This learning experience can be used as a culminating activity (in lieu of a final exam) or as a project that covers a number of strands. In an attempt to find out if it is possible to build a building (e.g. a home, school, office, shopping mall, etc.) that can be net-zero or reasonably close to, students will research the energy associated with different features of a building. Suggested buildings are houses or schools. In doing so, students will also gain an understanding of why the goal of net zero buildings is a good one. The end result will be that students will be able to compare the energy required to run a conventional building compared to a very efficient/net zero one. Students will also design or redesign the building of their choice with features that would lead to a net zero/carbon neutral building. The building can be presented in a number of formats and students can share their findings as well as report on their building more formally as in a report or less formally as in an interview. Since net zero focuses on energy consumption, the students can only focus on this aspect, but they can extend it to include water consumption, waste management and indoor air quality.
Related Resources:
A Cookie Catastrophe: An Elementary Inquiry Learning Experience
Categories: Lab/Student Activity, Lesson Plan
Written by Carleigh Lemke, Don Galbraith Award Winner 2019-20, Wilfrid Laurier University By exploring various substances and their effects on ice, through a structured inquiry approach, students... read more
USING MAKEBLOCK NEURONS TO COLLECT DATA ABOUT WHAT PLANTS NEED (GRADE 3)
Categories: Lab/Student Activity, Lesson Plan
The students will learn about the needs of plants by using a data collection tool (Makeblock Neurons). This tool will allow students to measure the temperature and humidity around a plant as well as... read more
(DE) CONSTRUCT MY TECHNOLOGIES, GRADE 8
Categories: Lab/Student Activity, Lesson Plan
Students will learn to describe mechanisms and how to reverse engineer (deconstruct or dissect) a technology of their choice and present it as a poster. I would not suggest other forms at this point... read more