Embedded Files
San Mateo Environmental Learning Collaborative (SMELC) 2020-21
Local Problem/Issue: Connect Community Charter School is located in both an industrial and residential area. While there are many families that live here, there are also many auto repair shops, freeways, and the like. There are two parks within a mile of the school. One of them is a part of another school, while the other is just a sliver of land next to a busy road. Access to green spaces is severely limited. Additionally, sidewalks are inconsistent and there are few bike routes available. In this design unit, students planned their ideal city, including nature and access to resources.
How can cities be designed sustainably and safely?
Students surveyed their neighborhood and the types of transportation they observe and use themselves. They saw who lives, works, and plays in their community, including animals.
Students met with an urban planner to learn how cities are conceived. From that, students got an overview of what it takes to power a neighborhood- what kind of resources make it possible to live there, how streets and buildings should be organized to serve the community members. After this, students designed their own cities!
This unit was used in a grant by the San Mateo Office of Sustainability to expand CalTrans and include more green spaces in San Mateo County. The Office of Sustainability was so impressed with the designs of students' cities that they had to share! Hopefully, their grant will be approved and the second and third grade classes will have played an important role in improving their community.
Everyone made a quadrant map in a similar format as the one they observed with the urban planner. This quadrant map was the blueprint for the city that they build with lego pieces. Here is the Instructional video. Students were designing a city that met their safety and sustainability goals.
Students built 3D models of their Urban Plan, as well. It was important for students to understand first how to design a city, and then how to model that design in 3D. Our cities were based on an understanding of renewable energy, as well. Students learned that energy sources such as gas and oil are dangerous for the world. Many students chose to run their cities on wind and solar power.
Students presented these plans to an urban planner and the school community, describing their ideas for safe and sustainable city design. Watch Connect students present their work to an urban planner with the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability.
Urban Planning Presentation (1).mp4A big part of this unit was learning how to prepare and showcase a presentation for other people in a professional way. Here are a few student responses about challenges and eases of giving presentations:
A big part of this unit was learning how to prepare and showcase a presentation for other people in a professional way. Here are a few student responses about challenges and eases of giving presentations:
The hardest part about giving a presentation is saying it. The easiest part is getting thank you's at the end of the presentation.
The hardest part about giving a presentation is being shy. The easiest part is when your done.
The hardest part about giving a presentation is thinking that something will mess up..The easiest part is when ur almost done or you are done.
The hardest part about giving a presentation is sareh for me . the easiest part is when end of it (´・ω・`)
The hardest part about giving a presentation is talking in front of everyone and the easiest is when I'm done.
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