MODA - AGS Biomimicry - Day 2

• Design
• Biology
• 6-8 Grade

Introduction

To complete this lesson, you’ll watch a film that explains biomimicry and gives you some examples of how designers and engineers have used biomimicry to solve problems. You’ll also learn why learning from nature is an important skills to have.

> go to LessonUp.app

> select "English" as language

> enter the code 007-194

also have paper+pencil nearby

(as many as you want)

Which types of design
interest you?

Learning from Nature:

Biomimicry 

Design 

Challenge

Day 2

Our Big Goal

We will imagine new possibilities for a better world inspired by nature!

Today we will

To

• recap Design + look at

another biomimicry example

• research other examples on own or with partner

• share back findings to the group

Today's Schedule

Introductions + Agreements (updated!)

Design recap +

more Biomimicry

Break

Research

Share-back

Wrap-up

Ways to Engage

Zoom - video on, raise hand / react

            - chat window

            - unmute self to speak? (1 at a time)

Z

LessonUp - digest info

                   - respond to questions

                     (hit submit/update)

IRL/web - take notes

                - discuss / collaborate

What is MODA?

We are the Museum of Design Atlanta

and we celebrate 

all things DESIGN!

ABOUT ME

Ms. Michelle (she/they):

  • visual arts & digital media teaching artist since 2001

  • from Chicago, living in Atlanta since 2017

  • believe in each person's power for self-awareness + creativity

  • usually ready for a joke or pun ;D

How about you? Favorite
animal • plant • nature spot:

• Lead with questions
• Respond “Yes, and…”
• Allow for multiple views

• Pay attention to info+others

  (don't interrupt)

• Quiet unless sharing

• Accepting of questions

• Collaborate

• DEAR MAN*

Our Working Agreements

*Describe • Express • Assert • Reinforce • Mindfulness • Appear confident • Negotiate

LET'S RECAP

about Design

and Biomimicry

Design =

_ r _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ +     _ _ _ _ _ _ o _

Design =

C r e a t i v i t y +    F u n c t i o n

What is Function?

 • How something ______.

 • What something ______.

 • How well it fits the _______ of the _____.

What is Function?

 • How something works.

 • What something does.

 • How well it fits the needs of the user.

Biomimicry is

_______ _______ that

is modeled on ________.

Biomimicry is

human design that

is modeled on nature.

Life appeared on earth about 3.8 billion years ago. 

Since the time life appeared on earth, nature has been doing research about how to live sustainably. 

Designers and engineers study nature to find out how animals and plants address challenges and then find creative ways to apply nature’s solutions to human challenges. 

When nature drives innovation and helps us solve problems, the process is called biomimicry because we are imitating solutions that we see in nature.

Biomimicry tidbits

brought to you by baby penguins! 

Drag the animals towards

the right objects!

Some of our ideas from Day 1

Setting a Fin example!

How Do Whales Help Us Generate Energy?

Click here!

What do you notice about this picture?

Click on the hotspot to show the picture of the whale and start the timer. Show the picture for one minute and go to the next slide. Let the students write down what they remember from this picture.

What did you notice in the picture?

What do you call the bumps
on a humpback whale's fins?

1. tubers
2. lumps
3. warts
4. tubercles

Describe in your own words
what the tubercles do for a whale.

Question: Describe in your own words what the tubercles do for a whale.

Answer: The tubercles give humback whales more lift, which helps them manoeuvre more easily in the water. That’s important because these huge animals — which can weigh as much as 13 Hummer SUVs — eat by catching fish. And, to catch fish, the whales have to make tight turns while they swim. Their tuberculed fins help them do that. 

How does whale-inspired design
help windmills?

Question: Describe in your own words what the tubercles do for a whale.

Answer: The tubercles give humback whales more lift, which helps them manoeuvre more easily in the water. That’s important because these huge animals — which can weigh as much as 13 Hummer SUVs — eat by catching fish. And, to catch fish, the whales have to make tight turns while they swim. Their tuberculed fins help them do that. 

AND WE'RE BACK!

When you want to start a
new hobby or learn about something
of interest, what is a first step
you would take?

Often that first step

(and throughout your process) is a type of research--just like in design*

Now that you've looked at biomimetic design examples, you will now research your own.

Links

1 • Let's wander the galleries:

          MODA - Learning from Nature

               https://www.museumofdesign.org/learning-from-nature

2 • Peruse the Questions asked
          Ask Nature
               https://asknature.org/collections/

3 • You can browse videos + take notes

          Biomimicry Institute

               https://biomimicry.org/videos/

3 •

www.museumofdesign.org

Which piece in the exhibit
sparked your interest?

asknature.org

What idea, function,
or question had you not
considered before?

biomimicry.org

What is a noteworthy
detail to share with us?
Be specific :D

Now let's wrap up...

We did it!

Write one word to
describe today's lesson.

Did you enjoy this lesson?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

Thanks for

your hard work!

See you tomorrow!

www.montereybayaquarium.org

*Example: d.School Design Thinking Process steps

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*Example: d.School Design Thinking Process steps

1

2

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5

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7

Let's brainstorm:

List/draw special features/functions

of your favorite animal, plant, or

nature spot.

1

Let's brainstorm:

List/draw special features/functions

of your favorite animal, plant, or
nature spot.

1

For

Example:

A _____________

has ____________

and can ________

_________________.

Now extend:

How do those features/functions

compare to human abilities?

How could they connect?

2

Share with a partner:

Listen to each other's

observations / imaginings.

3

Houston Zoo
     http://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams/
Monterey Bay Aquarium
     https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams

Legend

You are going to learn

Information

Participate

Watch

Touch or drag

Go to the next slide

Recap

Supplies Needed

- Pencil and paper

- A personal account at TinkerCAD.com

The new reading comprehension program is not working for the school. It is hard to implement and boring. How do you solve this problem?

Read the research on the program and tweak it to make it better.

Design your own program and implement it.

Host a meeting to teach staff and a rally to excite kids.