Design a simple model or gadget inspired by an animal or plant structure or sense (biomimicry) to solve a chosen human problem.
Engineers often solve human problems by copying ideas that already work well in nature, a practice called biomimicry. Studying how a bat uses echolocation helped engineers design sonar for submarines. Studying how a bur sticks to fur, using tiny hooks, helped inventors design hook-and-loop fasteners like Velcro.
This week you become that kind of engineer. Choose one structure or sense from an animal or plant you have studied this unit, identify what problem it solves for that organism, and design a simple gadget or model that borrows the same idea to solve a related human problem.
Mastery looks like: They can identify a natural structure's function, design a simple gadget that borrows the same idea, and test it against a plain comparison version.
Common stumbles: Copying a natural structure's appearance without understanding or using its actual function; skipping a real comparison test between the nature-inspired design and a plain version.