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Introduction
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TAKE COVER! IT"S COMING! RUN! GET OUT BEFORE IT"S TOO LATE!
Have
you ever heard these things when refering to a natural disaster or
witnessed the effects? Can you name a couple types of weather-related
disasters and what causes these phenomena to occur? As a group watch
this video
clip which exemlifies one severe natural disaster; Hurricane Katrina -
2005. Discuss what effects this storm had on the city of New
Orleans and its citizens. Futhermore, click on this link to investigate other disasters such as Tornados, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes.
In each circumstance homes were detroyed, lives were lost, priceless treasures gone: could this have been prevented?
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Task
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Now,
you are going to design a structure capable of withstanding
natural disasters. To accomplish this task members of the
group will research building materials, designs, and geographical
locations best suited for withstanding disasters such as Volcanoes,
Floods, Tornados, and Earthquakes.
After the design is finished, the home will be checked for weaknesses and flaws to assure that when you hear things such as TAKE COVER! IT"S COMING! RUN! GET OUT BEFORE IT"S TOO LATE! You will be worry free and safe from earth's destruction in your disaster proof home.
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Process
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When
storm sirens sound, where do you go and what do you do? Does your
family go to the most structurally safe portion of your home for
protection? Every year thousands of home are distroyed and lives are
vastly affected through storm damages. Use your own personal
experiences and what you will
discover
through this WebQuest to create a disaster proof home capable of
withstanding several types of natural disasters and storms.
You and your group will build a home which will be presented to
the entirety of the class and be tested for structural stability!
1. Your
teacher has put you into groups based on the best working environment for this webquest.
2. In
your group, the teacher will assigned jobs .
There will be the Quality Control Facilitator, the Engineer, the Enviromental Coordinator , and the Director of Operations. All of you will work
together, but the job holders will be in charge of their assigned position.
- The
Quality Control Facilitator will be the gatherer of materials. This person will research and select contracting materials capable of withstanding the mentioned distatsters.
- The
Engineer
will desgin the overall structure of the home. This person will desgin
how the structure should look and design the structural make-up of the
home. They will also be assigned to make any corrections needed to the
structure of the home.
- The
Enviromental Coordinator
will select the best possible are for the homes location. This person
will be in charge of selecting the location of the home based on the
area that creates best chances for durability.
- The
Director of Operations
will test the homes design. This person will be in charge of testing
the the homes design and materials for weakness as well as report
necessary corrections to the engineer.
3. At this time, the Quality Control Facilitator
will begin researching contracting materials by visiting the
following link. Be sure to document what types of materials will be
used for each part of the home such as: roofing, foundation,
framework, windows, and any other materials that will be used to
provide a structurally sound home.
4. As the Quality Control Facilitator is researching and selecting building materials the Engineer
will visit this link to research possible structural designs of the
home. When creating this blue-print, be sure that this home is
capable of withstanding natural disasters, which designs are the
strongest?
5. Environmental Coordinator will
conduct research on safest landscape locations by following this link
and then selecting the best possible area for the home to be built.
This location must be within United States borders, however there are no limitations as to which state this home must reside in.
6. Simultaneously, the Director of Operations
will research homes that have been destroyed in natural disasters by
visiting the following link. Could any of these homes survived if they
had been built with different materials or in different locations?
7.
Now, after research has been conducted the building process will begin.
Students will use provided materials from a local recycling center to
represent the materials that were found during the research phase. At
this point the Quality Control Facilitator will have selected the building materials that will be used for home construction. The Engineer and Enviornmental Coordinator will have selected both the overall design of the home, and its geographic location.
8. Initially, the Quality Control Facilitator will present selected materials to the Engineer so that this person can in turn use those materials to construct the home. The Director of Operations may assist the Engineer with consrtuction, however no advice or corrections may be offered at this point; this person is simply an extra set of hands.
9. At the conclusion building phase, the Director of Opertaions can now critique the design of the home, and building materials making corrections as this person sees fit.
10. At this time the Engineer will make any corrections to the homes structure reported by the Director of Operations.
11. Next, the Enviromental Coordinator will take the home outside and choose the best possible location for the home to be placed.
12. Once placed at the best possible location, the Director of Operations
will need to consult the teacher for further instruction on how to test
the home for each natural disatser. Tests will be conducted to measure
the
structural integrity of the home, and its capability to withstand the
selected natural disasters: Tornados, Flooding, Volcanos, and
Earthquakes.
13. Once the Director of Operations has consulted with the teacher, it is time to begin testing.
14. If the home happens to be distorted an any way during the testing phase, the Director of Operations will be given one opportunity to make structural corrections to the home.
15.
After corrections have been made, the group will once again test the
home. At the conclusion of the testing period, the group will now
return to the classroom
16.
At this point, each member of
the group will use a "cause and effect" graphic organizer provided by
the teacher to document the results and outcomes of the testing stage.
Congratulations!
You have now discovered how to best construct a home capable of
withstanding a natural disaster, in the best possible location. If
you're home was destroyed during the natural disasters, you're not
alone! Engineering disaster proof homes is an on-going process that
will always require changes and critiques!
Resources
Type 1 Resource -- PETE or
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) Recycled soda, juice bottles and peanut butter jars and some jars
for oils. This plastic can be recycled into new construction products including
fabrics and carpet fibers! These products can be used as foundation for your
home.
Type 2 Resource -- HDPE
(High-Density Polyethylene)
Recycled milk, juice, detergent, bleach and motor oil containers. When
recycled, this plastic is used for lumber substitutes, trash and compost containers
among other products! In this instance you will use materials such as this to
form the walls and roof of your home.
Type 3 Resource -- V or
PVC (Vinyl/Polyvinyl Chloride) Recycled PVC pipe or other sturdy plastics which can
be used for windows, and doors
for your home. This plastic can also be turned into fencing, sewer pipes, and
strengthening ideas.
Type 4 Resource -- LDPE
(Low-Density Polyethylene) Used for cellophane
wrap, stretch wrap and squeeze bottles. This plastic is recycled and can be
used to strengthen your homes structural stability.
Type 5 Resource -- PP
(Polypropylene) Used for food containers and long underwear.
This plastic is recycled into furniture, carpet and auto parts.
Type 6 Resource -- PS
(Polystyrene) Also know as Styrofoam. This plastic is
recycled into plastic wood, packing peanuts, office and desk accessories.
Type 7 – Resource STUDENTS
SUPPLY - Other Plastics, Paper, and Metals This designation is for all other plastics that are difficult to
recycle, paper, and metals. Students can travel to local recycling center to
collect recycled metals, paper, or varying plastics that can be used during the
building phase of the home.
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Evaluation
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| CATEGORY |
4 Excellent |
3 Good |
2 Developing |
1 Unsatisfactory |
Score |
| Information Gathering |
Accurate
information taken from several sources in a systematic manner. |
Accurate
information taken from a couple of sources in a systematic manner. |
Accurate
information taken from a couple of sources but not systematically. |
Information
taken from only one source and/or information not accurate. |
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| Plan |
Plan
is neat with clear measurements and labeling for all components. |
Plan
is neat with clear measurements and labeling for most components. |
Plan
provides clear measurements and labeling for most components. |
Plan
does not show measurements clearly or is otherwise inadequately labeled. |
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| Construction -Materials |
Appropriate
materials were selected and creatively modified in ways that made the
structure stable. |
Appropriate
materials were selected and there was an attempt at creative modification to
make the structure stable. |
Appropriate
materials were selected but materials were not used to make structure stable. |
Inappropriate
materials were selected and contributed to a structure that fell apart. |
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| Modification/Testing |
Clear
evidence of troubleshooting, testing, and refinements based on structural
stability, or instability of home. |
Some
evidence of troubleshooting, testing and refinements based on structural
stability, or instability of home. |
Little
evidence of troubleshooting, testing and refinements based on structural
stability, or instability of home. |
No
evidence of troubleshooting, testing or refinement based on structural
stability, or instability of home. |
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| Coperative Group Involvment |
All
members worked together and all played equal role in group. |
Some
members of group were not involved at all times, and did not have an equal
role. |
Group
did not work well together but still created a structure that worked |
Individual
or member of group did not work together as one, structure was not completed. |
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For an additional resource on creating
rubrics see rubrics.html
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Conclusion
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Think
about your structure and how it withstood the natrual disasters that
were demonstrated in class. Did your structure hold up?
In many
situations homes are not made to withstand natural disasters and many
times homes are destroyed or left in shambles. In this activity you
created your own home that can withstand such disatsers. You have
seen the destruction natural disatsers can create and you should be
proud of the home you built and the work your entire group has done.
Congratulations! You now have the basic knowledge of building a home
capable of withstanding a natural disaster.
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Credits & References
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"10 Types of Shelters for Natural Disasters
:Construction Management Schools: Construction Management Degree." Construction
Management Schools: Construction Management Degree. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. <http://www.constructionmanagementschools.net/blog/2010/10-types-of-shelters-for-natural-disasters/>.
"Material List, Home Construction, Construction
Estimating." On-Line Construction Estimating Tool:Bids Are Just a Few
of the Items American Dream Consulting Can Manage for You! Web. 28 Apr.
2011. <http://www.americandreamconsulting.com/constructionPage2.asp>.
"Video -- Tsunamis 101 -- National Geographic." Video
-- Animals, Travel, Kids -- National Geographic. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
<http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/environment-natural-disasters/tsunamis/tsunami-101.html>.
Natural Disaster Proof Homes. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.californiaacontractor.com/>.
Green Roof & Earth Sheltered Homes & Building
Systems Manufactured by Formworks Building, Inc. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.formworksbuilding.com/>.
"Hurricane Proof, Disaster Proof, Earth Sheltered Homes
That Are Environmentallyfriendly." Green Roof & Earth Sheltered
Homes & Building Systems Manufactured by Formworks Building, Inc. Web.
28 Apr. 2011. <http://www.formworksbuilding.com/twister.html>.
"Disaster Proof Homes, Earthquake Proof Homes, Termite
Proof Homes, Tornado Proof Homes, Hurricane Proof Homes, Fire Proof
Homes." Hurricane, Earthquake, Fire, Tornado Proof, Fire Resistant
Homes. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.tridipanel.org/Currentprojects/index.htm>.
"Recycled Construction Materials." Nebraska
Energy Office. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.neo.ne.gov/home_const/factsheets/recycled_const_mat.htm>.
"Top 10 Most Terrifying Natural Disasters
InĀ History." Top 10 Lists - Listverse. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
<http://listverse.com/2010/03/15/top-10-most-terrifying-natural-disasters-in-history/>.
"Video -- Katrina Day by Day -- National
Geographic." Video -- Animals, Travel, Kids -- National Geographic.
Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
<http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/environment-natural-disasters/hurricanes/katrina.html>.
"General - Graphic Organizers." EdHelper.com - Math, Reading Comprehension, Themes, Lesson Plans, and Printable Worksheets. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. <http://www.edhelperclipart.com/clipart/teachers/org-web.pdf>.
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