Students at St. Angela Merici Catholic School in Bradford are exploring science, business, and agriculture through two interactive programs: Tomatosphere and Ontario Farming STEMterprise.
Through Tomatosphere, students are planting two groups of tomato seeds—one that has been to the International Space Station and one that has not. They’ll watch how the seeds sprout and grow, then compare the results to see if space travel makes a difference. Along the way, they’ll learn about the challenges of growing food in space.
Meanwhile, with Ontario Farming STEMterprise, students are applying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills to a real-world challenge: developing a healthy new granola bar for Ontario students. As part of the process, they’re learning where their ingredients come from by growing wheat, oats, or soybeans. They’re also taking on the role of entrepreneurs—testing, marketing, and showcasing their product just like a real business!
For teacher Maddy Marchione, the value of hands-on learning goes beyond the classroom. “I think it's important so that they can get the opportunities to see what they are learning, to make it come to life and to also have the opportunities to take it with them over the summer. They’re able to continue their learning, to take it home, and to share what they have learned so that it becomes part of their daily life as well.”
As for the students, they are excited about the project, eager to do the creative work on their product design, and they are not afraid to get their hands dirty! Grade 3 student Noelle shared her enthusiasm: “I never thought it would be that fun! We planted soybeans because that's one of the main ingredients in the granola bar. The best part so far is that I like naming our business. Right now, we're designing the packaging for the box that the granola bars will be in. We're making the box, then we'll write the name and ingredients.”
These hands-on experiences make learning fun while fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Through this work, they’re gaining a deeper understanding of how science, business, and sustainability all come together in the real world.