A. Sustainable housing: The Power of the SUN – Observation outside
• Go outside with class. Where are student shadows? Where does the sun rise and set? Where does the sun travel across the sky? Are shadows the same all year? How do they differ at different times if the year? Why?
• Where is it hotter? What is the effect of shaded areas? How does the sun affect different parts of a building?
• Look at school buildings – design of eaves, verandahs, awnings. What is the impact of this?
Assign roles to students, groups of 6 (can double up roles – could be done groups of 3 see brackets)
1. Sun (a)
2. Earth– collect a globe (b)
3. Clockwise/Tilt Checker – check angles and movement (leave out if group of 3)
4. Torch (a)
5. House Box (b)
6. Photographer/ Collaborator (c)
• Photographer/ Collaborator takes photos and saves to Onenote Collaboration space
B. Globe
• Sun, Earth and Checker out front of group, rest sit down. Student as earth, rotates around sun. What direction? How long does this take? How are night and day created?
• How do we get seasons? How long? Checker checks as earth rotates around – do winter and summer.
• Put globe back, sun, earth and checker sit down
C. Look at house model: see photos below
Make a house with photocopier box and windows cut in. Need box lid and torch.
• Photographer/ Collaborator takes photos and saves to Onenote Collaboration space
• Torch and House Box students use torch; demonstrate angle of sun in summer and winter with open living area door. What is the difference summer and winter on heat entering living areas?
• How can the summer sun be excluded, but winter sun included using roof?
• How can we improve this design?
• How can we use natural light more effectively – back of house?
• How can we best situate windows?
• Which parts of the house should be located where to best use natural light?
• Good image of clerestory windows and sun angles different seasons https://ecoabode.com.au/solar-passive-design/
D. Check understanding – Kahoot quiz https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/65725ca5-0c2e-40ba-967d-d659a7a96184
OR
1. Sun rises in …. and sets in ….
2. Living areas should ideally face….
3. Most windows should face… and few windows face …. and …..
4. Why have windows on the south?
5. How can we reduce heat in houses in summer?
6. How can we increase heat in houses in winter?
E. Other resources
Seasons: Australian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgq0LThW7QA 5 mins 38
Passive Design principles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a2oXpn31zU 2 mins
Building design with simulations of shadows different seasons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YylmeMilok8 5 mins
House Model
AHS Makerspace 