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Grades 6–12. Budding engineers are challenged to address the worldwide problems of homelessness and substandard housing by designing houses for safety, affordability, and eco-efficiency. Kit includes enough materials to allow 1 student team (4 to 6 students) to build a prototype and a finished house.

Grades 6–12. Give budding engineers a challenge to address the worldwide problems of homelessness and substandard housing by designing houses for safety, affordability, and eco-efficiency. There is a housing and homelessness crisis where 100 million are homeless globally (550,000 in the US), and 1.6 billion live in substandard housing (HUD, 2017) (United Nations, 2005 Survey) (Habitat for Humanity, 2015).

The challenge is to construct a house using simple materials, considering the health and safety of occupants and design performance. Students also need to consider a range of simulated environmental factors (e.g., high temperature, wind, and heavy snowfall) in designing their houses.

There are enough materials to allow 1 student team (4 to 6 students) to build a prototype and a finished house. Guide includes a bill of materials worksheet, judging rubric, and test result calculation sheet.