Challenge 098 · Ages 10–16
Smart Home Planner
Design a smart home.
Recommended Guided Learning Time: 4 hours
Learners may require additional or fewer hours depending on age, prior experience, pace and the level of development they choose to take their project to.
Primary STEAM area
Engineering
The Challenge
What will your learner investigate?
Can you design a smart home. and explain the choices that make your solution effective?
Learning outcomes
- Define the design problem and identify useful constraints.
- Build or model a solution using an iterative engineering process.
- Test performance, analyse evidence and improve the design.
Connected learning
Computing: connected systems; Science: electricity and energy; Mathematics: planning and measurement; Design & Technology: user-centred design.
Dream Areas
Prepare for this Challenge
What you'll need
Here's what may be useful for completing this activity. Requirements may vary depending on the learner, activity format and equipment available.
Materials & consumables
- Floor-plan paper
- device icons
- energy-use examples
- picture cards representing sensors, such as motion or temperature sensors
- input-process-output chart.
Equipment, tools & software
- Computer/tablet
- drawing/CAD tool
- calculator
- optional low-voltage sensor or microcontroller demonstration kit.
Safety & preparation
- Use simulations or low-voltage devices only
- no mains wiring
- consider privacy and accessibility in smart-home designs.
These preparation notes support planning and do not replace a project-specific risk assessment or appropriate adult supervision.