Teaching Strategies
The goal for this unit is to be able to meet every learner where they are while giving them an introduction to biomimicry. The following strategies will be used: project-based learning, experiential learning, cooperative learning, and comparing and contrasting. Experiential learning, cooperative learning, wonder spots, and comparing and contrasting will come together for the students to complete the project-based learning portion.
Experiential Learning: This will be the biggest strategy used in this unit. I want my students to have an active role in their learning as opposed to being lectured by the teacher. Students have an opportunity to be hands-on with what they are learning by going out into nature for observation, using nature to solve problems that we have in our classroom and our daily lives, and taking time to observe how different aspects of nature work with each other.
Cooperative Learning: Students will have the opportunity to work together on activities as well as learn from each other and their opinions about how we have been influenced by nature. Working together and having scientific conversations will not only allow the students an opportunity to interact with each other, but it will allow them to bounce ideas off of one another and gain perspectives from others who may live in a different environment from them and may see different things inspired by nature. Cooperative learning, also gives me, as the teacher, an opportunity to hear more conversations of the students because I will be able to move about the classroom and intervene in groups when needed.
Comparing and Contrasting: Students will be comparing and contrast medicines and tools/machines with living objects in nature using anchor charts, graphic organizers, and discussion.
Wonder Spots: This strategy will allow the students to be outside and choose their own spot to listen, feel, smell, and see nature around them. Students will take the time to notice what they see in nature that is similar to what they see in their homes, classroom, and daily lives. The beauty of this strategy is that students will return to the same spot multiple times throughout the unit which will allow them to build upon their prior thoughts, opinions, and knowledge to discover different similarities between the natural world and our world.
Project-Based Learning: My students will then take the four strategies mentioned above and turn them into a project at the end of the unit. The Students will be presented with a problem that we can find a nature-based solution. They will be required to use critical thinking skills, cooperation, problem-solving skills, and a variety of communication to solve the problem that they will be given.
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