Learning Cycle Planner
Energy Efficient Homes Lesson
Adopted from Activities 3 and 4 in Energy Efficient Homes (Alliance to Save Energy,
2009).
Common Curriculum Goal:
Topics: Green building, energy efficiency, systems thinking
Learning Objective: Expose students to the some of the major concepts involved
with sustainable building
Exploration Phase:
Hands-on Activities: 1.Configuration of an Energy Efficient Home
2. Envelope of an Energy Efficient Home
Exploration through Media: Virtual Tour of Harvard’s Blackstone building:
http://www.uos.harvard.edu/blackstone/tour/#tour
Concept Development Phase:
Concepts to be taught: Energy flow, heat transfer, residential energy use, energy
efficiency
Procedures to be taught: Calculation of solar exposure, monitoring temperature
change, monitoring and comparing heat transfer, graphing data
Activities: Extension: Weatherization of the school
Connections to other Lessons:
Electricity audit, Making a Solar Air Heater, Gerding Theater (LEED-Platinum)
Tour/Scavenger Hunt
Teaching across the Curriculum:
Social Studies: Green Building Adds to Affordability Portland Tribune article:
http://www.portlandtribune.com/sustainable/print_story.php?story_id=117346649527258
600
1. Configuration of an Energy Efficient Home (Alliance to Save Energy, 2009)
Allow for two to three 45 minute class periods
Materials for each small group of students:
Shoe box, scissors, black paint, white poster board, rulers, plastic wrap, masking tape,
thermometers.
Procedure (Alliance to Save Energy, 2009)
(Alliance to Save Energy, 2009)
2. Envelope of an Energy Efficient Home (Alliance to Save Energy, 2009):
Allow for two 45 minute class periods
Materials for full class:
Hot plate, watch or timer, metal stem thermometer (0-1000C), large beaker, two plastic
straws of different diameter, tape, and a 6 inch by 6 inch (or so) portion of the following:
.25 inch thick fiberglass, .25 inch thick plywood, and ceramic tile
Procedure:
(Alliance to Save Energy, 2009)
References:
Alliance to Save Energy. (2009). Energy efficient homes. Retrieved June 30, 2009, from,
http://ase.org/section/_audience/educators/lessons/high/
© Joe Orzali 2009