If you could live anywhere in the world and in the climate of your choice, what sort of a house would you design? Hook fourth-grade students with this challenge! They'll... ...more

If you could live anywhere in the world and in the climate of your choice, what sort of a house would you design? Hook fourth-grade students with this challenge! They'll bring their imaginations to the table as they concurrently learn about world climates and building types. Student pairs brainstorm, design and sketch houses to withstand particular climates. Then they create small model houses and test them against simulations of "the elements" of different climates (rain, heat, earthquakes, tornadoes). Youngsters leave the activity knowing the basics of structural design and experimentation, several climate types, and a new awareness of the impact of climate on the building of structures. Bonus: This design-build-test activity is ready for personalization for your classroom-perhaps for the study of a particular climate or country, or certain types of building designs or methodology, or specific structure/material tests. ...less