Investigating Biomimicry using 4D SMP
Students design and conduct an investigation on the concept of biomimicry and the various trophic mechanisms that plants use to animate by determining the shape recovery ratio of either different 3D printed materials or the shape of a single filament 3D printed material.
Overview
Students investigate how and why plants move and how 4D-printed shape memory plastic can replicate that movement. A classroom plant leads them to see that plant movement appears only over longer time scales. They explore the Plants in Motion website, and pairs make infographics and short presentations on an assigned plant movement. Students design plant-inspired shapes in TinkerCAD, 3D print them in PLA, deform them in a hot water bath, and measure shape recovery with a protractor while varying one factor such as temperature. The unit ends with a science seminar using an ADI poster template and High-Low-Buffalo peer review.
Lesson Objectives
- Students design and conduct an investigation on the concept of biomimicry and the various trophic mechanisms that plants use to animate by determining the shape recovery ratio of either different 3D printed materials or the shape of a single filament 3D printed material.
Standards
NGSS · 2
- HS-PS2-6Communicate scientific and technical information about why the molecular-level structure is important in the functioning of designed materials
- HS-PS3-4Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperatures are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system (second law of thermodynamics).
CCSS Math · 3
- HSN-Q.A.1Use units as a way to understand problems and to guide the solution of multi-step problems; choose and interpret units consistently in formulas; choose and interpret the scale and the origin in graphs and data displays.
- HSN-Q.A.2Define appropriate quantities for the purpose of descriptive modeling.
- HSN-Q.A.3Choose a level of accuracy appropriate to limitations on measurement when reporting quantities.
CCSS ELA · 2
- RST.11-12.1Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to important distinctions the author makes and to any gaps or inconsistencies in the account.
- WHST.11-12.2Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes.