8-10 yrs old
11-13 yrs old
14-18 yrs old
Climate & Environment
Math & Economics
Science
Help your school and community by upcycling common pollutants into a garden!
March 26, 2018
Upcycled Tire Wall Planters
Creative Use of Upcycling a Tire
36 Completely Genius Trash-to-Treasure Crafts
Before and After examples, with pictures of Upcycled Projects, Including Coffee Can Planters.http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/craft-ideas/how-to/g139/g
25 Ways to Upcycle Your Old Stuff
More Around the house Upcycling projects and ideas, including Trash Can Planters
Sample Garden Export
Image of garden exported into Mixed Reality using a structure block.
Sample Garden
Sample Garden screenshot, using CodeBuilder to execute the code for the garden. Taken at E2 for Educator Challenge.
What are the common causes of pollution in our local community?
How can we promote a cleaner, greener environment in and around our school and community?
What materials and items do we need in order to construct a Green Garden?
How do we estimate and calculate the cost of a building project using Minecraft?
How can we collaborate with experts, locally and globally to receive feedback and improve our ideas and learning?
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.
To determine a local environmental pollutant and creative ways to upcycle the material.
Design an environmentally friendly garden on paper and in Minecraft.
Calculate the area, perimeter of garden and quantities and costs of materials needed.
Collaborate with local businesses and global experts on the project and receive feedback to improve their design.
Explain why a material was used and how it was creatively upcycled for the purpose of a cleaner, greener school and environment.
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