HABITAT

Statement of Inquiry: Through a creative collaboration with nature, we can form a sustainable relationships that serve to reduce the use of finite resources.
Global Context: Globalisation & sustainability
Key & Related Concepts: Relationships | sustainability, resources
ATL Skills: Collaboration, Creative thinking

Singapore is a densely populated urban city-state with limited natural habitats. The loss and degradation of natural habitats, along with increased urbanization and human activities, have had a significant impact on local wildlife populations.

By focusing on the design and implementation of urban wildlife habitats, this project aims to restore or create pockets of natural habitat within the urban landscape, fostering biodiversity and promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife. The project also looks at waste and ways in which we can consume products more sustainably.

Note: This project is rooted in sustainable design and the project itself has been designed to be as sustainable as possible by reducing and reusing materials, with minimal financial and environmental cost.

Collaboration: Throughout this project, students are asked to collaborate and support one another through idea sharing and feedback.

PROJECT START

Choice/agency: At the start of this project, students are presented with three pathways to choose from. This is essentially 3 habitat types from which they choose one to research and investigate further before ultimately designing a habitat of some type, justified by the needs found in their research.

ONGOING RESEARCH & INVESTIGATION

Project-specific research that informs and guides the project. Thoughtful investigation and ongoing research form a large part of this project. Students use a variety of sources for information, including one another.

IDEATION

An emphasis on communication and context. Students are shown and asked to include as much communicative information in their design work as possible. They are asked to do this through showing context and including detailed annotations for explain and justify.

Choice/agency: Students are provided with a number of options to communicate their ideas. They do not have to sketch. CAD, Videos and paper prototypes are also welcomed.

PROTOTYPING

Iterated paper and then card prototypes are made to test net designs before adding to a reused carton for the final prototype. A3 printed nets are available for modelling purposes.

TESTING

Prototypes are authentically tested against specification criteria.

RESOURCES

Feel free to download and use the resources* below, should you wish to teach this project at your school.

Note: Whilst this project could easily be adapted to suit MYP criteria, it is currently not taught as an MYP unit.

*All resources created by me