience that combined practical math skills with hands-on agricultural learning. This field trip followed an engaging budgeting activity designed by Mr. Young and Jade (Northcote Farm Support), where students were tasked with designing and costing out their own farm plots using spreadsheets.

In the classroom, students mapped out their plots with the goal of maximizing profit. They then faced random scenarios, ranging from needing to donate a harvest of sunflowers to a school event to managing typical farm pests, requiring them to adjust their plans and budgets accordingly.

Upon arriving at Northcote, our school farmers, Kohl and Jade shared their real-world strategies for planting, emphasizing the importance of making wise financial decisions while also creating accessible areas for guests to explore and engage with the farm. This discussion provided valuable insights into the practical applications of the students' classroom work.

The students also had the opportunity to learn more about the crops featured in their project, including beets, radishes, tomatoes, mesclun mix, and sunflowers. They then rolled up their sleeves and got busy, harvesting, washing, preparing, and ultimately enjoying a fresh and delicious salad made from the crops they had just learned about.

This experience not only reinforced the math skills the students have been developing but also highlighted the importance of agriculture, sustainability, and community engagement. It was a memorable and enriching day that connected classroom learning with real-world applications in a meaningful way.