Internet-Based Smart Home Curriculum Builder

Dear Teacher,
The service you are about to use will help you to choose appropriate tasks for your students to complete using the Internet-based Smart Home system available at https://cemastprojects.org/IBSH/.

Please begin by choosing the level which best describes your students.
This will determine the reading level as well influence the tasks which are included by default.
Level 1 (Grades K~4)
Level 2 (Grades 4+)

Next,

Check or uncheck the box to the left of each prompt to create your own student workbook (and matching teacher guide). A few items may be greyed out if they are required for successful completion.
When you are ready, use the buttons at the bottom of the page to download the student and teacher version as Word documents.
You may edit these further in a word processor of your choice, though we ask that you leave the footer in-tact.

As always, if you have questions or comments about this process you are welcome to contact CeMaST.

	The Internet-based smart home is available at https://cemastprojects.org/IBSH/.

	Explore this page. Tap icons to control the home. You can click on rounded buttons and items in the virtual home. Square buttons may not let you click them. When you are finished exploring, answer the questions below.
	The dashboard shows an interface you might see on a tablet if you lived in a smart home. Based on what you see, what does it mean for a home to be 'smart?' 'Smart' devices have built-in microcomputers / microprocessors which enable them to be automated, and especially to be automated based on sensors or other sources of data.
	Which of the controls on this page do you like the best? Why?
	Which of the controls on this page do you think could help save energy? Why?
	Go to the Challenges page.
	How much energy can you save with a new bulb?
	Complete the activities on screen. Before marking the challenge complete, answer the questions below.
	Look at the 15-Year Energy Cost. Which bulb is cheapest? Why do you think each bulb's cost is so different?
	Use subtraction to see how much money you can save. What is the difference between the 1-year cost of an LED and the 1-year cost of an incandescent? (Answers will vary. 1-year energy costs for LEDs are 15% of an equivalent incandescent.)
	How much money can you save as the seasons change?
	Complete the activities on screen. Before marking the challenge complete, answer the questions below.
	Why should inside temperatures be low when it is cold outside? The greater the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the more energy you will use to maintain that different temperature.
	Why should inside temperatures be high when it is hot outside? The greater the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the more energy you will use to maintain that different temperature.
	Look at the graph. This graph is calculated based on your choices. What is a trend you see? Explain why you think that trend might be true.
	Trend 1:
	Explanation:
	How much energy can you save by upgrading your appliances?
	Complete the activities on screen. Before you click the check mark, answer the questions below.
	Which fridge did you choose? Why?
	How does business use of energy compare to that at your home?
	Complete the activities on screen. Before you click the check mark, answer the questions below.
	Look at the bar graph. What business uses the most power? What business uses the least? Why do you think they are different?
	How do you think a home's average daily energy usage would compare to that of the office (2,000 kWh), grocery store (400 kWh), and factory (10,000 kWh)?
	In which month is the energy use greatest at each business? Why do you think the energy use is highest during those months?
	Go to the Experiments page.
	What can your home do to automatically save energy?
	Complete the activities on screen. Before you click the check mark, answer the questions below.
	What was the plan you developed for your car's arrival? Why was this a good plan?
	What are some additional ways automation might be used in your home?
	How do different water meters' energy demands compare?
	Complete the activities on screen. Before you click the check mark, answer the questions below.
	Look at the graph. Which task uses the most water in one minute? A bath uses the most, usually about 6.3 gallons per minute.
	How much power can you generate on a windy day?
	What happens when there is not enough wind? Too much wind? When there is too much or too little wind, the turbine does not spin.
	Where do you get your electricity if there is no power coming from the turbine? Most homes do not rely exclusively on wind power. Instead, they are connected to the country's electrical grid. This allows them to use other sources of energy when they need them and gives them a place to send any extra power.
	What happens when the turbine generates more power than you need? Where does the extra power go? Most homes do not rely exclusively on wind power. Instead, they are connected to the country's electrical grid. This allows them to use other sources of energy when they need them and gives them a place to send any extra power.
	How many phone chargers are plugged in at your house? How much wind do you need to charge them all at the same time? (Each phone charger uses about 5W. See the chart in Part 1 of this activity for corresponding wind amounts.)
	If the wind is blowing at 12mph, your turbine can power 1 laptop computer or 10 phones. Why do you think the laptop uses more power? The laptop is larger, which means it has a larger screen, and it has more (and more powerful) parts to keep going.

	What kinds of household tasks use the greatest amount of energy? Any tasks which involve heating or cooling have high energy costs (and high financial costs too!).