Question to Explore

How can we design a home to lessen the impact of extreme weather?

Materials

• legos (bricks)
• cardboard (soft wood)
• popsicle sticks (hard wood)
• cotton balls (insulation)
• tape (weather stripping)
• craft glue
• hot glue gun (cement) — optional with adult supervision
• corrugated aluminun foil (steel)
• tin trays (steel)
• paper clips (nails)
• sponges (plants)
• clay

Procedure

First, students chose a weather hazard to research.  They chose between floods/hurricanes, tornadoes, drought/heat, fire, and blizzards. They became experts on the effects of their chosen weather hazard.

Next, students looked at images of homes in specific climate zones and came up with as many questions as they could about these homes.  They used the QFT (Question Formulation Technique) to come up with as many questions as possible about these homes.  Students came up with questions such as, why is this house on stilts? and why is it shaped like a dome?

 

           

 

Then, students researched home designs to eliminate the impact of their chosen weather hazards.

Students completed this Graphic Organizer to record their research and draw an initial model of their home: Climate Specific houses G.O.

 

         

 

Next, students revised their model and created a blueprint of their design.  Students labeled each design feature and the material they will use for each.  To create neat blueprints, students used a ruler to draw each line.  Option to publish these drawings with a fine point Sharpie.

 

          

 

Students tested frame, shell, and combination structures to see which was the strongest structure.

 

     

 

Students gathered supplies and began to build!

 

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Lastly, students completed their homes, made revisions, and prepared to test! They completed this graphic organizer with facts about their home: Climate Specific Housing Facts

 

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