Science Unit: Heat Transfer, Biomimicry, & Invention
Unit Plan
About 11 hr 40 min6 lessonsGrades6, 7, 8Science, Engineering
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Teach these in order. This unit plan is designed for the lessons to be taught in order. The unit as a whole has scored in the exemplar range on our rubric.
About this unit
In this six-lesson invention education unit, students learn how heat moves and how animals adapt to extreme temperatures, then use biomimicry to design a more efficient way to heat or cool a home.
Lessons in this unit, in order
- 1Science Lesson: Heat, Climate & Building DesignIn this lesson, students explore how rising temperatures affect communities and buildings by analyzing climate data, thermal images, and classroom materials. St...Lesson Plan · 2 hr 15 min · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
- 2Science Lesson: Heat Transfer and Building DesignStudents investigate how thermal energy moves through conduction, convection, and radiation, and explore how different materials affect heat transfer and insula...Lesson Plan · 1 hr 45 min · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
- 3Science Lesson: Biomimicry & Thermal AdaptationIn this lesson, students discover that nature has already engineered solutions to the same heating and cooling challenges humans face in building design. Studen...Lesson Plan · 1 hr 40 min · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
- 4Invention Lesson: Biomimicry & Heat Transfer DesignIn this lesson, students apply an invention education framework to identify a local heating or cooling challenge, connect it to a biomimicry design model, and b...Lesson Plan · 1 hr 45 min · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
- 5Invention Lesson: Biomimicry Prototype DesignIn this lesson, students apply research and defined constraints to design, sketch, and build a prototype that addresses a problem identified in Lesson 4. Studen...Lesson Plan · 2 hr · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
- 6Invention Lesson: Testing Thermal Biomimicry DesignIn this lesson, students test their prototypes, observe outcomes, and use evidence to improve their designs. Students reflect on sustainability and real-world i...Lesson Plan · 2 hr 15 min · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
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