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…
Product Analysis: Impacts on People and Environment
This resource from Practical Action includes a presentation and worksheets which give Key Stage Three and Four students opportunities to understand more about the impact of existing and new products on people and the environment. The presentation is packed with useful activities to reinforce students' learning. The activities…
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
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)…
Where Does My Food Come From?
These activities, from Practical Action, encourage children to think about where their food is produced. The interactive presentation shows children where some common foods are sourced. There is also an activity using food labels to illustrate the source of foods. It could be used as a homework activity to illustrate where the food…
What Is Carbon Dioxide?
From Practical Action, a range of activities which explore carbon dioxide and climate change. Simple demonstrations show the presence of carbon dioxide gas and some of its properties. There are also presentations that can be used with an interactive whiteboard which look at sources of carbon dioxide and how cars make carbon dioxide.…
Food from Source to Sale
This presentation, from Practical Action, is for whiteboards and explains the environmental impact of food production, processing and transport. It outlines different food sources and how choices can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and describes the benefits of growing your own food and choosing local or fair trade foods with…
Moja Island
Produced by Practical Action, Moja island is a 1-2 hour activity which will reinforce students' understanding of renewable energy sources. Students consider the variety of different options available to communities living on Moja Island and select the most appropriate technology. Renewable energy fact cards, a map of the island,…