JORDAN PARKWAY
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Description & Overview
For centuries humans have been mimicking the creativity of the natural world. In this investigation students will explore how birds keep their babies safe and what implications this might have for how to solve human problems. We will work with a local ornithologist and engineer throughout this virtual trip!
Follow the steps below for a great virtual experience with your students!
UTAH SEEd STANDARD
Standard 2.2.4 - Design a solution to a human problem by mimicking the structure of function of plants and/or animals and how they use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs. Define the problem by asking questions and gathering information, convey designs through sketches, drawing, or physical models, and compare and test designs. Examples could include a human wearing a jacket to mimic the fur of an animal or a webbed foot to design a better swimming fin. (LS1.A, LS1,D, ETS1.A, ETS1.B, ETS1.C)
Introducing Biomimicry
Preparations for Science on the Move
Cue the video Biomimicry - An Introduction. This is a video embedded in Google Slides. It will stop at minute 5. Please do not play beyond minute 5.
Cue the card sort slideshow Mimicry in Our World to share with the class.
Print enough copies of the Biomimicry - Student Investigation Journal - one per student.
Activity Directions
Show the video, Biomimicry - An Introduction, to students and briefly discuss their observations and questions.
Distribute to each pair of students the cards of different animals. Show the students the slideshow Mimicry in Our World. Allow students a chance to hold-up the animal that best matches a part of the modern-day invention.
Introduce the driving question: Animals are getting into my plants. How can I use what I learned about swallows to help save my plants? Tomorrow, we are going on a virtual field trip with Stacy who is an ornithologist (someone who studies birds) and an engineer (someone who creates new tools to solve problems). She will tell us all about swallows and how they stay safe from other animals.
Help students record the problem in Box 1 on the Biomimicry - Student Investigation Journal .
Gathering Data Through Your Virtual Experience
Insure that your webcam is working, your computer microphone is on, you have speakers/sound working, and you can project from your computer to the screen.
Remind students of the driving question: Animals are getting into my plants. How can I use what I learned about swallows to help save my plants?
Be sure students can access their Biomimicry - Student Investigation Journal to record information from the virtual field trip.
Cue the slideshow - Mimicry in Our World and be prepared to show students Slide 10 as a part of the virtual field trip.
Click the appropriate link below to join the experience!
Jordan River Parkway - Field Trip Link
Work with students to complete Biomimicry - Student Investigation Journal - Box 2 and Box 3.
Engineering a Solution to Save the Plants
Activity Directions
Ask students - "What might be a good place to put my plants to keep them away from the animals?" Demonstrate for students the string, class coat rack, and student desks or chairs.
Students will work in groups to engineer a solution to keep the animals away from plants. Ideally, this would be a hanging solution, but it does not need to be. Discuss with your class some of the ideas from groups of students.
Each group will be given a bag of supplies and given a predetermined amount of time to complete their design.
Testing Your Solution
String a piece of twine across your classroom with a span of at least 6 feet. Students could also design something that would suspend from the coat rack hooks or underneath a student desk or chair.
Allow students an opportunity to test their solutions with rocks, weights, or other heavier items in the classroom.
Allow students an opportunity to revise their model and re-test the new solutions.
Discuss with the class the solutions which worked best and why those solutions may have worked best. Complete BOX 5 and BOX 6 on the Biomimicry - Student Investigation Journal.
Additional Resources & Next Steps
Additional Resources & Next Steps
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