Earthship Workshop: Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Water Conservation & Sustainable Living
Over four years, Green Up Your Act worked with the Low Carbon Trust to deliver environmental education sessions and tours of the award-winning Brighton Earthship.
This workshop gives pupils the opportunity to discover how the Earthship uses sustainable design to tackle climate change, conserve resources and reduce its environmental impact.
Through practical discussion and exploration, pupils investigate how recycled materials, including car tyres and glass, can be reused in construction to reduce waste and carbon emissions. They also explore how local and natural materials can be used in sustainable building design, supporting Science and Design & Technology.
The Earthship’s solar panels and wind turbines introduce pupils to renewable energy, energy transfer and carbon reduction, providing engaging links to STEM learning. Pupils also discover how the building is designed to naturally heat and cool itself, reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.
Water conservation is another important part of the Earthship. Pupils explore how rainwater is collected, stored and reused, linking to Geography topics such as water resources, weather, climate and sustainable living.
The greenhouse corridor provides an opportunity to explore how food can be grown throughout the year and how producing food locally can reduce food miles and environmental impact. This encourages discussion around Environmental Science, sustainable food production and environmental responsibility.
The workshop also provides opportunities to explore PSHE themes around personal choices, responsible use of resources and the impact our actions can have on the environment.
Workshop Details
- Duration: 45–60 minutes
- Suitable for groups of up to 35 or 70 students
- Supports KS3 and KS4 Geography (Climate Change and Sustainability), Science, Design & Technology, STEM and PSHE
- Interactive exploration of sustainable buildings, renewable energy and low-carbon living
- Creation of a recycled Earthship case study booklet to take home
Perfect for Curriculum Enrichment and Themed School Events
The Earthship Workshop – Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Water Conservation & Sustainable Living supports a wide range of curriculum objectives while giving pupils a practical, memorable and engaging learning experience based on real-world sustainable design.
📚 Curriculum Subjects Covered
🌍 Geography
🌡️ Climate Change
💧 Water Resources & Conservation
⚡ Renewable Energy
☀️ Solar Energy
🌬️ Wind Energy
🔬 Science
🔬 STEM
🏗️ Design & Technology
♻️ Recycling & Reuse
📦 Sustainable Materials
🌱 Sustainable Living
🌎 Environmental Science
🌍 Resource Management
💚 Environmental Responsibility
🍅 Sustainable Food Production
🚜 Food Miles
💚 PSHE
🎨 Art & Design
🗣️ Literacy, Discussion & Communication
🧠 Critical Thinking & Independent Learning
Ideal for School Enrichment Days
This workshop is perfect for:
🌍 Eco Days
⭐ WOW Days
🌱 Sustainability Week
🔬 British Science Week (5–14 March)
♻️ Global Recycling Day (18 March)
💧 World Water Day (22 March)
🌎 Earth Day (22 April)
🌿 Outdoor Classroom Day (usually May – annual date varies)
🌍 Great Big Green Week (usually early June – annual dates vary)
🌱 World Environment Day (5 June)
🏫 School Sustainability Day (5 June)
🌊 World Oceans Day (8 June)
🌬️ Clean Air Day (usually the third Thursday in June)
