How would Nature____? An Introduction to Biomimicry Glen White Project Director, STEM-TRACKS Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools Office

What is it? “Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies.” https://biomimicry.org/what-is-biomimicry 3.8 billion years of R&D – Success is literally a matter of life or death. Earth’s story is about change, biotic and abiotic. Choices are limited when an environment changes: Adapt Move Perish

EXAMPLES Google Images

PART 1 of 3 - Adaptations Every student selects an organism to draw. Focus on physical adaptations. Multiple drafts – watch Austen’s Butterfly after 1st draft. Add labels, descriptors, and questions to their drawings (nature journaling). Share out findings.

Identify adaptations Google Images

How has Nature solved these problems? Part 2 of 3 – Human Issues Classroom discussion of human problems. Transportation Energy Food Health/Medicine Water Communication Shelter Resource use How has Nature solved these problems?

Transportation Shelter Energy Google Images

Part 3 of 3 - Solutions ABCD – Asset-Based Community Development Student teams match solutions from Nature to human problems. May use multiple adaptations, can come from different organisms. Can modify existing technology or create something new. Use the engineering design process. Build a “prototype.”

http://stemengineer. weebly. com/uploads/2/2/6/5/22653874/5105480_orig http://stemengineer.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/6/5/22653874/5105480_orig.png

Creating Solutions Using craft supplies, build a “prototype.” Supplies have a cost, track expenses. Share your creation. Provide rationale for your solution, explain how and why adaptions were incorporated. Identify limitations on design (materials don’t exist yet, cost prohibitive, etc.).

CREATE! In groups of 2 to 5 people: Discuss problems and Brainstorm potential solutions. Design a solution, review constraints. Build it! Evaluate, modify, and refine as time allows. Total up your project’s cost. Share it.

Brainstorm rules Image link

Paperclip or rubber band Math Connection Description Unit Cost Qty Total Cost Block of clay $2.50 Craft stick $0.10 Pipe cleaner $0.25 Felt $0.75 Construction paper $0.50 Paperclip or rubber band 1’ of twine $0.80 Bead $0.05 1’ of clear tape $0.15 1’ of masking tape $0.30 Dimpled white sphere $2.25 Cork

Science & Engineering Practices Asking Questions and Defining Problems Developing and Using Models Planning and Carrying Out Investigations Analyzing and Interpreting Data Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions Engaging in Argument from Evidence Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information Links go to: https://ngss.sdcoe.net/

Cross-Cutting Concepts Patterns Cause and Effect: Mechanism and Explanation Scale, Proportion, and Quantity Systems and System Models Energy and Matter: Flows, Cycles, and Conservation Structure and Function Stability and Change Links go to: https://ngss.sdcoe.net/

Grade 3-5 NGSS Standards https://ngss.sdcoe.net/NGSS-Standards Physical Sciences 5-PS1-3 3-PS2-4 4-PS3-2 4-PS3-4 5-PS3-1 4-PS4-2 4-PS4-3 Life Sciences 3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 4-LS1-2 5-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 5-LS2-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS3-2 3-LS4-1 3-LS4-2 3-LS4-3 3-LS4-4 Earth and Space Sciences 4-ESS1-1 3-ESS2-1 3-ESS2-2 4-ESS2-1 4-ESS2-2 5-ESS2-1 5-ESS2-2 3-ESS3-1 4-ESS3-1 4-ESS3-2 5-ESS3-1 Engineering, Technology and Applications of Science 3-5-ETS1-1 3-5-ETS1-2 3-5-ETS1-3 https://ngss.sdcoe.net/NGSS-Standards

DCIs - Life Sciences LS1.A: Structure and Function LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms LS1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms LS1.D: Information Processing LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems LS2.B: Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience LS2.D: Social Interactions and Group Behavior LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits LS3.B: Variation of Traits LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity LS4.B: Natural Selection LS4.C: Adaptation LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans Links go to: https://ngss.sdcoe.net/

DCIs - Earth and Space Sciences ESS2.A: Earth Materials and Systems ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth's Surface Processes ESS2.D: Weather and Climate ESS2.E: Biogeology ESS3.A: Natural Resources ESS3.B: Natural Hazards ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems ESS3.D: Global Climate Change Links go to: https://ngss.sdcoe.net/

DCIs - Engineering, Technology and Applications of Science ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting an Engineering Problem ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions ETS1.C: Optimizing the Design Solution ETS2.A: Interdependence of Science, Engineering, and Technology ETS2.B: Influence of Engineering, Technology, and Science on Society and the Natural World Links go to: https://ngss.sdcoe.net/

Biomimicry Resources Ask Nature Austen’s Butterfly Biomimicry 3.8 Nature journaling curriculum The Biomimicry Institute Asset-Based Community Development TEDtalk by Janine Benyus Biomimicry Challenge (High School and up) 10 more examples of biomimicry