Process

The Perfect Home is a culminating Webquest.  Students will be working on this assignment for 10 weeks.   This Webquest is designed to be used with block scheduling, which provides time for instruction and activities each day.  Students will have had a year of Blueprint Reading and Model Building before taking this Architecture course.

Every student should have their own computer station with internet access to work at and be using the latest addition of Data Cad or other architectural drawing program for their home plans.  The students will pair off in groups of two to discuss their research for this project.

Students should be encouraged to help each other during all assignments.  Discussions on interesting facts and problems encountered should be held each day as way of debriefing before the class ends.

This Webquest places the teacher in the roll of facilitator, allowing time for the teacher to observe and assist students as warranted.  Although I have set this Webquest up for use with a CAD program, I have included a material list under Materials / Equipment which allows for use of drawing boards and drawing tools.

Since I believe students should know the objectives of the assignments they do and the life skills they will be learning, I have included them under Life Skills at the bottom of this page.

The Process: 
Designing and Drawing a Home 
 
Top Quick Ref Procedures Paper Info Review Questions Objectives Life Skills Bottom

Quick Reference 

To complete this section, you will need to review the following pages: 

To complete this section, you will need to print the following pages: 
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Procedures: How to complete the project 

Before you begin: 

  • Before you begin this project, you will need to know how to save information. Please review the saving page to learn how to do this. 
  • Review the required materials and equipment.  
  • Print the requirements sheet so you can check off each requirement as you complete it. 
Step One: Research 
  1. In a group of two, research ideas for use in your residential dwelling designs. Here is a list of research sites that can help with this. 
  2. Select the recycled materials you will use in your home. 
  3. Follow the directions and specifications on the specification sheets.  
  4. Read the pricing information pages and print the pricing sheet.  
  5. Discuss your final ideas with the teacher. 
Step Two: Drawing and Writing 
After teacher approval, each of you will start to draw your own house plans and write your paper, checking over each other's work as you progress. Follow the following steps: 
  1. Review the sample window and door schedules provided, then print the blank schedules and complete. 
  2. Complete the product specification sheets.  
  3. The paper will include your research of energy efficient appliances and materials that you will use in your house. See the paper requirements below for topics you must include in the paper. 
Step Three: Review Questions  Step Four: Presentation 
  • At the end of the unit you will give a presentation of your designs and the reasons you chose them. 
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Materials / Equipment 

To complete this assignment, you will need a computer with Internet access to do research. If you do not have one at home, you can use the school computer labs, which are open after school on a limited schedule. See the teacher for more details. 

CAD program and printer or: 
 
Drafting Table  Triangles  T-squares 
Vellum (drafting paper)  Divider  Drafting pencils 
French Curve  Erasing Shields  Compass 
Masking Tape  Drafting Triangles  Circle Templates 
Erasers  Scale  Ellipse Templates 

 
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Paper Information: Topics to include 

  1. Research and analyze the negative and positive impacts of design on the environment and society. 
  2. Compare and contrast the application of design on energy utilization, production, transportation and communication. 
  3. Describe the "primary considerations" when planning a house and explain why they are important. 
  4. Analyze the positive and negative qualities of the different types of (recycled) materials as they relate to specific construction applications of your home design. 
  5. Analyze the positive and negative qualities of the different types of appliances as they relate to your home design. 
  6. Appraise and assess the importance of capital on specific construction applications. 
  7. Name the primary considerations when planning a house and be able to explain why they are important. 
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Review Questions 

  1. Name the primary considerations when planning a house. 
  2. Why are the above considerations important? 
  3. Name at least three positive outcomes and three negative outcomes of using recycled materials. 
  4. Name at least three positive outcomes and three negative outcomes of using renewable energy sources. 
  5. List the energy-saving appliances and materials you will use in your home, include name, style, model and energy savings as applicable. 
  6. List the insulation standards ( R Value) that should be used in 
    • exterior walls 
    • ceilings 
    • cathedral ceilings 
    • floors 
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Objectives of your assignment 

  • Read and appraise housing designs. 
  • Research and analyze the negative and positive impacts of design on the environment and society. 
  • Compare and contrast the application of design on energy utilization, production, transportation and communication. 
  • Name the primary considerations when planning a house and be able to explain why they are important. 
  • Write a paper explaining the research you performed and why you chose the designs and materials you used. 
  • Design and draw an energy efficient home design while working within a specific budget and architectural standards. 
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Life Skills you will acquire 

The most important skills you should develop with this activity are: 
 
designing  classifying  selecting 
planning  reporting  discovering 
formulating  investigating  drafting 
generating ideas  synthesizing  reasoning 
creativity  appraising  checking 
relating  problem solving researching 
determining  developing  deductive reasoning 
brainstorming  evaluating  formulating 

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