Mike Pourby

Binghamton HS

Science Teacher

vs.

Building Materials

Did you ever wonder what types materials were used to build your home? Where did they come from? What was the cost to build your home? With the rising cost of oil, and the lack of natural resources, traditional building methods and materials seem to be a way of the past. Homeowners, and builders are always looking for alternative building methods and materials. What are some of the alternatives? Are they better or worse than traditional building materials?

You have just purchased a piece of land and would like to build your own home. You are also concerned about the environment and the preservation of natural resources. Your job is to explore alternative building materials and test their effectiveness verses traditional materials. Good Luck!

Your task is to come up with three (3) alternative building methods to incorporate in the construction of your house. You will then need to test these three alternative methods and compare them with traditional methods. Things you should be testing for could be insulating factors, durability, and cost effectiveness and anything else you can come up with. You then need to report your findings and results to a company that is considering strictly using alternative methods in a PowerPoint form. Your PowerPoint should include:

a) Three alternative building methods

b) Design and Perform a controlled experiment using the Scientific Method (see scientific method)

c) Collect and present data using charts and graphs of your experiment

d) Come up with a conclusion and decide on which material to use to build your home and why the company should use these materials as compared with traditional materials

You will be divided into groups of two. As an environmentally concerned citizen, you will be asked to follow the steps below in order to perform the test and make an environmentally sound decision. You will have to make a decide what type of alternative material should be used in the construction of your home and justify it. Each link will direct you to a web site where you will find the worksheets to be completed and turned in for a grade. You may complete these sheets online and print them out, or print them out and fill them in with pen or pencil.

1) Define the problem……(Worksheet 1)

2) Gather evidence……... (Worksheet 2)

3) Identify causes………..(Worksheet 3)

4) Evaluate a policy……...(Worksheet 4)

5) Develop a solution…….(Worksheet 5)

6) Select the best solution..(Worksheet 6)

Resources: The following web sites will help you to complete this project.

1) alternative materials

2) materials

3) strawbail house

4) methods

5) cob

Evaluation:

. The project grade will be based upon the following evaluation Rubric scale:

A - Exemplary: 45-50 points
B - Proficient: 40-44 points
Partially Proficient or Incomplete: Needs to be resubmitted - less than 39 points

PowerPoint Rubric

ACTIVITY	Exemplary	Proficient	Partially Proficient	Incomplete	POINTS
Research and Notetaking	6 points Notecards indicate group members accurately researched varied information sources, recorded and interpreted statements, graphics and questions and evaluated alternative points of view.	4 points Notecards show group members recorded relevant information from multiple sources of information, evaluated and synthesized relevant information.	2 points Notecards show group members misinterpreted statements, graphics and questions and failed to identify relevant arguments.	0 points Notecards show group members recorded information from four or less resources, and ignored alternative points of view.
Preproduction Plan - Storyboard	6 points The storyboard illustrates the slide presentation structure with thumbnail sketches of each slide including: title of slide, text, background color, placement & size of graphic, fonts - color, size, type for text and headings, hyperlinks (list URLs of any site linked from the slide), narration text, and audio files (if any). All slides are numbered, and there is a logical sequence to the presentation.	4 points The thumbnail sketches on the storyboard include titles and text for each slide and are in sequential order.	2 points The thumbnail sketches on the storyboard are not in a logical sequence and have incomplete information.	0 points There a very few thumbnail sketches on the storyboard and do not provide an overview of the presentation.
Introduction	3 points The introduction presents the overall topic and draws the audience into the presentation with compelling questions or by relating to the audience's interests or goals.	2 points The introduction is clear and coherent and relates to the topic.	1 point The introduction shows some structure but does not create a strong sense of what is to follow. May be overly detailed or incomplete and is somewhat appealing to the audience.	0 points The introduction does not orient the audience to what will follow. The sequencing is unclear and does not appear interesting or relevant to the audience.
Content	8 points The content is written clearly and concisely with a logical progression of ideas and supporting information. The project includes motivating questions and advanced organizers that provide the audience with sense of the project’s main idea. Information is accurate, current and comes mainly from * primary sources.	6 points The content is written with a logical progression of ideas and supporting information. Includes persuasive information from *primary sources.	4 points The content is vague in conveying a point of view and does not create a strong sense of purpose. Includes some persuasive information with few facts. Some of the information may not seem to fit. *Primary source use is not always clear.	0 points The content lacks a clear point of view and logical sequence of information. Includes little persuasive information and only one or two facts about the topic. Information is incomplete, out of date and/or incorrect. Sequencing of ideas is unclear.
Text Elements	3 points The fonts are easy-to-read and point size varies appropriately for headings and text. Use of italics, bold, and indentations enhances readability. Text is appropriate in length for the target audience and to the point. The background and colors enhance the readability of text.	2 points Sometimes the fonts are  easy-to-read, but in a few places the use of fonts, italics, bold, long paragraphs, color or busy background detracts and does not enhance readability.	1 point Overall readability is difficult with lengthy paragraphs, too many different fonts, dark or busy background, overuse of bold or lack of appropriate indentations of text.	0 points The text is extremely difficult to read with long blocks of  text and small point size of fonts, inappropriate contrasting colors, poor use of headings, subheadings, indentations, or bold formatting.
Layout	3 points The layout is aesthetically pleasing and contributes to the overall message with appropriate use of headings and subheadings and white space.	2 points The layout uses horizontal and vertical white  space appropriately.	1 point The layout shows some structure, but appears cluttered and busy or distracting with large gaps of white space or uses a distracting background.	0 points The layout is cluttered, confusing, and does not  use spacing, headings and subheadings to enhance the readability.
Citations	6 points Sources of information are properly cited so that the audience can determine the credibility and authority of the information presented. All sources of information are clearly identified and credited using MLA citations throughout the project.	4 points Most sources of information use proper MLA citation, and sources are documented  to make it possible to check on the accuracy of information.	2 points Sometimes copyright guidelines are followed and some information, photos and graphics do not use proper MLA citations.	0 points No way to check validity of information.
Graphics, Sound and/or Animation	3 points The graphics, sound and/or animation assist in presenting an overall theme and make visual connections that enhance understanding of concept, ideas and relationships. Original images are created using proper size and resolution, and all images enhance the content. There is a consistent visual theme.	2 points The graphics, sound/and or animation visually depict material and assist the audience in understanding the flow of information or content. Original images are used. Images are proper size, resolution.	1 point Some of the graphics, sounds, and/or animations seem unrelated to the topic/theme and do not enhance the overall concepts. Most images are clipart or recycled from the WWW. Images are too large/small in size. Images are poorly cropped or the color/resolution is fuzzy.	0 points The graphics, sounds, and/or animations are unrelated to the content. Graphics do not enhance understanding of the content, or are distracting decorations that create a busy feeling and detract from the content.
Writing Mechanics	6 points The text is written with no errors in grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.	4 points The text is clearly written with little or no editing required for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.	2 points Spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors distract or impair readability. (3 or more errors)	0 points Errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, usage and grammar repeatedly distract the reader and major editing and revision is required. (more than 5 errors)
Teamwork	6 points The group documents how members brainstormed, discussed, assumed roles and solved problems. Provides evidence that group members helped one another, shared ideas, developed and evaluated their finished product(s). The project is clearly a group effort.	4 points The group documents how members divided tasks, shared the workload and managed problems in a way that advanced the group goal.	2 points The group occasionally helped one another but required teacher assistance to resolve differences. One person documents that he/she did most of the work and/or problems were not managed in a way that advanced the group goal.	0 points The group required teacher assistance with dividing tasks and resolving differences. Few people contributed their fair share of work.
TOTAL POINTS					/50

Standards:

Standard 1 - Analysis, Inquiry, and Design

Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions.

Standard 4 - Science

Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

Standard 5 - Technology

Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.

Standard 7 - Interdisciplinary Problem Solving

Students will apply the knowledge and thinking skills of mathematics, science, and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions

Conclusion:

After your study you should now have a better understanding of the Scientific Method and how to use it to solve problems. More specifically, problems associated with the depletion of Natural Resources along with some possible solutions. Solutions are difficult, but now that you have developed a strategy for dealing with this global problem, you can make a change and be successful. Good luck!