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Our goal is to provide educators with the teaching materials they need to introduce their students to the inspiring concept and powerful innovation methodology of biomimicry. Feel free to use the following curricula to get started, and edit to suit your needs. If you have a curriculum piece on biomimicry you would like to share, we can post it here too.
Teaching materials provided on this page include curricula for elementary, middle, and high school students; links to resources and educational materials that provide fundamental background context for biomimicry, relevant for all ages, are also provided at the beginning.
We offer this curricula without charge, however, if you would like to incorporate any of our curricula into your own fee-based educational products and services, please contact us.
To visit this page again without having to fill out the previous form, use this URL: http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/education/k-12/curricula.html
BIOMIMICRY FUNDAMENTALS FOR ALL AGES
In this first section, we provide curricula and links to resources that are fundamental to understanding biomimicry and why it is important. You can use these resources with any age group, with slight modifications. Often, using these resources as part of a learning progression -- a conscious sequence of activities that occurs over time, such as over a year or woven across several years of K-12 curricula -- can be a good use of these activities.
- Nature observation activities
Biomimicry is a new way to view and value the natural world, so building Nature observation sensibilities in your students is a fundamental building block for them.
- Joseph Cornell's book, Sharing Nature with Children, is a classic with many, many great Nature observation activities, and one of the very best of the many books we've taken a look at of its kind. We highly recommend it.
"Function" is a fundamental concept in biomimicry -- this concept more than any other is what allows people to use biomimicry as an innovation methodology. Here are two fun activities that help students look at the natural world in terms of how it functions, and to make the connection between biological function and technological application.
- "Seeing" function (PDF/1.29M)
- Function junction (PDF/625KB)
Humans often feel, and are even taught to feel, that we are a categorically different species than the rest of Nature. For years, young children were taught that humans were the only species that used tools, for example (an idea shattered first by Jane Goodall's observation of chimpanzees fishing for termites using sticks). One of biomimicry's most important implications is that Nature's technological solutions address humanity's technological challenges. In other words, that humanity is not alone. Instead, what we are surrounded by is a wealth of ideas for solving our own technological challenges. This activity conveys this important idea.
- We Are Not Alone (PDF/940KB)
Evolution is a fascinating perspective with which to view the living world. Giving young people the capacity to view the natural world through the lens of evolution is a gift that will last them a lifetime. It is also a foundational building block for continuing biological learning. Evolutionary adaptation is one of the main rationales for why drawing technological inspiration from Nature makes so much sense, so it is an important concept to understand as a foundation to understanding biomimicry. There are lots of evolution activities you can find on-line, and here's one we created that's fun and works well particularly with younger students.
- The Evolution Game (PDF/171K) is an action-based indoor lesson plan is designed primarily for elementary and middle school students, and can be used with any age student that is still lacking this background.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
- A musical introduction to biomimicry
The Biomimicry Institute produced a music album full of great songs for kids about biomimicry, which has won several major music awards (Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award, iParenting Media Best Product Award, Parents' Choice Award). Each track on the album has its own lesson plans, downloadable for free from the Ask the Planet website (http://www.AskThePlanetCD.org/).
- Plant-inspired solar energy lab activity
Dye-sensitized solar cells are solar cells inspired by photosynthesizing plants. They have many advantages over conventional solar cells, and, fortunately, students can create them! This lab-based activity has been a classic since 1998, when Greg Smestad and Michael Grätzel published it in the Journal of Chemical Education. What we’ve added is the plant-inspired context. This lesson plan and lab together now form an excellent hands-on illustration of a biomimetic technology. It’s been used successfully with second graders to undergraduates in college.
(1) Start by downloading the lesson plan here (PDF/983KB)
(2) The lab procedure can be found here, courtesy of Beyond Benign (PDF/528KB)
(3) The lesson plan’s relationship to national science education content standards can be found here (PDF/148KB)
(4) The lab kits that are needed for this activity contain everything you need. They can be ordered from Beyond Benign (http://www.beyondbenign.org/), or from the Institute for Chemical Education (http://ice.chem.wisc.edu/Catalog/SciKits.htm#Anchor-Nanocrystalline-41703; for more information, please see http://www.solideas.com/solrcell/ICE_98_001_NanocrystalllineSolarCellKit.html).
Sol Ideas also has the lab instructions in several languages (English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese) at http://www.solideas.com/solrcell/bldcell.html.
- Introduction to biomimicry through PowerPoint
Biomimicry and the Built Environment: An Introduction to Biomimicry for Fourth Graders (PPT/8.35M) is a dynamic powerpoint presentation with lecture notes that introduces biomimicry through the idea of the built environment, a concept easily understood by fourth through sixth graders. Once you download the presentation, use "normal view" to see the lecture notes below each slide.
- Introduction to biomimicry through poetry
Learning about Biomimicry through Poetry (PDF/117K) was created by highly-acclaimed poet Mario Petrucci as a project with the Poetry Society, UK (www.poetrysociety.org.uk). The exercise is ideal for facilitating thoughtful exploration of biomimicry through language arts for late-elementary to high school students.
- Velcro Race interactive game
This fun interactive game (PDF/651KB) has students race to put on apparel using Velcro (an invention inspired by Nature), and apparel using other devices (e.g., zippers, snaps, etc.), and compare and discuss the results. This game can be played with students of all ages, and is designed to introduce them to biomimicry and develop their critical thinking skills about the process of bio-inspired design.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Plant-inspired solar energy lab activity
Dye-sensitized solar cells are solar cells inspired by photosynthesizing plants. They have many advantages over conventional solar cells, and, fortunately, students can create them! This lab-based activity has been a classic since 1998, when Greg Smestad and Michael Grätzel published it in the Journal of Chemical Education. What we’ve added is the plant-inspired context. This lesson plan and lab together now form an excellent hands-on illustration of a biomimetic technology. It’s been used successfully with second graders to undergraduates in college.
(1) Start by downloading the lesson plan here (PDF/983KB)
(2) The lab procedure can be found here, courtesy of Beyond Benign (PDF/528KB)
(3) The lesson plan’s relationship to national science education content standards can be found here (PDF/148KB)
(4) The lab kits that are needed for this activity contain everything you need. They can be ordered from Beyond Benign (http://www.beyondbenign.org/), or from the Institute for Chemical Education (http://ice.chem.wisc.edu/Catalog/SciKits.htm#Anchor-Nanocrystalline-41703; for more information, please see http://www.solideas.com/solrcell/ICE_98_001_NanocrystalllineSolarCellKit.html).
Sol Ideas also has the lab instructions in several languages (English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese) at http://www.solideas.com/solrcell/bldcell.html.
This week-long unit teaches middle school children about biomimicry through a powerpoint presentation, outdoor exercises, and then by giving students the opportunity to explore their own biomimetic solutions to sustainability challenges. Some of the components in this unit can be used independently, or for a 1 or 2-day introduction as well.
Teacher's Lesson Plan (MS Word/95K)
Biomimicry for MS Questionnaire (MS Word/27K)
Biomimicry and the Built Environment: An Introduction to Biomimicry for Middle School (PPT/8M)
Inspiring Organism Library (PDF/580K)
Using an in-depth case study on climate change, this week-long unit (similar to the unit above) teaches middle school children about biomimicry through a powerpoint presentation, outdoor exercises, and by giving students the opportunity to explore their own biomimetic solutions to sustainability challenges.
Teacher's Lesson Plan (MS Word/97K)
Biomimicry for MS Questionnaire (MS Word/27K)
Biomimicry and the Built Environment: An Introduction to Biomimicry for Middle School (PPT/12.4M)
Inspiring Organism Library (PDF/499K)
- Introduction to biomimicry through poetry
Learning about Biomimicry through Poetry (PDF/117K) was created by highly-acclaimed poet Mario Petrucci as a project with the Poetry Society, UK (www.poetrysociety.org.uk). The exercise is ideal for facilitating thoughtful exploration of biomimicry through language arts for late-elementary to high school students.
- Velcro Race interactive game
This fun interactive game (PDF/651KB) has students race to put on apparel using Velcro (an invention inspired by Nature), and apparel using other devices (e.g., zippers, snaps, etc.), and compare and discuss the results. This game can be played with students of all ages, and is designed to introduce them to biomimicry and develop their critical thinking skills about the process of bio-inspired design.
HIGH SCHOOL
- Plant-inspired solar energy lab activity
Dye-sensitized solar cells are solar cells inspired by photosynthesizing plants. They have many advantages over conventional solar cells, and, fortunately, students can create them! This lab-based activity has been a classic since 1998, when Greg Smestad and Michael Grätzel published it in the Journal of Chemical Education. What we’ve added is the plant-inspired context. This lesson plan and lab together now form an excellent hands-on illustration of a biomimetic technology. It’s been used successfully with second graders to undergraduates in college.
(1) Start by downloading the lesson plan here (PDF/983KB)
(2) The lab procedure can be found here, courtesy of Beyond Benign (PDF/528KB)
(3) The lesson plan’s relationship to national science education content standards can be found here (PDF/148KB)
(4) The lab kits that are needed for this activity contain everything you need. They can be ordered from Beyond Benign (http://www.beyondbenign.org/), or from the Institute for Chemical Education (http://ice.chem.wisc.edu/Catalog/SciKits.htm#Anchor-Nanocrystalline-41703; for more information, please see http://www.solideas.com/solrcell/ICE_98_001_NanocrystalllineSolarCellKit.html).
Sol Ideas also has the lab instructions in several languages (English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese) at http://www.solideas.com/solrcell/bldcell.html.
The biomimicry shelter assignment was prepared by Torrey McMillan and the students in her biomimicry class at The White Mountain School, spring term, 2008. The point of the activity is to help students gain an understanding of biomimetic design processes by choosing a region, a champion species, and then creating a shelter according to those conditions. The assignment, assessment, and a student example are posted here.
Biomimicry Shelter Plan (MS Word/51K)
Shelter Assessment (MS Word/40K)
Student work (MS Word/33K)
Student work image (JPEG/518K)
- Introduction to biomimicry through poetry
Learning about Biomimicry through Poetry (PDF/117K) was created by highly-acclaimed poet Mario Petrucci as a project with the Poetry Society, UK (www.poetrysociety.org.uk). The exercise is ideal for facilitating thoughtful exploration of biomimicry through language arts for late-elementary to high school students.
- Velcro Race interactive game
This fun interactive game (PDF/651KB) has students race to put on apparel using Velcro (an invention inspired by Nature), and apparel using other devices (e.g., zippers, snaps, etc.), and compare and discuss the results. This game can be played with students of all ages, and is designed to introduce them to biomimicry and develop their critical thinking skills about the process of bio-inspired design.
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