Lesson: Building a Sustainable Future

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  CTE Lesson Plan

• CTE Course Info and Benchmark Notes

  
  

  CTE-AC.912.8720330.6.3- Identify specific practices that can lessen adverse impact on the environment

• Unit Outline

  
  

  This lesson is designed to be used with the case study, “Building a Sustainable Future.” See CPALMS resource ID# 215405.

• Career Connection

  
  

  This lesson will help students learn the importance of sustainable construction methods that lessen the adverse impact on the environment. Students will learn the benefits of several sustainable construction methods, while researching, working in groups, and giving presentations.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  Students will be able to:

  • Identify different sustainable construction styles.
  • Research and compare the pros and cons of different construction methods.
  • Conduct research.
  • Collaborate in a group to discuss issues and present the information.

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  Students should be familiar with:

  • Students should be familiar with:

    • The basic concept of sustainable construction methods and why it is important to lessen the adverse effect on the environment.
    • How to conduct research, finding reliable/valid sources, presenting information, working in groups.
    • Nepal and its environmental conditions.

• Guiding Questions

  
  
  1. What do you understand by sustainable construction methods, and how is it different from regular construction styles?
  2. What sustainable construction methods do you know, and how do these methods contribute to environmental sustainability?
  3. How are rammed earth and Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks considered better alternative construction methods in Nepal?

• Procedure

  
  
  1. Introduction: The teacher will start the class by sharing photos of different construction methods: RCC construction, Rammed earth construction, Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks, bamboo construction, and plastic brick construction.
     • The teacher will ask students to identify the type of construction and which is environmentally friendly. Students will justify their answers.
     • It is recommended that teachers spend a lot of time in this discussion and let ideas come from the students as this is the core of the lesson. The teacher will facilitate the conversation and allow it to go into an in-depth discussion about sustainable construction methods, why they are different, and how they are environmentally friendly.
  2. Case study and Research: The teacher will introduce case study #215405, “Building a Sustainable Future,” and ask students to think about:
     • How do specific practices lessen the adverse impact on the environment when constructing new schools?
  3. After reading the case study, students will be given the attached comparison worksheet where they will research individually.
  4. The teacher will assign students to research the advantages, disadvantages, and environmental impact of the two construction methods mentioned in the case: Rammed Earth Construction and Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks.
     • Teachers will allow students to use any available technology for their research.
  5. Group Discussion: The teacher will split the class into 4-5 groups. Each group member will share their research findings and the arguments noted on their worksheets. They will discuss the construction method they think is most suitable for KOK, to reach a consensus on the preferred method.
  6. To conclude the lesson, the teacher will instruct students to return to their worksheets and update the information based on insights gained from the group discussions. Students will include any options they believe are viable, along with any advantages, disadvantages, or environmental benefits that may have been overlooked initially. This exercise will help students grasp the core concepts, of identifying specific practices that lessen the adverse impact on the environment.

• Teacher Notes

  
  

  Teachers are asked to prepare pictures of different construction methods before the class. Please include, but not be limited to, RCC construction, Rammed earth construction, Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks, bamboo construction, and plastic brick construction.

  This lesson can be used for 2 class periods and during the second class, the teacher can:

  1. Presentation: Teachers will create a scenario where students act as a consulting group, presenting to the KOK Board about which construction method KOK should choose and why.
     • Each group will present their chosen method and provide five reasons for their selection, based on their discussions and research.
     • Groups are encouraged to use a flipchart or whiteboard to support their reasoning.
     • Teachers will ask students to use markers of different colors for writing and a green marker to highlight reasoning that discusses the positive environmental impact.
  2. Class Vote: After the presentations, the teacher will conduct a class vote to determine the construction method students like the best. The teacher will instruct students to focus solely on the arguments written in green color or those arguments that discuss the positive impact on the environment of each construction method.