Sustainable Houses
by Wayne Dickinson, Kerry House and Rhonda Thorncroft
A STEM learning approach requires students to problem solve, collaborate, communicate and be creative and critical thinkers.
Context: Environmental Sustainability is about efficient resource use, waste management and energy use. It is about design to limit the need for high- non-renewable energy, control of lighting, temperature control and ventilation. It is about low/reduction of energy for lighting, heating/cooling . . .
Consideration should be given to passive solar design elements: orientation, ventilation, insulation, shading and types of building materials.
It is about visioning and innovating – it’s about the ideas and possibilities not necessarily the “how” of it all. It’s the vision that leads the way for the invention.
Project: Define, design, build and present a model of an environmentally sustainable house to show what you have learned. Be creative and innovative in developing sustainable features.
Making Constraints: Only two new materials may be used. All other materials must be recycled /repurposed.
Prior knowledge:
Assessment:
A STEM learning approach requires students to problem solve, collaborate, communicate and be creative and critical thinkers.
Context: Environmental Sustainability is about efficient resource use, waste management and energy use. It is about design to limit the need for high- non-renewable energy, control of lighting, temperature control and ventilation. It is about low/reduction of energy for lighting, heating/cooling . . .
Consideration should be given to passive solar design elements: orientation, ventilation, insulation, shading and types of building materials.
It is about visioning and innovating – it’s about the ideas and possibilities not necessarily the “how” of it all. It’s the vision that leads the way for the invention.
Project: Define, design, build and present a model of an environmentally sustainable house to show what you have learned. Be creative and innovative in developing sustainable features.
Making Constraints: Only two new materials may be used. All other materials must be recycled /repurposed.
Prior knowledge:
- What is sustainability? (Video resources and readers)
- Why is it important? (Video resources/personal understanding/ current findings)
- What does it look like in practice? (Piney Lakes/ Sustainable building companies/interactive online resources i.e. http://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/viewing/L1148/index.html
- How can we apply the sustainability principles in housing design?
Assessment:
- As per curriculum links below.
- Reflection on personal targets (General Capabilities – Personal and Social)