Standing the Heat: The Hogan
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Provided by: PBS|Published on: October 9, 2025
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Scientist Reviewed 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 →
Synopsis
- This 8.75-minute video from NOVA features Steven Tallas of Arizona and his exploration of the hogan, a traditional structure found in the Navajo Nation.
- Steven compares the insulating power of a traditional hogan and its modern counterpart to a modern home, and explores the technical processes for building a hogan.
Subjects: Engineering
Authors: PBS , NOVA
Region: Arizona
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The filmmaker of this video has a fun sense of humor, incorporating humorous edits that keep students engaged.
- The way the filmmaker speaks about his daughter and his idea for building her a hogan for her coming-of-age ceremony is an incredibly touching example of fatherhood.
Prerequisites
- It may benefit students to do some research about traditional Navajo Nation structures and other aspects of Navajo culture.
- Students should have a basic understanding of climate change.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can use this as an example of doing something to protect future generations from the effects of climate change. Students can brainstorm things they can do that may benefit future generations in the same way.
- If teachers have access to a thermal camera, students can measure the temperature inside/under different shade structures on the school grounds, hypothesizing about why some shade structures work better than others.
- Teachers can connect this resource to Sustainable Development Goal 13, Climate Action. Additionally, if teachers go into the health impacts associated with extreme heat, this resource can be related to Goal 3, Good Health and Well-Being.
This resource from PBS NOVA features a short video (~9 minutes) exploring how traditional Navajo hogans can offer climate-smart design solutions in the face of climate change. Through thermal imaging and family storytelling, the video compares the cooling performance of traditional, modern, and conventional homes in the desert. While it doesn't include any original data, it's produced by a trusted source and provides a meaningful introduction to climate adaptation.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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