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

2. 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.”
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

3. EXAMPLES
Google Images

4. 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.

5. Identify adaptations
Google Images

6. 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?

7. Transportation Shelter
Energy
Google Images

8. 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.”

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

10. 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.).

11. 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.

12. Brainstorm rules
Image link

13. 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

14. 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:

15. 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:

16. 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-ETS ETS ETS1-3

17. 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:

18. 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:

19. 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:

20. 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