What’s included in this module?
| Teacher resources | 5 x lesson plans 2 x presentations 2 x teacher’s notes 8 x sample answer sheets 1 x key terms page |
| Learner resources | 5 x worksheets 1 x supporting resource 1 x quiz 2 x student notes 1 x key terms page 1 x exemplar |
| Projects – experiments | 2 x biomimicry design activities 1 x lab experiment |
Module key questions
• How does the structure and form of a mantis shrimp contribute to the enormous force of its strike?
• How might we use biomimicry and our understanding of the mantis shrimp to create new innovations?
• What is light and what is colour, and how do they relate to the electromagnetic spectrum?
• How does light wave interference create structural colour?
• What are some examples of structural colour in nature and how might we mimic nature to use structural colour instead of toxic paints and stains?
• How does the African elephant regulate its body temperature?
• What are some ways we can apply lessons learned from the African elephant’s thermoregulation processes to address human challenges?
• Why are scientists and engineers increasingly looking to nature for inspiration when designing robots?
• How could we address a personal or societal problem by creating a robot whose design mimics a structure or strategy found in nature?
• How does the structure of a pomelo fruit peel contribute to high levels of impact resistance?
• What biomimicry applications have been inspired by the structure of the pomelo’s peel?
Module alignments
| Grade | Ages | Grade 10-12 | 15-18 years |
| Term | n/a |
| CAPS subject | Physical sciences |
| Subject strand | Mechanics Waves, sound & light Matter & materials |
| Sub-topics | Thermoregulation Heat and energy transfer Potential and kinetic energy Biorobotics and biomechanics Form and function |
This Module includes:
- Aligned content: This content is aligned with:Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) and the Independent Examinations Board (IEB). A key aspect of these modules is their flexibility and customisation across curricula, such as Cambridge and Steiner/Waldorf Education.
- A range of teaching strategies, skills and knowledge: The flow of the module has been structured using Project Based Learning and Design Thinking frameworks. A variety of pedagogical approaches are present between and within each lesson. Learners are challenged theoretically and practically through project and problem-based inquiry of real-world issues.
- Sustainable development goals: Each lesson is aligned with an appropriate United Nations Sustainable Development Goal(s).
Module Includes
- 5 Lessons