Design a Sustainable Eco-House STEM Project (Environmental Science 5E PBL)

lesson overview

In the Eco-House Extravaganza project, students work in teams to complete the ultimate project-based learning STEM experience: planning and designing an energy-efficient, eco-friendly house in the U.S. city of their choice. This product includes planning sheets and suggested resources for lessons as well as an interactive game-like planning tool that can help students “research” and develop ideas for design solutions while working within constraints such as budgeting. 

• Project-based learning

• Real-world solutions provided by a sustainable building engineer

• Gameboard and cards promote debate and a deeper understanding of concepts

• Discuss technologies such as solar panels, wind energy, hydroponics, and more!

• Editable Teacher Slides and Student handouts

Sustainable Eco-House Project Overview

Students learn about current examples and types of technology used to build sustainable homes. Students then form teams and complete the Eco-House Planning Game to determine the best solutions for a sustainable house. Gamecards include pros and cons, power, cost, and happiness levels that have been developed with input from a sustainable building engineer to ensure accuracy and reflection of real-world solutions.

Gamecards promote great discussions among students as they weigh the different options! After playing the game, teams will use the selected solutions to plan a layout for their sustainable home. Educators may take this project a step further by providing students with materials to build the final house design and present solutions. Below are the different areas that teams will explore in planning a sustainable house. Solutions selected based on budget, power, and happiness tracking:

• Location in US

• Food

• Energy

• Water

• Insulation

• Heating

• Entertainment

• Sleeping

• Bathrooms

5E Science Unit:

1. Engage - Identify the Problem (Session 1)

2. Explore - Brainstorm Solutions and Planning Game (Session 2 - 3)

3. Explain - Design Eco-House (Session 4 - 5)

4. Elaborate - Modify & Build Colony Model (Session 6 - 7+)

5. Evaluate - Present Design and Reflect (Session 8)

Lesson Includes:

1. Detailed teacher guide with links to resources

2. Editable Teacher Instruction Slides

3. Eco-House Planning Game boards (with instructions to print on regular 8.5 x 11 paper or poster size)

4. Game Cards with real technologies reviewed by experts

5. Student Handouts

6. Engineering Design Process posters

7. Rubric

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