Case Study: Ewan Bloomfield - Energy Consultant
In this case study, Ewan Bloomfield explains how he came to be an energy consultant. He describes what attracted him to the job, his education history and what gives him job satisfaction. He then talks about seeing how his work affects people's lives, especially when working within developing countries across the world. He…
Case Study: Ella Sprung - Editorial and Production Assistant
In this case study, Ella Sprung, explains how she came to work as an engineer. She describes her ambitions when younger, her education history and the role models who inspired her. She then talks about seeing how her work affects people's lives, especially when working within developing countries across the world. She is now…
Case Study: Gita Patel - Financial Controller
In this case study, Gita Patel explains how she came to be a financial controller. She describes her ambitions when younger, her education history and the role models who inspired her. She then talks about seeing how her work affects people's lives. Having travelled widely, she is able to see how the organisation that she works…
Case Study: Lucho Osorio - International Co-ordinator
In this case study, Lucho Osorio explains how he came to be an International Co-ordinator working in the Practical Action Markets and Livelihood programme. He describes his ambitions when younger, his education history and how he got where he is today. He then describes the tasks that give him the most job satisfaction and talks…
Small Is...Challenge
In celebration of its founder, Fritz Schumacher’s centenary year Practical Action have created Small Is...Challenge. Schumacher’s philosophy was based on the idea that even a small change can have a big impact on people’s lives. The challenge for students is to look at technologies from the last 100 years and invent…
Effects of Climate Change - Images
A number of images from Practical Action showing the effects of climate change and climate change adaptation. The images can be freely used by students and/or incorporated into teaching resources by teachers. The following text describes each of the photographs: • Drought in Kenya means there is little water left for herds…
Food for Thought
From Practical Action, in this activity students design and make a product using local and/or organic ingredients. They will also gain knowledge and understanding of the design and make process, write a design specification and produce a step-by-step plan for making a product. Further resources are available from the Practical Action’s…
Reusing Textiles: Waste to Wear
In this activity, from Practical Action, students are challenged to design and make a good quality textiles product from some throwaway textiles collected from home or bought from a charity shop. Further resources are available from the Practical Action’s Sustainable Design and Technology database.
Redesigning for Sustainability: Less is More
From Practical Action, this resource gets students to look at how a product could be redesigned to require less packaging. Companies are being encouraged to develop ‘environmentally-smart’ retail packaging design. In this activity, students are challenged to redesign a familiar product so that it has less (and more sustainable)…
Hydroelectricity in Kenya
From Practical Action, this video clip illustrates renewable energy in action. It shows how a small hydro-electric generator has been installed in a village in Kenya to supply renewable energy.
3/5- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Video
Climate Change in Africa
From Practical Action, this video clip shows the dramatic and devastating effects of drought. It tells how a three year drought can be seen as a sign of climate change.
Controlled Assessments and Sustainability Issues
From Practical Action, this resource is intended to help students to think about how they can include sustainability throughout their tasks, from specifications, through to evaluation by using an eco-design tool.
Bottle It - Re-use or Recycle?
From Practical Action, these activities help students explore sustainable development and the difference between re-use and recycle. The resources look at re-use (using a product or component for another purpose without any processing) and recycle (processing a waste material or component and using it in a new product).
Fair Trade Textiles
From Practical Action, these materials help students to look at Fair Trade and sustainable development. It poses the question: Is there any way in which the London Olympics in 2012 and future Olympics can contribute to making the world a fairer, more sustainable place?
Preparing for Flooding
From Practical Action, these materials can be used to highlight how people are able to prepare for regular or unexpected flooding. They illustrate how the use of simple technologies are helping people in developing countries, such as floating gardens, aqua-cages for contained fish and flood resistant housing.
Top Ten Reasons Why Renewable Energy is Cool!
This poster from Practical Action has ten interesting and, in some cases, amusing facts that will appeal to students. The poster is high resolution and can be used for display.
Wind Power Challenge
From Practical Action, this challenge asks students to design a simple wind turbine capable of lifting a cup off the floor to bench height. The winning team will be the one producing a machine that lifts the most weight. The resource includes an instruction sheet, wind turbine images, links to videos and downloadable certificates.
Renewable Energy Posters
From Practical Action, these posters show examples of how renewable energy sources are used in developing nations. They show how mp3 players can be powered by solar photoelectric cells, small-scale hydroelectric in Kenya, a wind turbine and biogas digested in Nepal.
Renewable Energy Wordsearch
From Practical Action, this wordsearch is an enjoyable way of engaging students in the subject of renewable energy.
Climate Change Floating Gardens
A hands on activity from Practical Action showing students show to make a model of the floating gardens used in Bangladesh to adapt to the effects of climate change. Instructions on how to build a model of a ‘floating garden’ using very simple material and more information on the project are provided. Further case…
Climate Change - Who Is in Control?
Produced by Practical Action, this role play activity activity helps students explore who should take responsibility for reducing the effects of climate change. Students use role play involving different perspectives to promote discussion and debate. Designed to take place over two to three lessons, the lesson plans give an overview…