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Buildings |
Natural building materials |
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Experiment with using thermal mass (e.g. a water storage or rock inside a polytunnel) and see how when inserted in case help keep the temperatures moderate (cooler in afternoon and warmer in the night). |
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Buildings |
Natural building materials |
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Learn about local building materials which are used in local constructions, and research the benefits of the different materials. |
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Buildings |
Natural building materials |
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Find out about different methods to warm and cool buildings, and compare them - What resources do they use? How much do they cost? What are the environmental effects of using them? |
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Buildings |
Natural building materials |
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Learn the importance of the orientation of a building/den (with respect to sun/wind and how it effects the inside microclimate e.g. a den with the wind passing through will be cooler than one sheltered from the wind). |
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Buildings |
Biomimicry |
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Watch how birds build their nests. |
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Buildings |
Biomimicry |
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Observe how buildings are built in harmony with the natural landscape and climate (lower buildings in a high valley, pointed roofs where it snows a lot, green roofs, etc.). |
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Buildings |
Biomimicry |
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Copy a design from nature into something they build (biomimicry). |
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Buildings |
Biomimicry |
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Talk about something amazing which an animal does, such as 'How does a bird make a nest with it's beak!?!' and try to copy their shelter (e.g. foxes den, wood mouse nest). |
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Buildings |
Insulation and draught-proofing |
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Experience sitting in two different buildings in winter - a well insulated building and an uninsulated one. Discuss the differences. |
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Buildings |
Insulation and draught-proofing |
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Go out camping and find out ways of keeping yourself warm. |