Overview
Kristen Nordstrom’s book Mimic Makers shines a spotlight on how humans have found inspiration in nature to solve problems. Biomimicry, which is made up of the root words bio (meaning “living thing”) and mimic (meaning “copy”), has been practiced for centuries by those who have been in awe of the natural world. The book showcases many great examples of how specialized adaptations in organisms have been used to help humankind.
There are two introductory lessons this year, along with a design challenge. The first lesson focuses on biomimicry, with an emphasis on adaptations, structure, and function. The second lesson examines biomimicry as it relates to the world of aerodynamics and introduces key terms such as drag, gravity, thrust, and lift. The design challenge then connects everything students learned in the two lessons.
Lessons
