UNI Tiny House Project​

One of the major goals is to create integrative STEM curriculum that is sharable and replicable with resources for teachers and students. The curriculum is organized by topic and mapped to the Standards for Technological Literacy (STL), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M). Please feel free to download and modify the documents and powerpoints, in addition to suggest changes and improvements.

Tiny House Curriculum Outline​

 

• Introduction – Purpose of the Course

  • Why Tiny and Small Houses

  • Small Home Living

  • Sustainability

  • Integrative STEM

  • Value in the School Curriculum (with standards)

 

• The Built World (with curriculum ideas)

  • Tiny Homes

  • Small Homes

  • Cabins

  • Other home types

    • Shipping Containers

    • Steel Structures

    • Silos

  • Playhouses

  • Sheds

  • Doghouses

 

• Construction Systems

  • A systems approach

 

• Design (Where Art meets Engineering)

  • Design Process

  • Constraints

  • Needs/Wants (add human element)

    • Storage!

  • Art and Aesthetics (scale, balance. Etc.)

  • Architectural Styles

  • Efficiency in Design (standard sizes)

  • Innovation and Creativity in Design

  • Sustainability and flexibility in Design

  • How to begin – Drawing and Designing

    • Tools and techniques

  • Associated careers

 

• Functions and Rooms

• Design Principles

• Cooking and Eating

• Living and Social

• Work

• Sleeping

• Bathroom

• Transition

• Storage

• Indoor/Outdoor Relationship

 

• Building Codes

  • Purpose and Value

  • National, State, and Local Codes

  • Tradeoffs with codes

  • Introduction to how codes are implemented into the book

 

• Foundation Systems

  • Local codes and processes

    • Your Environment – The Climate and Geology behind the foundation

  • Traditional Foundations

    • Footing and stem wall

    • Basements

    • Monolithic slab

    • Piers and Posts

  • Wood Foundations

  • Trailer Foundation

  • The Science Behind Foundation Materials

  • Engineering Principles

  • Career Exploration

 

• The Shell of the Structure

  • Floor

    • Materials and Techniques

    • Science and Engineering Principles

  • Wall

    • Materials and Techniques

    • Science and Engineering Principles

  • Roof

    • Materials and Techniques

    • Science and Engineering Principles

  • Sheathing

    • Materials and Techniques

    • Science and Engineering Principles

  • Nontraditional Techniques

    • Logs

    • Domes

    • Steel

    • Shipping Containers

    • Straw Bale

  • Careers Exploration

 

• Insulation, Windows, and Doors

  • Principles of Heat Transfer

  • Materials and Techniques

  • Styles and Types of Doors

  • Science and Engineering Principles

  • Career

 

• Energy Systems

  • Heat and Work

  • Energy Principles

  • Introduction to Electricity

    • AC Systems/Grid

    • DC Systems

    • Electrical Components

    • Electrical Design

  • Chemical Energy

  • Mechanical Energy

  • Solar Energy Design

    • Passive

    • Active

  • Heating

    • Systems

    • Calculations

  • Energy, Sustainability, and the Environment

  • Associated Careers

 

• Introduction to Electricity

  • AC Systems/Grid

  • DC Systems

  • Electrical Components

  • Electrical Design

•  

• Plumbing and Waste Systems

  • Clean Water

    • Cold and Hot

  • Waste Water

    • Grey Water

    • Black Water

      • Sewer Systems

      • Septic

      • Composting

 

• Finishing Materials

  • Exterior Materials

  • Interior Materials

  • Cabinetry

  • Appliances

  • Stairs

Tiny House Construction Curriculum