Stage 3 Learning activities

Ideas for general learning activities emphasis on Sustainable Living in a built environment - ErinEarth as an example.

The suggested activities reflect this topic area.

1. Visitor Centre: The Gazebo

• Show students the stain glass windows and tell them the stories they represent.
• Look at the building materials used to build the gazebo. How do the mud bricks compare with the brick used for the house?
• Children could make their own mud bricks.

2. Passive solar sustainable house

Design features outside the House

• Observe the house from the front to understand orientation.
• Discuss the seasonal path of the sun and how this impacts on the house.
• Find details in the built environment designed to minimise energy use.
• Students examine the trees planted around the house and determine how they would provide protection at different times of the year, thus minimising energy use.

Design features inside the House

• Observe design features.
• Discuss insulation, building materials.

More information: http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/index.html

3. The Waterwise Garden

• Observe examples of sustainability – water recycling , grey water, dam, windmill, dry area plants, composting, mulching.
• Examine biodiversity; species of saltbush, eucalypts, birdlife using site.
• Co-dependency; animals, plants and humans sharing habitat.
• Art activities, for example using the patterns on leaves, seed-pods to design collages.
• Posters to promote sustainability, biodiversity, earthcare.

Individual Reflection

• Find a place in the garden where you can be comfortable.
  Insert here “Enjoying The Natural World” From Stage 1.

Back to For Teachers, Stage 3 Programme