Homes fit their climates
Discover how homes around the world are designed to protect people from their local weather and climate
Live Weather Map
See winds, rain and temperatures around the world in real time. Spot patterns that match our home designs.
Tech spotlight today
Point these out to your class – we use technology to think and design like real engineers.
- Live map for climate patterns (winds/rain) → predict which home feature helps.
- Timer to focus the build sprint like a real design studio.
- Seesaw to capture photo + 20‑second voice note (no heavy writing).
- Optional: Makey Makey storm‑siren switch or micro:bit shake sensor for “wind test”.
Wonder Prompts
Use these as you look at the gallery and live map.
- What problem is this home solving — heat, rain, wind or flood?
- Which feature does that job? (roof slope, stilts, small windows, vents)
- How could we test that feature in class?
- Where in the world might this idea also work? Why?
Teaching Notes
Add your observations and adaptations for this class
Global Homes Gallery
Explore how homes around the world are designed to fit their local climate
Arctic Homes
Houses in the Arctic have super-thick walls and small windows to keep heat in during -40°C winters!
Tropical Stilt Houses
Houses on stilts in tropical areas protect from floods and let cool air flow underneath!
Desert Courtyards
Middle Eastern homes have central courtyards that create cool air currents in hot climates!
Slanted Roofs
In rainy places like the UK, steep roofs quickly shed water to prevent leaks!
Snow Load Roofs
Alpine homes have extra-strong roofs designed to hold tonnes of snow!
Hurricane Windows
Homes in hurricane zones have special impact-resistant windows and storm shutters!
Weather & Climate Foundation
Essential videos to understand weather vs climate - the foundation for learning how homes adapt!
Educational Video Resources
Click below to access high-quality educational videos about weather, climate, and homes
Teaching moment: After exploring the resources, ask: "How is weather different from climate? How might this affect how people build homes?"
Key Words
Essential vocabulary to understand and use
climate
The typical weather patterns of a place over many years
adapt
To change design features to suit different conditions
feature
A specific part of a building design (like a roof, window, or wall)
hazard
A natural danger that could damage buildings (like floods, storms)
insulate
To prevent heat from escaping or entering a building
ventilate
To allow fresh air to flow through a building
stilt
Long poles that raise a building off the ground
gutter
A channel that collects and directs rainwater away from a roof
Talk Moves
Guide meaningful classroom discussions with proven techniques.
Feature Match Challenge
Match each hazard to the feature that helps. Then justify your choice.
Wonder → Plan
Use these stems to turn ideas into a plan.
- "Our place is usually … so we need …"
- "If the hazard is … the feature should …"
- "We will test by … and expect …"
Quick Check — planning readiness
Use hands-up counts to see who's ready to build.
Design Brief & Plan
Design a small home that fits a chosen climate. Show one smart feature and label it.
- Choose a climate: Arctic • Tropical • Desert • Rainy UK.
- Sketch a quick plan (2 min): roof shape, walls, vents, stilts, gutters.
- Build for 10 min. Pause at 5 min to share one tip.
Materials & Setup
Everything you need for the build challenge
- Paper cups (2 per team)
- Cardboard squares (A4 size)
- Tape and scissors
- Straws (5 per team)
- Cotton balls (for wind simulation)
Testing Zones
Rotate through the stations. Record one success and one improvement.
🌧️ Rain Rig
Watering can over the roof. Does the gutter/roof slope move water away?
💨 Wind Tunnel
Desk fan + "debris" (paper). Do braces stop wobble? Windows taped?
🌊 Flood Tray
Shallow tray of water. Do stilts keep the floor dry?
Optional tech Use a Makey Makey or micro:bit as a flood/wind alarm (completes a circuit when water touches foil / when shaken).
Success Criteria
Clear goals for student achievement
Build Timer
15-minute focused building session
Seesaw: Test Evidence
One photo + 20-second voice note per team.
- Take a clear photo at your best station.
- Record: "Our feature is ______. It helps in ______ because ______."
- Add two labels: Feature and Hazard.
Lesson Slides - Homes fit their climates
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