Nature Walk

How does Mother Nature build structures?

Learning Objectives

After completing this lesson, the student will have identified how structural members join in natural systems.

Standards

  • NGSS HS-ETS1-2
  • CCSS.Math.Practice.MP1
  • CCSS.Math.Practice.MP4

Supplies

  • Camera
  • Paper and pencil
  • Creativity
  • Comfortable shoes

Outdoor Exploration

Let’s take a break and go for a walk (check with an adult to make sure it’s ok before leaving your house or school).  Your tasking for this walk is to look for how nature creates junctions of structures.  Look, for example, at how a bug’s legs meet at its abdomen, or how a flower’s stem supports its bloom.  Take pictures if you can, and when you get back, sketch some of what you saw.

If you’d like to join us for our nature walk, check out this video.

Next Steps

This walk helps set the stage for designing structures that have a biological inspiration. Check out the lesson on Gusset Plates to see how you can make your bridge stronger using what you learned on this walk.

A Day in the Life
Form and Function
Balance
Movement
The Literate Engineer

Last updated: November 23, 2022.