Design Your Dream Eco-Home: A Student Challenge!

High School Grade

Project
10 weeks

Design Your Dream Eco-Home: A Student Challenge!

Silvana Casas

Purpose

Students will embark on a 10-week interdisciplinary journey to design and construct an ecological sustainable house model, integrating math, English, Spanish, and arts. Inspired by an architect guest speaker, they will explore sustainable architecture principles and apply them creatively using recyclable materials. The project culminates in a presentation where students showcase their house models and design systems, fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Learning goals

Students will develop an understanding of sustainable architecture by designing and constructing a model of an eco-friendly house using recyclable materials. They will enhance their mathematical skills by calculating dimensions, area, and volume for their models. Through English and Spanish, students will refine their communication skills by creating bilingual presentations and written reports. In art, they will explore creative design principles to aesthetically present their models. The project culminates in a presentation where students articulate their design choices and the sustainability features of their houses to peers and community members.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSG.MG.A.3: Apply geometric methods to solve design problems.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective.
NGSS - HS-ESS3-4: Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.

Products

Students will create a series of slides (diapositivas) that document their research and design process, culminating in a comprehensive presentation. They will build a scale model of an ecological house using recyclable materials, showcasing their understanding of sustainable architecture. Additionally, students will design and propose systems for energy efficiency and resource management within their model. The project will conclude with a presentation to peers, where students will articulate their design choices and the ecological benefits of their house.

Launch

Begin the project with an interactive session featuring the architect guest speaker, who will share insights on sustainable architecture and eco-friendly design principles. Students will then engage in a brainstorming workshop where they sketch initial ideas for their eco-houses, drawing inspiration from their own homes. This will be followed by a collaborative activity where students explore and categorize recyclable materials they can use for their models, setting the stage for their creative process.

Exhibition

Students will showcase their eco-friendly house models in a community exhibition, presenting their designs and systems in both English and Spanish. They will create engaging slideshows to accompany their models, highlighting the sustainable features and materials used. The exhibition will include a Q&A session, allowing students to articulate their design process and the environmental impact of their choices. Attendees will include peers, teachers, parents, and the guest architect, fostering a supportive environment for students to share their learning journey.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Welcome the architect guest speaker for an interactive session where they introduce sustainable architecture and eco-friendly design principles with real-world examples and visuals.	Conduct a brainstorming workshop where students sketch initial ideas for their eco-friendly houses, drawing inspiration from their own homes. Encourage creativity and discussion among peers.	Organize a collaborative activity to explore and categorize recyclable materials available for constructing the house models. Have students research different materials and their sustainability benefits.	Facilitate a group discussion on the importance of sustainability and how it influences architectural design, encouraging students to share personal insights and ideas.
Deliverables	1. Sketches of initial eco-friendly house designs by each student, highlighting key sustainable features inspired by their own homes. 2. A categorized list of recyclable materials students plan to use in their models, including a brief description of each material's sustainability benefits.
Preparation	1. Coordinate with the guest architect to prepare and deliver an engaging presentation on sustainable architecture, ensuring they bring visuals and examples. 2. Gather art supplies for the sketching workshop, such as pencils, erasers, and sketch pads. 3. Prepare a diverse selection of recyclable materials for students to explore, including information sheets on each material's environmental impact. 4. Develop a discussion guide to facilitate conversations about sustainability and its role in architecture, ensuring questions are thought-provoking and age-appropriate.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Conduct a math workshop where students learn to calculate dimensions, area, and volume. Use real-world examples related to house construction to make the concepts relatable.	Organize a bilingual session where students start drafting their presentations in both English and Spanish, focusing on introducing their eco-friendly house concept.	Engage students in a design thinking workshop where they refine their initial sketches into scaled blueprints, incorporating mathematical calculations for accuracy.	Facilitate a peer review session where students present their draft blueprints and receive constructive feedback from classmates to refine their designs.
Deliverables	1. Completed mathematical calculations for dimensions, area, and volume related to their house designs. 2. Draft bilingual presentation outlines that introduce their eco-friendly house concept, covering key sustainable features. 3. Refined scaled blueprints of their eco-friendly house models, integrating feedback from peer reviews.
Preparation	1. Prepare math resources and examples related to house construction to facilitate the dimensions, area, and volume workshop. 2. Create bilingual presentation templates to guide students in drafting their presentations in both English and Spanish. 3. Gather materials and examples for the design thinking workshop, including rulers, graph paper, and scale conversion charts. 4. Develop a peer review rubric to guide students in providing constructive feedback during the review session.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Facilitate a research session where students explore different sustainable energy sources and systems. They will investigate how these can be incorporated into their eco-friendly house designs.	Conduct a collaborative workshop where students brainstorm and design energy-efficient systems for their house models, such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting, or passive heating and cooling.	Lead an art-focused session where students create visual representations of their chosen energy systems, using mixed media to express functionality and aesthetics.	Organize a peer exchange activity where students present their energy system designs and receive feedback, encouraging reflection and refinement of their ideas.
Deliverables	1. Detailed research notes on various sustainable energy sources and systems, highlighting key features and benefits. 2. Initial design sketches and plans for energy-efficient systems to be integrated into their eco-friendly house models. 3. Visual representations of energy systems, creatively illustrating their integration and functionality within the house design.
Preparation	1. Compile a list of resources and articles on sustainable energy systems for student research, ensuring a range of complexity to cater to different learning needs. 2. Gather materials for the art session, such as construction paper, markers, paints, and collage supplies, to support diverse artistic expression. 3. Develop a feedback form or checklist to guide the peer exchange activity, focusing on clarity, creativity, and feasibility of energy system designs. 4. Prepare a presentation or handout on examples of energy-efficient systems in real-world architecture to inspire student designs.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Facilitate a session on environmental impact assessments where students learn how to evaluate the ecological footprint of building materials and designs.	Organize a group activity where students assess their eco-friendly house models for sustainability using the criteria learned. They will document areas of improvement.	Conduct a hands-on workshop where students modify their house designs based on their assessments, incorporating new sustainable materials or design changes.	Lead a language session where students practice articulating their design choices and changes in both English and Spanish, preparing for their bilingual presentations.
Deliverables	1. Completed environmental impact assessment reports for each house model, detailing sustainability scores and suggested improvements. 2. Revised designs of house models with documented changes and justifications based on the assessment results.
Preparation	1. Prepare educational materials on environmental impact assessments, including examples and criteria for evaluating sustainability. 2. Gather additional recyclable materials and tools for students to use in modifying their house models. 3. Develop a bilingual vocabulary list related to sustainability and design to support students in articulating their changes. 4. Create a checklist or rubric to guide students in evaluating and documenting their model assessments and revisions.

Week 5	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Host a group session where students develop marketing materials to promote their eco-friendly houses, focusing on the unique sustainable features of their models.	Conduct a workshop on persuasive writing and visual storytelling. Guide students to create compelling narratives and visuals for their presentations.	Organize a collaborative activity where students design a prototype brochure or flyer that highlights the environmental benefits and innovative design elements of their house models.	Facilitate peer feedback sessions, allowing students to present their marketing materials to classmates for constructive criticism and refinement ideas.
Deliverables	1. Draft marketing materials, including persuasive write-ups and visual elements, promoting the eco-friendly features of their house models. 2. A prototype brochure or flyer created by each student, showcasing the sustainable aspects and design innovations of their house models.
Preparation	1. Prepare resources and examples of effective marketing materials, including brochures and flyers with a focus on sustainability. 2. Gather tools and materials for creating visual elements, such as graphic design software, colored paper, markers, and digital devices if available. 3. Develop a guide on persuasive writing techniques and visual storytelling to support students in crafting their narratives. 4. Create a feedback form to assist students in providing and receiving constructive criticism during peer review sessions.

Week 6	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Facilitate a workshop where students explore innovative waste management and recycling systems that can be integrated into their eco-friendly house models.	Conduct a design session where students create detailed plans for incorporating waste management systems into their house models, considering practicality and sustainability.	Lead an art-focused activity where students build small prototypes of their waste management systems using recyclable materials, demonstrating both function and form.	Organize a peer presentation session where students showcase their waste management system prototypes and receive feedback on their design and functionality.
Deliverables	1. Detailed plans for waste management and recycling systems tailored for each eco-friendly house model. 2. Functional prototypes of waste management systems, creatively constructed using recyclable materials.
Preparation	1. Compile a list of resources and case studies on innovative waste management systems in sustainable architecture for student reference. 2. Gather a variety of recyclable materials and tools for prototype construction, ensuring there are adequate supplies for creative expression. 3. Develop a feedback rubric to guide students in assessing the practicality and creativity of their peers' waste management system designs. 4. Prepare a presentation on best practices in waste management within sustainable housing to inspire and guide student designs.

Week 7	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Facilitate a collaborative workshop where students research and brainstorm eco-friendly interior design concepts, considering materials, aesthetics, and functionality.	Conduct a design session where students create mood boards that visually represent the interior design concepts for their eco-friendly house models, using images, textures, and color palettes.	Lead a bilingual writing session where students draft descriptions of their chosen interior designs in both English and Spanish, focusing on the sustainable features and the rationale behind their choices.	Organize a peer review session where students present their mood boards and written descriptions to classmates, receiving feedback to refine their ideas and communication.
Deliverables	1. A comprehensive mood board for the interior design of each student's eco-friendly house model, showcasing sustainable materials and design elements. 2. Bilingual written descriptions that articulate the interior design choices, including sustainability features and aesthetic considerations.
Preparation	1. Gather a variety of interior design magazines, sample swatches, and digital resources to inspire student mood boards. 2. Prepare bilingual vocabulary lists related to interior design and sustainability to support students in writing their descriptions. 3. Develop a peer review rubric to guide students in providing constructive feedback on mood boards and written descriptions. 4. Set up a presentation space with display boards or digital tools for students to share their mood boards and descriptions with peers.

Week 8	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Facilitate a session where students finalize their eco-friendly house models, ensuring all design elements, energy systems, and interior features are completed.	Conduct a presentation rehearsal workshop where students practice delivering their bilingual presentations, focusing on clarity, engagement, and effective communication of sustainable features.	Lead a peer critique session where students present their rehearsed presentations to classmates, receiving feedback on content, delivery, and visual aids.	Organize a Q&A preparation session where students anticipate potential questions from the audience and prepare responses, reinforcing their understanding of their design choices.
Deliverables	1. Completed eco-friendly house models, fully integrating design, energy systems, and interior elements. 2. Rehearsed bilingual presentations, ready for final delivery, incorporating feedback from peer critiques. 3. A list of anticipated questions and prepared responses for the exhibition Q&A session.
Preparation	1. Ensure all materials and tools are available for students to finalize their house models, including any additional recyclable materials needed. 2. Prepare a feedback form to guide peer critiques during the rehearsal workshop, focusing on presentation skills and content clarity. 3. Arrange a space for presentation rehearsals, equipped with any necessary AV equipment for students to practice using slides and visual aids. 4. Develop a list of common questions related to sustainable design for students to use in the Q&A preparation session.

Week 9	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Facilitate a gallery walk where students display their completed eco-friendly house models and presentations, allowing peers to explore each other's work in a structured format.	Conduct a feedback session where students provide detailed written and verbal feedback on each other's models and presentations, emphasizing constructive criticism and appreciation.	Lead a session where students refine their presentations and models based on peer feedback, focusing on enhancing clarity, design, and presentation skills.	Organize a practice exhibition where students present to a small group of peers and teachers, simulating the final exhibition environment and receiving last-minute suggestions.
Deliverables	1. Refined eco-friendly house models and completed bilingual presentations, incorporating peer feedback and suggestions. 2. A feedback reflection document where students outline the changes made to their models and presentations based on peer critiques.
Preparation	1. Prepare guidelines and templates for the feedback session to ensure students provide constructive and specific feedback. 2. Set up the classroom as a gallery space, with designated areas for each student to display their model and presentation materials. 3. Develop a checklist for students to use during the practice exhibition, focusing on presentation delivery, engagement, and content accuracy. 4. Ensure availability of any additional materials or resources students may need for refining their models and presentations.

Week 10	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
Activities	Organize the final exhibition event where students present their eco-friendly house models and bilingual presentations to peers, teachers, parents, and community members. Students will engage in a Q&A session, explaining their design choices and sustainability features.	Facilitate a reflection session where students document their learning journey, challenges faced, and how they overcame them. Encourage them to write a reflective essay in both English and Spanish.	Conduct a celebration and debrief session where students share what they enjoyed most about the project, recognizing individual and group achievements and providing closure to the project.
Deliverables	1. Final presentation of eco-friendly house models and bilingual presentations at the exhibition event. 2. Reflective essay in English and Spanish, detailing the project journey, key learnings, and personal growth.
Preparation	1. Set up the exhibition space with designated areas for each student to display their models and presentation materials. Ensure all AV equipment is functioning for presentation needs. 2. Prepare a schedule and run-of-show for the exhibition event, coordinating with any guest attendees or speakers. 3. Develop a reflection guide with prompts to support students in writing their reflective essays, ensuring it encourages deep thought and personal insight.