Applying New Knowledge Around Environmental Health Issues to Redesign the Commons Space of the ECCL
Individual and group research will have laid a strong foundation for students to begin the design phase of this unit. Working within their inquiry groups students will now take on the challenge of redesigning an outdoor space within the ECCL. Each group will need to decide early on if they will be creating a small model of how they are designing their space or will they construct large-scale pieces to fit within their space (such as furniture, shade structures, bicycle/skateboard storage, etc.). Students will use pencil and paper as well as the app Google Sketch Up to begin to begin their initial design work, then they will select from materials that they have worked with previously to construct their projects. Materials available to work with include: cardboard, wood, wire, paper, clay, reeds, string, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, glass jars, fabric, cork, Tyvek, and PVC piping.
If students chose to create a small model of their redesigned space possible projects could include a focus on: common gathering spaces, outdoor learning environments, recreational spaces, walking and bike paths, landscaping, or how spaces can convert from school use to after school use. Life size pieces could include building furniture that would fit within a certain space or portable structures to serve multiple purposes.
During this phase of the project each group will work independently with a weekly check-in meeting with me, and one day of scheduled peer feed back using a Project Zero thinking routine chosen by the group receiving feedback. During group check-in meetings, conversations will focus on schedule and process, materials, challenges, and identifying next steps.
Culminating Learning Activity
Projects will commence near the end of our spring term and coincide with our spring showcase of learning, where student work will be on display and community members are encouraged to discuss projects with students. As an extension of this event, I am anticipating that my students will be able to present their work through this unit to the school board, city council, and ECCL design team.
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