Quest 4 – The homes we live in
LESSON CREATED BY Earth School Partners USING TED-Ed's LESSON CREATOR
Video from TED-Ed YouTube Channel
Let’s Begin…
In this Quest, we’ll explore all the ways our homes are connected to nature. Our houses, apartments, and rooms actually host a whole microscopic world of strange creatures. We’ll also learn about the many environmentally-friendly ways to build and live in our homes. To get started, let’s watch educator Michael Marder explore the science of dust. After the video, continue onto other sections to learn more, interact, act and share.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Before you dive into the rest of this Quest, check out these videos for more info about the micro-inhabitants living at home as well as Earth-friendly homes and building materials:
Watch 1: Home Sweet Micro-Habitat (Nat Geo)
Watch 2: The Eco-Friendly Genius of 'Earthships' | That's Amazing
Watch 3: Housing through the centuries
Watch 4: A Cardboard House? Wikklehouse
LEARN + INTERACT
Discover how a house can be the perfect temperature, without needing energy-sucking air conditioners or heaters. Watch this quick video to learn about Passive Homes in under two minutes. (for ages 11+)
Find out other ways our homes can be eco-friendly, by following Inhabitat’s interactive site about building materials. (for ages 11+)
Get some inspiration from these amazing animal homes. Architecture has been inspired by nature for millennia, (we’ll learn more about this in Week 2!) try your hand at building a cardboard playhouse in ode to the animal habitats we studied. (for ages 5-10)
Challenge yourself to build this Geodesic dome made out of rolled paper struts or rods. Be sure to share pictures of your creations using #EarthSchoolTake pictures of your fort and how you’re using it. (for all ages)
ACT + SHARE
Build a fort! Here are a couple of fort challenges to test your building skills: pillow fort + sheet fort. As you enjoy your cozy fort think of all those teeny creatures we share our homes with and imagine the giant worlds we might be part of! (for ages 5-10)
Write a story from the perspective of a dust mite. What would the world of your house seem like in their eyes? (for all ages)
Take inspiration from the amazing new building materials you saw in the videos and imagine you could create a house out of any material you can think of that is currently considered waste: a house made of plastic bottles or empty milk cartons? How about a house made from broken sports equipment like tennis rackets, baseball bats, skis and sticks. Try drawing it or make a model. (for ages 10+)
WANT MORE?
Read: Another important way to keep your home green? Keep it squeaky clean! Learn about environmentally-friendly cleaning with this article from Parents.com. (for ages 10+)
Watch: The Atlantic’s animated history of human housing. (for all ages)
Build: Challenge yourself using these plans to construct a model Habitat for Humanity home using everyday supplies. (for ages 11+)
Resources for Parents and Educators:
Help your students understand more about housing issues globally by using these great learning resources from Habitat for Humanity (for all ages)
Provide your learners with great building activities from PBS (for all ages)
This Earth School Quest was created by the following incredible educators and environmental experts: Kathleen Usher PhD
Watch 1: Home Sweet Micro-Habitat (Nat Geo)
Watch 2: The Eco-Friendly Genius of 'Earthships' | That's Amazing
Watch 3: Housing through the centuries
Watch 4: A Cardboard House? Wikklehouse
LEARN + INTERACT
Discover how a house can be the perfect temperature, without needing energy-sucking air conditioners or heaters. Watch this quick video to learn about Passive Homes in under two minutes. (for ages 11+)
Find out other ways our homes can be eco-friendly, by following Inhabitat’s interactive site about building materials. (for ages 11+)
Get some inspiration from these amazing animal homes. Architecture has been inspired by nature for millennia, (we’ll learn more about this in Week 2!) try your hand at building a cardboard playhouse in ode to the animal habitats we studied. (for ages 5-10)
Challenge yourself to build this Geodesic dome made out of rolled paper struts or rods. Be sure to share pictures of your creations using #EarthSchoolTake pictures of your fort and how you’re using it. (for all ages)
ACT + SHARE
Build a fort! Here are a couple of fort challenges to test your building skills: pillow fort + sheet fort. As you enjoy your cozy fort think of all those teeny creatures we share our homes with and imagine the giant worlds we might be part of! (for ages 5-10)
Write a story from the perspective of a dust mite. What would the world of your house seem like in their eyes? (for all ages)
Take inspiration from the amazing new building materials you saw in the videos and imagine you could create a house out of any material you can think of that is currently considered waste: a house made of plastic bottles or empty milk cartons? How about a house made from broken sports equipment like tennis rackets, baseball bats, skis and sticks. Try drawing it or make a model. (for ages 10+)
WANT MORE?
Read: Another important way to keep your home green? Keep it squeaky clean! Learn about environmentally-friendly cleaning with this article from Parents.com. (for ages 10+)
Watch: The Atlantic’s animated history of human housing. (for all ages)
Build: Challenge yourself using these plans to construct a model Habitat for Humanity home using everyday supplies. (for ages 11+)
Resources for Parents and Educators:
Help your students understand more about housing issues globally by using these great learning resources from Habitat for Humanity (for all ages)
Provide your learners with great building activities from PBS (for all ages)
This Earth School Quest was created by the following incredible educators and environmental experts: Kathleen Usher PhD
We look forward to seeing your Quest in action!
Document your Quests— take photos of the experiments, activities, drawings, and writing prompts you tried— and share your journey with the Earth School team by using the hashtag #EarthSchool. We'll feature some of your photos and stories on our social channels, hopefully encouraging others to join the cause!
Explore additional creative activities (for all ages!) from the Nature of Stuff and save images of your work from each Quest in Littlescribe – later you can create an original card, book, magazine or calendar to bring your adventures to life!
Document your Quests— take photos of the experiments, activities, drawings, and writing prompts you tried— and share your journey with the Earth School team by using the hashtag #EarthSchool. We'll feature some of your photos and stories on our social channels, hopefully encouraging others to join the cause!
Explore additional creative activities (for all ages!) from the Nature of Stuff and save images of your work from each Quest in Littlescribe – later you can create an original card, book, magazine or calendar to bring your adventures to life!
