Intended End User: Teacher, School Leader
Age Group: Lower Secondary; Upper Secondary
School Curriculum: Maths; Science; Social & Environment Science
Themes and Topics: Energy Use and Production; Behaviour & Lifestyle; Futures Thinking; Pedagogy Approaches
Duration: 5 – 7 years.
Type of Resource: Project
Keywords: Challenge and Place Based Learning; Interdisciplinary Approach; School Initiative, Effective Learning Environments
Languages: English, German
Description
Sustainable, energy-efficient, self-built – that’s three words to describe the energy house in the school garden at Isny High School.
This exceptional project deserves a few more words: pupils have been planning (since 2016) and building (2019-2023) a detached house in passive house construction using largely ecological building materials. They acquire the necessary know-how in cooperation with regional partners.
Even after completion, the house remains an object of learning: guided tours are planned, as is monitoring the building data in science lessons. The room will be used for special lessons, project work or as a place of retreat. In addition, this place is anchored in the public eye with events in the area of “environmental education and climate protection”.
The students have set up the financing without public funding: Half of it comes from a savings bond loan from parents, pupils and teachers and half from donations, grants and a great deal of personal contribution.
How to use this resource
The provided project description helps getting an overview of this exceptional, long-term project. In addition, the recording of the SYNAPSES Webinar with this inspiring teacher from Germany, David Amann, guides you through his process and helps to grasp his idea of teaching for a more sustainable future!
The resources
The Energy House (PDF) – English:
Energie Haus lsny (PDF) German:
Link to the website: https://energiehaus-isny.de/
Webinar – The Energy House Sustainable, Energy Efficient, Self Built
Learning Outcomes (Teachers)
- Elicit prior knowledge and further develop knowledge and comprehension of key Sustainability Citizenship key concepts, challenging established worldviews and values.
- Apply a range of suitable tools and frameworks to promote student Sustainability Citizenship
- Reflect on practice and examine national curricula to identify opportunities to promote Sustainability Citizenship in interdisciplinary ways and engage with external stakeholders.
- Collaboratively synthesise the knowledge, tools and frameworks to create educational materials and lessons plans adapted to their own local context
- Through workshop activities and communities of practice, build capacity and agency as Sustainability Citizenship educators and leaders.
Learning Outcomes (Leadership)
- Elicit prior knowledge and further develop knowledge and comprehension of key Sustainability Citizenship concepts to challenge established worldviews and values.
- Apply a range of suitable tools and frameworks to promote Sustainability Citizenship within their schools and communities.
- Examine their own national/regional curricula, educational policies, programmes and external stakeholders to identify opportunities to promote Sustainability Citizenship in their schools and communities.
- Collaboratively synthesise knowledge, tools and frameworks to create a vision for delivering a school environment that supports the development of Sustainability Citizenship in their community.
- Through workshop activities and communities of practice, build capacity as Sustainability Citizenship educators and leaders.
Green Competencies
- Embodying Sustainable Values: Valuing Sustainability
- Embracing Complexity in Sustainability: Systems Thinking; Critical Thinking; Problem Framing
- Envisioning Sustainable Futures: Futures Literacy; Adaptability; Exploratory Thinking
- Acting for Sustainability: Collective Action; Individual Initiative
Creative Commons
This resource is attributed to Solarverein Gymnasium Isny e.V. Credit must be given accordingly when referencing or using information related to the energy house project.
SDGs
