Sunlight City Design Challenge
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design a sustainable "Sunlight City" that optimizes sunlight to benefit the environment, its inhabitants, and reflects the cultural and historical context of its location?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- How does sunlight affect the environment and people in different climates and cultures?
- How can we use scientific principles to design buildings and cities that maximize the benefits of sunlight and minimize its negative impacts?
- What are the historical and social implications of urban planning and architectural design in relation to sunlight exposure?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Students will understand how sunlight affects different climates and cultures.
- Students will apply scientific principles to maximize benefits and minimize negative impacts of sunlight in building and city design.
- Students will analyze the historical and social implications of urban planning and architectural design in relation to sunlight exposure.
- Students will design a sustainable city that optimizes sunlight for environmental and human benefits, reflecting its location's cultural and historical context.
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsShadow Mystery Challenge
A local park is experiencing unusually long shadows, affecting plant growth and community activities. Students investigate shadow formation, map the shadow patterns, and propose design modifications to increase sunlight exposure, sparking interest in urban planning and light principles.Glow-in-the-Dark City Model
Introduce the project with a darkened room revealing a glow-in-the-dark city model where some buildings block light from others. Students explore light and shadow using flashlights, identifying problems and sparking discussion on design solutions for better sunlight distribution, connecting hands-on exploration with city planning concepts.'Sunlight Scorecard' Challenge
Students receive a 'Sunlight Scorecard' evaluating their school or community building's sunlight efficiency (natural light usage, shadow impact, energy consumption). They brainstorm and prototype design improvements to boost the score, creating a tangible connection to real-world impact and sparking interest in sustainable design.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Sunlight's Impact: Climate & Culture Collage
Students research and create a visual collage demonstrating how sunlight affects different climates and cultures. This activity introduces the broad impacts of sunlight, setting the stage for more focused design work.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA visual collage accompanied by a paragraph summarizing sunlight's diverse impacts on climate and culture.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will understand how sunlight affects different climates and cultures.Shadow Mapping & Sunlight Analysis
Students learn to measure and analyze sunlight and shadows using basic scientific principles. This activity builds foundational skills for designing with sunlight.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA shadow map with accompanying data analysis explaining sunlight patterns and shadow formation.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will apply scientific principles to maximize benefits and minimize negative impacts of sunlight in building and city design.Historical Sunlight Design Case Studies
Students investigate historical examples of urban planning and architectural design that consider sunlight exposure. This activity provides a social and historical context for their design project.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA report or presentation analyzing historical design strategies related to sunlight exposure and their social/cultural implications.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will analyze the historical and social implications of urban planning and architectural design in relation to sunlight exposure.Sunlight City Design Proposal
Students design their own "Sunlight City", integrating their knowledge of sunlight's impacts, scientific principles, and historical precedents. This activity culminates in a comprehensive design proposal.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive "Sunlight City" design proposal, including a city plan, building designs, and a written rationale.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will design a sustainable city that optimizes sunlight for environmental and human benefits, reflecting its location's cultural and historical context.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioSunlight City Design Challenge Portfolio Rubric
Sunlight's Impact: Climate & Culture Collage
Assesses the student's ability to research, synthesize, and visually represent the diverse effects of sunlight across different climates and cultures.Research & Content
Accuracy, breadth, and depth of research on sunlight's impact on climate and culture.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates comprehensive and accurate research, covering a wide range of climates and cultures with insightful details.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates accurate research, covering multiple climates and cultures with relevant details.
Developing
2 PointsShows emerging research skills, covering a limited range of climates and cultures with basic details.
Beginning
1 PointsDemonstrates limited research, with inaccuracies or lacking depth and breadth of coverage.
Visual Representation
Clarity, creativity, and organization of the collage in showcasing sunlight's diverse impacts.
Exemplary
4 PointsPresents a visually stunning and highly organized collage that creatively and effectively communicates the diverse impacts of sunlight.
Proficient
3 PointsPresents a clear and organized collage that effectively communicates the diverse impacts of sunlight.
Developing
2 PointsPresents a collage with some organization, but clarity and visual appeal could be improved.
Beginning
1 PointsPresents a disorganized and unclear collage that struggles to communicate the diverse impacts of sunlight.
Summary Paragraph
Effectiveness of the written paragraph in summarizing the key themes and insights presented in the collage.
Exemplary
4 PointsWrites a concise, insightful, and well-articulated paragraph that effectively summarizes the key themes and insights of the collage.
Proficient
3 PointsWrites a clear and well-organized paragraph that summarizes the key themes and insights of the collage.
Developing
2 PointsWrites a paragraph that attempts to summarize the key themes but lacks clarity or depth.
Beginning
1 PointsWrites a paragraph that fails to effectively summarize the key themes and insights of the collage.
Shadow Mapping & Sunlight Analysis
Evaluates the student's ability to collect, record, and analyze shadow data to understand sunlight patterns.Data Collection
Accuracy and consistency in collecting and recording shadow data at different times of the day.
Exemplary
4 PointsCollects and records highly accurate and consistent shadow data with meticulous attention to detail.
Proficient
3 PointsCollects and records accurate and consistent shadow data.
Developing
2 PointsCollects and records shadow data with some inconsistencies or inaccuracies.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to collect and record accurate and consistent shadow data.
Shadow Map
Clarity and accuracy of the shadow map in representing shadow lengths and directions.
Exemplary
4 PointsCreates a highly detailed and accurate shadow map that clearly represents shadow lengths and directions.
Proficient
3 PointsCreates a clear and accurate shadow map that represents shadow lengths and directions.
Developing
2 PointsCreates a shadow map with some inaccuracies or lack of clarity.
Beginning
1 PointsCreates a shadow map that is inaccurate and difficult to interpret.
Data Analysis
Ability to analyze collected data and explain sunlight patterns and shadow formation.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a thorough and insightful analysis of the data, explaining sunlight patterns and shadow formation with scientific accuracy.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear and accurate analysis of the data, explaining sunlight patterns and shadow formation.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic analysis of the data but struggles to fully explain sunlight patterns and shadow formation.
Beginning
1 PointsFails to provide a meaningful analysis of the data or explain sunlight patterns and shadow formation.
Historical Sunlight Design Case Studies
Assesses the student's research and analysis of historical examples of urban planning and architectural design that consider sunlight exposure.Case Study Selection & Research
Relevance and depth of research on selected historical cities or buildings.
Exemplary
4 PointsSelects highly relevant and insightful case studies, demonstrating thorough and comprehensive research.
Proficient
3 PointsSelects relevant case studies, demonstrating thorough research.
Developing
2 PointsSelects case studies with limited relevance, demonstrating basic research skills.
Beginning
1 PointsSelects inappropriate or irrelevant case studies, demonstrating poor research skills.
Design Strategy Identification
Accuracy and detail in identifying design strategies used to maximize sunlight benefits and minimize negative impacts.
Exemplary
4 PointsAccurately and comprehensively identifies a wide range of design strategies used to optimize sunlight, providing insightful details.
Proficient
3 PointsAccurately identifies key design strategies used to optimize sunlight.
Developing
2 PointsIdentifies some design strategies but lacks depth or accuracy.
Beginning
1 PointsFails to identify relevant design strategies or demonstrates significant inaccuracies.
Social & Cultural Implications Analysis
Depth of analysis of the social and cultural implications of the design choices.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a nuanced and insightful analysis of the social and cultural implications of the design choices, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear and well-reasoned analysis of the social and cultural implications of the design choices.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic analysis of the social and cultural implications but lacks depth or insight.
Beginning
1 PointsFails to analyze the social and cultural implications of the design choices or provides a superficial analysis.
Sunlight City Design Proposal
Evaluates the student's ability to integrate knowledge and design a sustainable city that optimizes sunlight for environmental and human benefits.Design Innovation & Sustainability
Creativity and feasibility of the design in optimizing sunlight and promoting sustainability.
Exemplary
4 PointsPresents a highly innovative and sustainable design that effectively optimizes sunlight for environmental and human benefits.
Proficient
3 PointsPresents a sustainable design that effectively optimizes sunlight for environmental and human benefits.
Developing
2 PointsPresents a design with some elements of sustainability but limited innovation or optimization of sunlight.
Beginning
1 PointsPresents a design that lacks sustainability and does not effectively optimize sunlight.
City Plan & Building Designs
Clarity, detail, and accuracy of the city plan and building designs.
Exemplary
4 PointsPresents a highly detailed and accurate city plan and building designs that are visually appealing and easy to understand.
Proficient
3 PointsPresents a clear and accurate city plan and building designs.
Developing
2 PointsPresents a city plan and building designs with some inaccuracies or lack of clarity.
Beginning
1 PointsPresents a city plan and building designs that are inaccurate and difficult to understand.
Design Rationale
Strength of the rationale explaining the design choices, referencing scientific principles, historical examples, and cultural considerations.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a compelling and well-supported rationale that effectively integrates scientific principles, historical examples, and cultural considerations to justify the design choices.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear and well-reasoned rationale that justifies the design choices, referencing scientific principles, historical examples, and cultural considerations.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a rationale that attempts to justify the design choices but lacks depth or integration of supporting evidence.
Beginning
1 PointsFails to provide a meaningful rationale or justify the design choices.