Resilient Homes
Resilient Designs
Cultural Relevance:
South Dakota Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings
Oceti Sakowin Essential Understanding 1: Land and Environment
Standard 1.4 – Identify and explain contemporary environmental issues facing the Oceti Sakowin lands.
Standard 1.6 – Examine strategies the tribal governments and other tribal leaders are taking to improve the lands and natural gifts of Oceti Sakowin people.
Oceti Sakowin Essential Understanding 7: Way of Life and Philosophy
Standard 7.3 Demonstrate how the people are continuing to promote an Oceti Sakowin way of life.
Standard 7.4 Use Oceti Sakowin philosophy to problem-solve concepts and tackle unfamiliar challenges.
Lesson Objectives:
Students will design and construct model shelters built to withstand a given severe weather event following the design constraints.
Students will assess shelters through a test to evaluate the shelter’s resilience, focusing on its ability to withstand the given weather event.
Students will engage in scientific discourse, answering and asking questions.
Students will make intentional connections to the value of fortitude and to the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings.
Standards:
Middle School Earth and Space Science Standards
MS-ESS3-3 Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
Grades 6-8 Engineering Design Standards
6-8-ETS1-1 Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. (ND MS-ET1-1; SD 6-8-ETS1-1)
Science and Engineering Practices
Asking Questions and Defining Problems
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Fortitude and Courage:
Students explore the value of fortitude by learning what it means to be courageous, persevere, and work together to solve challenges, aligned to OSEU Way of Life and Philosophy Standard 7.4.
Community Collaboration:
Through examples such as Red Cloud Renewable, students see how communities can unite to create positive change for the common good, connecting to Standard 7.3.
Land, Environment, and Leadership:
The lesson connects to the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings by deepening students’ understanding of relationships to place, stewardship of the land, and leadership efforts that strengthen communities and the environment.
Materials
- Lesson PowerPoint
- Fortitude quotes- handout
- Task cards
- Chart paper/markers
Building materials
- 6” x 6” pieces of cardboard (1 per team)- This is the only required supply for building materials.
- Suggested building materials
- rulers
- hot glue gun
- duct tape (12” per team)
- rubber bands
- paper clips
- string
- cardboard
- plastic cups
- plastic wrap
- clay
- construction paper
- plastic straws
- masking tape
- bubble wrap
- liquid glue
- foam sheets
- craft sticks
Testing materials:
- 150 mL beaker (2)
- gallon-sized plastic tubs (3)
- foil pans
- portable vacuum cleaner
- blow dryer
- 6 c. muddy water with gravel
- 1 foot x 1 foot piece of cardboard (2)
- heat lamps (2)
- thermometers (4)
- watering can
- clay
- frozen peas
- ice cubes
- ball bearings
Length of Activity: Three class periods, 45-60 minutes- more time may be preferred
Core Problems/Outline of Lesson
Day 1: Core Problems/Outline of Lesson
Hook/Lesson Introduction- Explore home types in different regions.
Fortitude- WOWAČÍŊTAŊKA introduction and reflection; OSEU Way of Life and Philosophy reflections.
Engage- Task explanation, weather events and building task card
Explore- Create a model and select materials
Closure- Revisit fortitude and other Oceti Sakowin values/virtues.
Day 2: Core Problems/Outline of Lesson
Hook: Which Oceti Sakowin Value/Virtue will you focus on today?
Engage- Be INNOVATIVE! Red Cloud Renewable Sustainable Building initiative PBS video reflection
Explore- Build resilient homes
Explain- Send a traveler to get construction ideas.
Closure- Oceti Sakowin Essential Understanding Way of Life and Philosophy reflection.
Day 3: Core Problems/Outline of Lesson
Hook- Continued reflection on fortitude- WOWAČÍŊTAŊKA
Engage- Wrap up building
Explore/Explain- Gallery walk for students to see other building designs and explain their own.
Mini-lesson- How Native Americans Stayed Warm in Tipis During Freezing Nights- video
**Play this video to provide time for the blizzard test group**
Closure: Testing Results task card- this can be used as an exit ticket.
Return to fortitude reflections- add to reflections from day 1.
