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Academic Subject: Life Science
Inclusive of Biology and Ecology.
Inclusive of Biology and Ecology.
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STEM Activity for 1st Grade: Nature-Inspired DesignDavid Lee EdTech
This video describes a project in which students used design thinking and nature inspired design to engineer a tool for a family activity.
resource
The Importance of Biological InteractionsTNC Nature Works Everywhere
Biological interactions are all around us, both in the natural world and within our human society. This lesson helps students recognize different types of biological interactions, with a focus on coral reefs.
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Fighting Fire with FireTNC Nature Works Everywhere
Using Florida as an example, this lesson teaches about the gopher tortoise as a keystone species, the importance of the gopher's burrow to other organisms, and plant adaptations to fire.
resource
How Natural Areas Filter WaterTNC Nature Works Everywhere
In this lesson with an introductory video, students learn the value of clean freshwater and the natural processes that ensure an adequate supply of usable freshwater.
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The Purpose of PartsChristine Anne Royce
In this lesson first grade students consider how a human problem can be solved by mimicking a structure from the animal world that has a similar purpose. Provided with NGSS alignments (1-LS1-1) by NSTA.
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Biomimicry: The “Natural” Intersection of Biology and EngineeringCeleste Nicholas & Jeffrey Peterson
An article detailing a biomimicry engineering project for middle school students. Provided with NGSS alignments (MS-ETS1-1 and MS-LS4-6) by curators at NSTA.
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“Trait Mountain” STEM UnitSTEM Roots
This three-week life science themed unit is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards for first grade—including a comprehensive lesson on biomimicry aligned to NGSS 1-LS1-1.
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Implementing Biomimicry and Sustainable Design with an Emphasis on the Application of Ecological PrinciplesVanderbilt University
In this collection of lessons high school students study ecological relationships in the Sonoran Desert, examine species adaptations, and then apply what they have learned in a design challenge.
resource
Structural BiomaterialsJulian Vincent
An introduction to the structural materials in natural organisms and what we can learn from them to improve man-made technology.
resource
The Way Nature WorksJill Bailey (Ed.)
Simple explanations for natural phenomena, each well illustrated with charts, diagrams, and photographs.
resource
Exploring the Way Life Works: The Science of BiologyMahlon Hoagland and Bert Dodson
Comprehensive illustrated overview of the natural world from patterns in life to energy and evolution.
resource
Doodling in math: Spirals, Fibonacci, and being a plantVi Hart
This three-part video series playfully explores the mathematics of spirals, the patterns found in plants, and the simple rules that optimize how plants grow.
resource
“Who Is Your Champion?”Caryn Walker, Roberta L. Ethington, and Alyssa Y. Stark
This article for teachers outlines a series of upper elementary lessons on structure and function, with an extension lesson that incorporates related engineering design. Provided with NGSS alignments (4-LS1-1) by curators at NSTA.
resource
Bio-Inspired Design ProjectThe Kids' Science Challenge
A collection of lessons created in conjunction with the “2009 Kids’ Science Challenge."
resource
Just Passing Through: Designing Model MembranesMuseum of Science, Boston
This unit, from the Engineering Is Elementary series, introduces elementary students to bio-inspired engineering.
resource
Superhydrophobicity – The Lotus EffectUniversity of Colorado Boulder
Students learn how plants create and use superhydrophobic surfaces in nature and how engineers have created human-made products that mimic these properties.
resource
Engineering Inspired by NatureThe Center for Learning with Nature
An award-winning, standards-aligned engineering curriculum for middle and high school.
resource
Bio-Inspired Design: Scientist Audio ProgramsPulse of the Planet
A collection of 28 two-minute radio segments featuring scientists talking about natural strategies and bio-inspired design.
resource
Fritz Vollrath: “Who wouldn’t want to study spiders?”The Guardian
Article and accompanying 13 minute video featuring a researcher who studies the biology of spider silks to develop high-tech fibers.
resource
Evogeneao Tree of LifeEvogeneao.com
Graphics, video, and other resources for teaching about evolution and how all life on Earth is related.
resource
STEM Activity for 1st Grade: Nature-Inspired DesignDavid Lee EdTech
This video describes a project in which students used design thinking and nature inspired design to engineer a tool for a family activity.
resource
The Importance of Biological InteractionsTNC Nature Works Everywhere
Biological interactions are all around us, both in the natural world and within our human society. This lesson helps students recognize different types of biological interactions, with a focus on coral reefs.
resource
Fighting Fire with FireTNC Nature Works Everywhere
Using Florida as an example, this lesson teaches about the gopher tortoise as a keystone species, the importance of the gopher's burrow to other organisms, and plant adaptations to fire.
resource
How Natural Areas Filter WaterTNC Nature Works Everywhere
In this lesson with an introductory video, students learn the value of clean freshwater and the natural processes that ensure an adequate supply of usable freshwater.
resource
The Purpose of PartsChristine Anne Royce
In this lesson first grade students consider how a human problem can be solved by mimicking a structure from the animal world that has a similar purpose. Provided with NGSS alignments (1-LS1-1) by NSTA.
resource
Biomimicry: The “Natural” Intersection of Biology and EngineeringCeleste Nicholas & Jeffrey Peterson
An article detailing a biomimicry engineering project for middle school students. Provided with NGSS alignments (MS-ETS1-1 and MS-LS4-6) by curators at NSTA.
resource
“Trait Mountain” STEM UnitSTEM Roots
This three-week life science themed unit is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards for first grade—including a comprehensive lesson on biomimicry aligned to NGSS 1-LS1-1.
resource
Implementing Biomimicry and Sustainable Design with an Emphasis on the Application of Ecological PrinciplesVanderbilt University
In this collection of lessons high school students study ecological relationships in the Sonoran Desert, examine species adaptations, and then apply what they have learned in a design challenge.
resource
Structural BiomaterialsJulian Vincent
An introduction to the structural materials in natural organisms and what we can learn from them to improve man-made technology.
resource
The Way Nature WorksJill Bailey (Ed.)
Simple explanations for natural phenomena, each well illustrated with charts, diagrams, and photographs.
resource
Exploring the Way Life Works: The Science of BiologyMahlon Hoagland and Bert Dodson
Comprehensive illustrated overview of the natural world from patterns in life to energy and evolution.
resource
Doodling in math: Spirals, Fibonacci, and being a plantVi Hart
This three-part video series playfully explores the mathematics of spirals, the patterns found in plants, and the simple rules that optimize how plants grow.
resource
“Who Is Your Champion?”Caryn Walker, Roberta L. Ethington, and Alyssa Y. Stark
This article for teachers outlines a series of upper elementary lessons on structure and function, with an extension lesson that incorporates related engineering design. Provided with NGSS alignments (4-LS1-1) by curators at NSTA.
resource
Bio-Inspired Design ProjectThe Kids' Science Challenge
A collection of lessons created in conjunction with the “2009 Kids’ Science Challenge."
resource
Just Passing Through: Designing Model MembranesMuseum of Science, Boston
This unit, from the Engineering Is Elementary series, introduces elementary students to bio-inspired engineering.
resource
Superhydrophobicity – The Lotus EffectUniversity of Colorado Boulder
Students learn how plants create and use superhydrophobic surfaces in nature and how engineers have created human-made products that mimic these properties.
resource
Engineering Inspired by NatureThe Center for Learning with Nature
An award-winning, standards-aligned engineering curriculum for middle and high school.
resource
Bio-Inspired Design: Scientist Audio ProgramsPulse of the Planet
A collection of 28 two-minute radio segments featuring scientists talking about natural strategies and bio-inspired design.
resource
Fritz Vollrath: “Who wouldn’t want to study spiders?”The Guardian
Article and accompanying 13 minute video featuring a researcher who studies the biology of spider silks to develop high-tech fibers.
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