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…
Case Study: Olivia Comberti - Digital Design Consultant
In this case study, Olivia Comberti explains how she came to be a digital design consultant. 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…
Floating Garden Challenge
This challenge, from Practical Action, requires students to design and build a model structure that will enable farmers to grow crops even in an area that may become flooded. A floating garden, built on a base of aquatic weeds, is a cheap and sustainable way of allowing people to grow vegetables. The resource can be adapted to…
Sustainable Design: What Is the Role of a Designer?
In this resource from Practical Action, a presentation and linked activities provide design and technology teachers with opportunities to highlight the different values and beliefs that designers may hold. Students can engage in exploring their own values about the responsibilities of designers and companies too. The powerpoint…
3/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Activity sheet
100 Small Things to Make a Difference
This brightly illustrated poster, from Practical Action, encourages students to think carefully about the effects of waste on the environment. It gives lots of ideas for ways to reduce the harmful effects of waste, showing that everyone can make a difference, and includes links to useful websites. It separates the issue into the…
Squashed Tomato Challenge
This Practical Action resource presents a fun hands-on and brains-on challenge for Key Stages Two to Five. The problem: In Nepal many farmers living on the mountainside grow fruit and vegetables, including tomatoes. To earn a living they need to sell these at the local market. The problem is getting to market involves a long,…
- 3/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Activity sheet
Where's the Impact?
From Practical Action, this resource looks at life-cycle analysis and how it is used to work out the environmental impact of different products.
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Activity sheet
Winners and Losers
This resource, produced by Practical Action, helps students think about who the winners and losers are when making product choices.
Let's Negotiate
From Practical Action, this resource encourages students to look at how design specifications are balanced when developing new products.
Line-ups
This resource, from Practical Action, helps students to evaluate the environmental, economic and social impacts of everyday products.
Belief Circles
From Practical Action and the Royal Academy of Engineering, this short starter activity helps students to think about their own values and those of their peers in relation to the sustainability of engineering. The activity encourages an awareness of the impact of engineering on the environment and sustainability. It also helps…
Design Abacus
From Practical Action, this resource is an eco-tool used to compare the sustainability of two products or design ideas.
Moja Island Renewable Energy Engineering
From Practical Action, this 1-2 hour class activity uses the supply of energy for an island community to help students to understand renewable energy options.
Six R's
This resource from Practical Action helps students look at the 6Rs, their definitions and products which illustrate the 6Rs in action. These are: rethink, reuse, recycle, repair, reduce and refuse. Students look at the definitions carefully again and rank each of the Rs in terms of which contributes most and which least to making…
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.
Portable Power
These materials, from Practical Action, encourage students to look at the use of batteries and the development of more sustainable power sources for portable devices. The development of portable and hand held electronic devices over the last 20 years has gone hand in hand with the development of batteries, creating new problems…
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?