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Engineering challenge: a sustainable school farming plot

The school farm must feed the canteen and earn money without harming the soil. Plan the crop, water and soil care for one season.

LevelS2 to S6 · teams of 3–4
Time2 lessons or a weekend project
SubjectsPhysics, Mathematics and more
PriceFree: no account

🎯 Aim

To plan a sustainable farm plot using water budgets (rain, mulch, irrigation), soil improvement (compost, rotation) and income calculations.

You will learn to

  • Convert rainfall in mm to litres.
  • Calculate crop water shortfall and irrigation.
  • Explain compost, mulch and crop rotation.
  • Calculate harvest, income and profit.

🧭 What to do

  1. Step 1: choose the plot area and the crop.
  2. Work through each numbered step: move the sliders and choose the options.
  3. Watch the drawing and the results change after every choice.
  4. Compare the options and their costs in the table and the chart.
  5. Answer the questions below, using 💡 Hint before the method.
  6. Justify your design in the last step, then download your design report.

🛠️ Design workbench

🧠 Investigate: answer from your design

Type your answer and tap Check. Use 💡 Hint first; open the method only when you are stuck.

📄 My design report

Your report collects the aim, your design, the graphs, your answers and your conclusion. It is made on your phone or computer: nothing is sent to anyone.

Check your conclusion

Water need minus rain gives the shortfall; mulch cuts the need by about 20 % and irrigation covers the rest (1 mm on 1 m² = 1 L). Compost and growing beans before maize raise the yield and keep the soil healthy, so the plot stays productive in future seasons.

➕ Get more from this challenge

📝 Free

Print the worksheet (button above), download the data, and save your report. Teachers can project this page in class.

📦 Premium Lab Pack

1 000 RWF

  • Team workbook for every design step
  • Data and price list template
  • Presentation and assessment rubric
  • Teacher guide with a full model answer

👩‍🏫 For teachers

Use it as a practical when apparatus is missing, as homework, or as a project. Free lesson plans help you plan, teach and assess.

🔗 Related in the subjects

DONAT STEM Interactive Labs · original work by BIZIYAREMYE Donat · data are realistic models for learning · free forever