Lesson Overview:

Lesson focuses on students learning about how sustainability, biomimicry, and architecture can work together to create innovative and feasible housing solutions for those in need. Students will need to collect information on the complications that people encounter when faced with not having shelter, where are some of the most resource deprived areas of the world, and what energy conservation technologies exist that can supplement the function of a shelter to provide adequate living conditions.

Age Level or Subject:

• Grades 11-12

• Subjects: Environmental Science, Engineering Design Development

Lesson or Unit Objectives:

Students will be able to:

• Describe the locations and potential life-threatening conditions of areas that are likely to be hit by natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes and fires.

• Describe the ways that arthropods design their homes that are well suited to their habitats using specific shapes, materials and architecture.

• Design, build, and test an apparatus to reduce the turbidity of water as a preliminary step in preparation of water for human consumption.

• Experiment with solar power, wind power and hydropower; building an understanding of how these alternative energy sources may be implemented in times of crisis.

• Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.

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