GREEN ROOFTOPS

Activity 1: The structure of a green rooftop

Complete with the following elements:
drainage layer (=> couche) – plant material layer – roof construction –
soil (=> sol /terre) layers – water retention layer – waterproof membrane

Activity 2: The benefits of green rooftops (Text)

1. Read the text below and complete the grid with the number of one of the benefits described in the text.
Reformulation Benefit n° …
Green roofs last longer.
Green roofs are energy efficient.
Green roofs can serve as habitat.
Green roofs can help to regulate water runoff (=> écoulement) in case of bad weather.
Green roofs provide extra space.
Green roofs improve air quality.
Green roofs create jobs.

2. For each benefit mentioned in the text, tick the potential consequences.
Consequences 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
It helps / saves / protects the environment.
Urban life is more pleasant, more bearable (=> supportable).
It saves money.
It boosts the economy.
Activity 3: Green rooftops benefit people (Video)
1. In the grid below, there is an asterisk (*) in front of some words. Learn them because they will be necessary
to understand the video.
Nouns Adjectives Verbs
*Excess rainwater = surplus of rainwater *Unutilised = unexploited *Overflow (=> déboder)
*Flooding (=> inondations) *Cool ≠ warm / hot Reduce ≠ increase
Refuge = shelter Improve = ameliorate
*Species (=> espèces) Last (=> durer)
Unemployment

2. Watch the video entitled: “Green roofs benefit people” three times and take notes. Account for the video IN
 FRENCH. If you want, you may use the extra help at the back of this photocopy

 EXTRA HELP FOR THE VIDEO:

A. Find the following information about this rooftop garden:

a) City:

b) Where it is located in the city:

c) Production in pounds (1 pound = 453 grams):

B. Tick the goals of this rooftop garden mentioned in the video
 Reduce flooding
 Absorb excess rainwater
 Teach students how to grow food
 Grow fresh food
 Use unexploited spaces
 Replace farms
 Grow food for people in need
 Give a better connection to nature
C. This city is special because (Tick the correct answer):
 It was the first city to have a rooftop garden.
 It has the largest rooftop in the world.
 It is one of the cities with the largest number of rooftop gardens.
D. Tick the correct answers:
 The video informs people about rooftop gardens.
 The video may encourage other cities to do the same thing.
 The video gives a totally positive image of rooftop gardens.
 The video gives a totally negative image of rooftop gardens.
 The video expresses mixed feelings image of rooftop gardens.
Activity 4: Final assignment
The mayor of Chicago wants to promote green rooftops in his town. He asked you to write a text for the
town’s website. Your text will present the benefits of green rooftops and explain the consequences of these
benefits. Use the vocabulary in the grid of Activity 3 and the information from the text and the video. (100-
120 words)
Planting the rooftops of urbanized areas brings many benefits to public, private, economic and social sectors,
as well as to the local and global environments. The benefits described below can be achieved by virtually all
green roof systems and designs.
1. In summer, the green roof protects the building from direct solar heat. In winter, the green roof
minimizes heat loss through added insulation1 on the roof. Energy conservation translates into2 fewer
greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Plant leaves trap3 dust particles from the air, and evapotranspiration cools ambient temperatures.
3. As undisturbed areas, rooftops can serve as refuge for creatures that struggle4 for survival.
4. Green roofs cover the waterproofing membrane, protecting it from UV rays and extreme daily
temperature fluctuations. This protection extends the lifespan of the waterproofing twice as long as
conventional roofing.
5. Green roofs make the most of unused space within the increasing density of our cities. Rooftops can be
developed into social and recreational spaces and used for urban agriculture.
6. A new industry represents a new market that will provide employment opportunities.
7. Green roof growing media retain rainwater and, together with plants, return a portion of this water to
the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration (evapotranspiration).
Adapted from https://commons.bcit.ca

1
Insulation => isolation
2
Translates into => se traduit par
3
Trap => capture
4
Struggle = fight
 GREEN ROOFTOPS

Anticipation (PowerPoint)
=> What did you see?
Garden on the rooftop of buildings => a rooftop turned into a garden
=> Imagine the use of these gardens + What do you think these gardens?
Enjoy the view / Have some peace and quiet / Grow your own flowers and vegetables
Activity 1: The structure of a green rooftop
Complete with the following elements.
drainage layer (=> couche) – plant material layer – roof construction –
soil (=> sol /terre) layers – water retention layer – waterproof membrane

 Le but est de faire intervenir l’inférence et la logique des élèves pour trouver le bon ordre.
Activity 2: The benefits of green rooftops
1. Read the text below and complete the grid with the number of one of the benefits described in the text.
Reformulation Benefit n° …
Green roofs last longer. 4
Green roofs are energy efficient. 1
Green roofs can serve as habitat. 3
Green roofs can help to regulate water runoff (=> écoulement) in case of bad weather. 7
Green roofs provide extra space. 5
Green roofs improve air quality. 2
Green roofs create jobs. 6
2. For each benefit mentioned in the text, tick the potential consequences.
Consequences 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
It helps / saves / protects the environment. x x x x
Urban life is more pleasant, more bearable (=> supportable). x x x
It saves money. x x
It boosts the economy. x x
=> Mettre en groupes pour faire justifier les choix. Puis un rapporteur par groupe expose les choix.
Activity 3: Green rooftops benefit people (Video)
1. In the grid below, there is an asterisk (*) in front of some words. Learn them because they will be necessary
to understand the video.
Nouns Adjectives Verbs
*Excess rainwater = surplus of rainwater *Unutilised = unexploited *Overflow (=> déboder)
*Flooding (=> inondations) *Cool ≠ warm / hot Reduce ≠ increase
Refuge = shelter Improve = ameliorate
*Species (=> espèces) Last (=> durer)
Unemployment
 2. Watch the video three times and take notes and then account for the video IN FRENCH. If you want, you may
use the extra help photocopy.
=> Le but est d’entrainer à CO version E3C, tout en différenciant avec la fiche d’aide qui est à
dispostion en libre-service. Rappeler éventuellement les attentes avant la CO :

EXTRA HELP FOR THE VIDEO:

A. Find the following information about this rooftop garden:
a) City: Washington DC
b) Where it is located in the city: the campus of the university
c) Production in pounds (1 pound = 453 grams): 4250
B. Tick the goals of this rooftop garden mentioned in the video
 Reduce flooding
 Absorb excess rainwater
 Teach students how to grow food
 Grow fresh food
 Use unexploited spaces
 Replace farms
 Grow food for people in need
 Give a better connection to nature
C. This city is special because (Tick the correct answer):
 It was the first city to have a rooftop garden.
 It has the largest rooftop in the world.
 It is one of the cities with the largest number of rooftop gardens.
D. Tick the correct answers:
 The video informs people about rooftop gardens.
 The video may encourage other cities to do the same thing.
 The video gives a totally positive image of rooftop gardens.
 The video gives a totally negative image of rooftop gardens.
 The video expresses mixed feelings image of rooftop gardens.
Activity 4: Final assignment
The mayor of Chicago wants to promote green rooftops in his town. He asked you to write a text for the
town’s website. Your text will present the benefits of green rooftops and explain the consequences of these
benefits. Use the vocabulary in the grid of Activity 3 and the information from the text and the video. (100-
120 words)