Smart Greenhouse
Year 5
Stem Unit Preview
Problem / Challenge
How can we grow food all year around in Tasmania without using more energy than transporting it?
Brief
In different engineering teams, each team is addressing the problem from a particular perspective.
- Software/electronic engineering are responsible for sensors: – watering systems, temperature controls, nutrient levels.
- Environmental engineering for soil, planting: choice, numbers, density, companion and pest control.
- Civil engineering for design, scale drawings, costing and construction.
Then, as a whole group they come up with the ‘perfect greenhouse’ by putting all the ideas together.
Resources
- Unit Preview (PDF, 334KB)
- Planning Template (Word, 2.3MB)
Australian Curriculum Links
Science
Science Understanding
- Living things and their adaptations to their environment (ACSSU043)
Science as a Human Endeavour
- Science explains historical phenomenon and cultural contributions (ACSHE081)
- Science is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE083)
Science Inquiry Skills
Design and Technologies
Technologies and society
- Design and technologies occupations and sustainability considerations (ACTDEK019)
Engineering principles and systems
- Electrical energy in controlling, movement, light and sound (ACTDEK020)
Materials and technologies specialisations
- Characteristics and properties of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment (ACTDEK023)
Design Process
Digital Technologies
- Digital systems and transmission of data (ACTDIK014)
- Define problems in terms of data and functional requirements (ACTDIP017)
- Design and modify algorithms and programs (ACTDIP019)
- Implement digital solutions as simple visual programs involving iteration (ACTDIP020)
School Overview
South Hobart Primary School is located in South Hobart, Tasmania and caters for students in years K – 6 from the surrounding community. South Hobart Primary School currently has 378 students.