Design Your Own Earthship
Lesson Plans
Grades6, 7, 8Visual and Performing Arts, Engineering
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Provided by ClimateScience
What it is
- This is an activity to design an Earthship, which is a self-sustaining shelter made from natural and upcycled materials.
- Students need to account for food, energy, water, heating/cooling, ventilation, and waste management in their plan.
Teaching tips
Positives
- It is an excellent way for students to apply their knowledge of sustainability to develop creative climate solutions.
- This can be used as a homework assignment or as an activity in class.
Additional Prerequisites
- Teachers should make sure to go over the instructions with the students.
- The students may require assistance and advice on how to theoretically source the required materials.
Differentiation
- Teachers could introduce students to Earthships by telling them about the Earthship community in New Mexico.
- This activity is ideal for lessons on technical drawing or design.
- In the classroom, teachers could make this a group activity and expand the project to include researching design ideas and presenting their design to the class.
- Other engaging design projects are Making a solar Oven and Build Your Own Equitable City.
From the scientist review
This open-ended activity challenges students to design their own "Earthship" building (via a cross-section schematic) that is off-grid and is constructed using reclaimed or recycled materials. This activity does not explain where the term "Earthship" originates, so some additional clarification from the teacher may be needed. This activity is recommended for teaching.
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