Upcycling: Green Garden Unit

Student Activities

In this lesson students will work in collaborative groups to construct a working model of their Green Garden.

Students will determine "Project Leads" for roles, such as Master Builder, Chief Scientist, Computational Expert, and Algorithmisist.

Master Builder – Lead builder and designer

Chief Scientist - research common materials used to construct a garden as well as pollutants in the area. Research creative ways to upcycle these materials for uses in a garden

Computational Expert – uses algorithms to calculate area, perimeter, and volume of garden and quantities of materials used

Algorithmisist – Records step by step actions taken in order to reconstruct the project in Minecraft for another group

*All Roles are interdependent and each group member works on all roles, but each Lead is responsible for that job.

This unit may kick-off with a litter clean up, having students walk around the school, neighborhood or community and collect garbage. Students then record what garbage has been collected and brainstorm how it can be upcycled. Students will then determine where on the school property their Green Garden will be constructed. This may be a rooftop location, an empty field/lot in the school, a courtyard, patio, etc. Students will measure and calculate the dimensions needed for their garden. *Garden can be plant, vegetable, flower, etc, as well as birdhouses, etc. Be creative with space and materials!

Students will plan their garden on graph paper to determine the outline of the Garden and overall structure. Once a plan has been agreed upon and drawn, students will then recreate the Green Garden in Minecraft: Education Edition. Students will research additional common pollutants in their area and determine creative uses of how to upcycle these materials into objects which can be used in a Green Garden. For example, the teacher may choose tires as a common pollutant and model ways in which tires can be upcycled in a garden: ground up for mulch topping, stacked for planters, stacked as a barrier around the garden, similar to a fence, etc.

Students will also begin researching local engineers, architects, and landscapers who may be able to assist them in their build. Students may choose to Skype with environmental scientists to discover new ways in which to upcycle pollutants. The teacher may choose to invite someone locally to come in and speak as a guest speaker or have a whole class Guest Speaking Skype Session.

Using the structure block, students will export a model of their garden and overlay it in the pre-planned area of the school. Students will share that image with their collaborator (above) and receive feedback on their project. Students will iterate on their design.

Students will calculate resources used as well as using algorithms to determine area, perimeter, and volume of the garden and materials used. If permissible, students will construct the actual Green Garden outside of their school, perhaps in collaboration with local businesses.