Name: Kathryn Blankenship / Contact Info: / Date:24-Jul-13
Lesson Title: Efficient House Challenge / Unit #:
3 / Lesson #:
2 / Activity #:
3 / Worksheet: c
Activity Title: Efficient House
Worksheet Title: Efficient House Worksheet


The Challenge: Design and build a low cost energy efficient model house.

The Constraints:

·  Your house must sit outside for 15 minutes.

·  Your team will be given a 150 mL beaker with 100 mL of warm water

·  Your team cannot alter the water with materials

·  Your team can only choose from the materials provided

·  Your team must “purchase” materials from the store and keep track of how much you have spent.

·  The formula for determining energy and cost efficiency:

Efficiency=106Cost ($) x Heat Loss (J)

Materials to Build Houses:

Cardboard ($1/30 cm x 30 cm)

Waxed paper ($0.75/ 30 cm x 30 cm)

Newspaper ($0.10/sheet)

Aluminum foil ($0.50 / 30 cm x 30 cm)

Rubber bands ($0.05 / unit)

Popsicle sticks ($0.05 / unit)

Plastic wrap ($0.75/ 30 cm x 30 cm)

Balsa wood ($0.75/ 15 cm x 15 cm)

Masking tape ($0.20/ 5 cm)

Hot Glue ($1.00 / stick)

In a Google Doc, prepare a Team Report with all the following information:

Background Research

·  How are homes insulated today?

·  What materials available are the best insulators?

Brainstorm Solutions

During this phase, show several house design options with considerations of the constraints (i.e. cost analysis). Your team must also determine what measurements you need to make in order to calculate HEAT and how you will do this for each design.

Choose the Best Solution

Build a Prototype

Include a detailed scale drawing of your plans and a complete description of how the house is efficient.

Test and Redesign

Include a photograph of your prototype, a data table for all measurements and trials, calculation of heat loss, and a reflection of how your prototype can be improved.

Photograph of Prototype:

Data Table:

Calculation of Heat Loss:

Reflection:

Use the following acceptance test criteria to determine if the prototype will be accepted or needs redesign. Is the prototype:

c  effective at reducing heat loss by the water

c  inexpensive

c  efficiency value ≥ 12

Build Final Prototype and Retest

If your team chooses to modify testing procedures, please make mention here.

Energy Efficient House Rubric

8 / 6 / 4 / 2 / 0
Efficiency Value / Value ≥12.0 / Value between 9.0-11.9 / Value between 6.0-8.9 / Value between 3.0-5.9 / Value ≤ 2.9
Team Report (x2) / All requirements completed with correct units and thoughtful reflections. / All requirements completed. / 1-2 requirements missing but group has correct units and thoughtful reflections. / 1-2 requirements missing / 3 or greater requirements missing
Teamwork / Team members carried out their roles well, had great time management, and focused on the task. / Team members carried out their roles well, but struggled with time management or focusing on the task. / Team members struggled to carry out their roles. / Team members struggled to carry out their roles, with time management, and focusing on the task. / Team members refused to carry out their roles.

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