Eco Warriors: Unleash the Future!

All grades Project 8 weeks

Eco Warriors: Unleash the Future!

Bertha A

MS-ESS3-4

MS-ESS3-5

MS-ESS3-3

MS-PS1-3

1-pager

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to engage students in exploring human impacts on the environment through hands-on investigations, focusing on eco-friendly construction practices and the use of synthetic materials. Students will critically explore and discuss the balance between innovation and environmental responsibility by envisioning their ideal eco-friendly homes. Through brainstorming and workshops, students will apply scientific principles to understand real-world cause-and-effect relationships in Earth’s systems, fostering meaningful participation and collaboration. This experiential learning experience aims to cultivate insights that students can bring into their communities and future sustainable practices.

Learning goals

Students will develop knowledge of how human activities influence Earth's systems, including understanding the environmental impacts of population growth and resource consumption. Through investigation, they will explore the origins and societal implications of synthetic materials, along with identifying eco-friendly construction features. Students will engage in critical thinking by constructing evidence-based arguments and honing their scientific reasoning skills, focusing on the compromises required for sustainable living.

Standards

[Next Generation Science Standards] MS-ESS3-4 - Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
[Next Generation Science Standards] MS-ESS3-5 - Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
[Next Generation Science Standards] MS-ESS3-3 - Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
[Next Generation Science Standards] MS-PS1-3 - Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.

Products

As students explore the concepts of eco-friendly homes, they will create comprehensive project portfolios that include sketches, material lists, and diagrams illustrating sustainable construction features. Students will develop informational pamphlets describing the environmental impact and benefits of synthetic materials. These portfolios and pamphlets will be showcased during the exhibition, allowing students to articulate their understanding and proposed solutions for minimizing human impact on Earth's systems.

Launch

Kick off the project with a collaborative 'Future Builders' workshop where students investigate the properties and ecological impacts of different synthetic materials used in construction. Facilitate a brainstorming challenge where students envision and sketch features of their ideal eco-friendly homes, incorporating new technologies and innovations to reduce environmental impacts. Wrap up the session with a dynamic presentation showcase, allowing students to articulate their designs, delve into the cause and effect relations of building materials, and explore the necessity of compromises for sustainability.

Exhibition

Students will present their eco-friendly house designs, highlighting the research and solutions for reducing environmental impact. An interactive exhibit will showcase their investigations into the connections between synthetic materials and environmental outcomes. Parents and peers will explore a gallery of student work, discovering innovative design ideas for sustainable living spaces.

Learning Journey

Empathize

Students will conduct interviews and surveys to gather insights on what eco-friendly home features matter most to their community, fostering empathy and understanding of real user needs.

Day 1