Inspired by nature: an engineering design-based biomimicry activity

This activity provides opportunities for middle school students to design bio-inspired, eco-friendly vehicles. Twenty-four 8th grade students (12 girls, 12 boys) engaged in the activity which was implemented in four class periods, 40 minutes each, in an elective Environmental Education course. Durin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science activities 2021-04, Vol.58 (2), p.77-88
Main Authors: Canbazoğlu Bilici, Sedef, Küpeli, Mehmet Ali, Guzey, S. Selcen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air pollution
Biomimetics
biomimicry
Conservation (Environment)
Design
Design engineering
Electric motors
Engineering
engineering design process
Engineering education
Environmental Education
Exhaust systems
Foreign Countries
Grade 8
Grasshoppers
Hybrid systems
Middle School Students
Middle Schools
Motor Vehicles
Natural Resources
Pollution
Problem Solving
Program Effectiveness
Science activities
Science education
Science Instruction
Scientific Concepts
Social Problems
Solar energy
Solar panels
Spiders
STEM Education
Student Attitudes
Students
Teamwork
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Summary:This activity provides opportunities for middle school students to design bio-inspired, eco-friendly vehicles. Twenty-four 8th grade students (12 girls, 12 boys) engaged in the activity which was implemented in four class periods, 40 minutes each, in an elective Environmental Education course. During the activity, students engaged in engineering design process and they integrated eco-friendly systems that can be used to solve the problem of air pollution. In this process, the students researched and observed living organisms and made their designs inspired by the body and movement systems of grasshoppers, ants, spiders and red Japanese beetles, and added eco-friendly elements (such as solar panels, exhaust filtering systems, hybrid batteries, electric motors) to their prototype vehicles. Working as "engineers", students had the opportunity to gain knowledge and engage in engineering design practices. The activity helped students explore science concepts such as biomimicry, air pollution, and structural features of different living organisms. This study suggests the use of biomimicry design activities in STEM classrooms.
ISSN:0036-8121
1940-1302
DOI:10.1080/00368121.2021.1918049