What is this?

Here, you’ll find a real-life case study about sustainability choices that students can relate to. There is an online interactive tool, a virtual walking tour,  and a guide to help you make the most of it in your classroom. This is an opportunity for your students to find out what happens when a forest or natural area is replaced with homes for people.

How does it work?

“What happens when it rains?” is a simulation of the path that water takes in different situations. Students can explore the impacts to nearby creeks and streams when water hits a built environment.  Students compare the impacts based on traditional neighbourhood development techniques, to the impacts when the sustainable design features are employed.  Students also have the option of comparing through a variety of rainfall intensity and duration events.

How will students benefit?

• They will get a better understanding of the effects that building homes has on the environment.
• They will be able to identify things like downspouts, swales and rock pits; all features that are designed and engineered to help with drainage.
• They will discuss some of the environmental consequences to the way we choose to build our homes and communities.
• They will open their eyes when it rains to see where the rain actually goes.
• They will form questions about what is happening around them.
• They will examine different roles people have, including interesting jobs and career opportunities.
• They will form conclusions about how things are connected in their world.

What do I do?

1. The online activity is better when you spend some time preparing your students before they explore it.
2. Start by helping students understand the definition of sustainability.
3. Review some of the vocabulary.
4. Then let them at the online activity. Let them see what happens when it rains and where all the water ends up.
5. Let them explore the Walking Tour for further information on the design features and where they are employed
6. Allow for discussion as your students work through the activity.
7. Follow up with an activity or you are really fired up, a field trip.