Flood-Resistant Homes in Bangladesh
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Geography, Engineering
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Mongabay
What it is
- This 6-minute video follows how a rural community in Bangladesh is building elevated, easily relocated tiny houses to withstand the severe seasonal flooding.
- Students learn about how architects run hands-on workshops so villagers can construct the flood-resistant homes themselves, a local example of climate adaptation.
Teaching tips
Classroom Implementation:
- Before viewing, ask students about their experiences with flooding to activate prior knowledge.
- After viewing, have students identify the design criteria and constraints the khudi bari must satisfy to be successful (staying above floodwater, being easy to relocate, using locally available materials, etc.).
Extensions:
- Have students discuss why Bangladesh is especially vulnerable to flooding and erosion; then, find areas in your region that face similar vulnerabilities.
- Engage students in a design challenge where they build prototype tiny homes using provided materials (toothpicks, recycled plastic, tape) and test their designs in "flooding" conditions.
Related Resources:
- Use this flooding simulation to explore the factors that contribute to intense flooding.
- Dive deeper into the impacts of flooding on communities with this high school lesson that incorporates case studies from Illinois and Wisconsin.
From the scientist review
This video depicts regular flooding in rural Bangladeshi communities and discusses efforts to help them become more resilient to these floods. The video focuses on the construction of tiny, flood-resistant homes. These floods and the community efforts are examples of climate impacts and solutions around the world. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
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