Sustainability
Challenge 2: The Sustainable School - Curriculum Focus
Print the curriculum focus here
The three challenges, activities and quizzes included in these web pages are designed to support the delivery of Science and Design and Technology at Key Stage 4.
The table below gives an outline description of each of the challenges along with curriculum links where appropriate and reference to core GCSE specifications. These specifications are not exhaustive and are intended as an indication only.
The challenges are practical and engaging in nature and will involve students working in small teams to solve problems and present solutions to the rest of their group.
With minor adaptation they can also be used with older students.
The challenges have been developed with flexibility in mind and there are particular opportunities for cross curricular working between Science and Design and Technology classes.
| Challenge | Description | National Curriculum Links | Science GCSE Exam Specifications | D & T GCSE Exam Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Let’s Do Lunch |
In small teams, students investigate the contents of an average school lunch box and look at the properties of the packaging materials and how they relate to their intended functions. Teams will then give the materials used a sustainability rating and proceed to design their own lunch box packaging using more sustainable materials with appropriate properties. |
KS4 Science Communication skills: 3a,c Applications & implications: 4a,b Chemical & material behaviour: 6c,d Environment, Earth & universe: 8b
KS4 D&T Developing, planning & communicating ideas: 1b,c,e Knowledge and understanding of materials & components: 4b,e |
AQA Science A Chemistry 1a: 12.2 Chemistry 1b: 12.4, 12.6 Edexcel Science (360) C1b: Topic 7; There’s One Earth C1b: Topic 8; Designer Products OCR 21 st Century Science A C1: Air Quality 1.1 – 1.4 C2: Material Choices 2.1, 2.2, 2.4 |
AQA D&T (Resistant Materials Technology) Full Course Designing & Making Skills: 9.1, 9.2 Materials & Components: 10.1, 10.3, 10.5, 10.6 Edexcel D&T (Resistant Materials Technology) Full Course A01: a i, ii; b i, ii A03: d i, ii OCR D&T (Resistant Materials Technology) Full Course Designing & Making : 5.1.1 Developing & writing a design brief; 5.1.2 Drawing up a specification; 5.1.3 Generating design proposals Knowledge & Understanding : 5.2.1 Materials & pre-manufactured standard components; 5.2.3 products & applications |
2. Sustainable School |
Students work in small teams to investigate energy use and thermal insulation in their own classroom/lab. They will then use the data gathered to create their own ‘sustainable classroom’. |
KS4 Science Practical & enquiry skills: 2a-d Communication skills: 3a-c Applications & implications: 4a,b Chemical & material behaviour: 6c Energy, electricity and radiations: 7a,b Environment, Earth & universe: 8b |
AQA Science A Physics 1a: 13.1 - 13.4 Edexcel Science (360) P1a: Topic 9; Producing and Measuring Electricity P1a: Topic 10; You’re in Charge OCR 21 st Century Science A P2: Radiation and Life 2.4 |
n/a |
3. Mass Transit |
Students work in small teams to investigate the general environmental impact of transportation. They can then focus this on a local case study or the impact of the ‘school run’. Using their findings they can design a sustainable mass transit system to alleviate the problems. |
KS4 Science Practical & enquiry skills: 2b,d Communication skills: 3a-c Applications & implications: 4a,b Chemical & material behaviour: 6c Energy, electricity and radiations: 7a,b Environment, Earth & universe: 8b
KS4 D&T (If used in cross curricular format) Developing, planning & communicating ideas: 1b,c,e Knowledge and understanding of materials & components: 4b,e |
AQA Science A Physics 1a: 13.2, 13.4 Chemistry 1a: 12.3 Chemistry 1b: 12.5, 12.6 Edexcel Science (360) C1b: Topic 7; There’s One Earth OCR 21 st Century Science A P2: Radiation and Life 2.4 P3: Radioactive Materials 3.3 |
If used in cross curricular format AQA D&T (Resistant Materials Technology) Full Course Designing & Making Skills: 9.1 Materials & Components: 10.1, 10.3, 10.5, 10.6 Edexcel D&T (Resistant Materials Technology) Full Course A01: a i, ii; b i, ii A03: d i, i OCR D&T (Resistant Materials Technology) Full Course Designing & Making : 5.1.1 Developing & writing a design brief; 5.1.2 Drawing up a specification; 5.1.3 Generating design proposals Knowledge & Understanding : 5.2.1 Materials & pre-manufactured standard components; 5.2.3 products & applications |