Bio-Inspired Transportation and Communication

Bio-Inspired Transportation and Communication — page 1 — Before After Reading Activities Before Reading Building Academic Vocabulary and Background Knowledge Before reading a book it is important to tap into what your child or students already know about the topic This will help them develop their vocabulary increase their reading comprehension and make connections across the curriculum 1 Look at the cover of the book What will this book be about 2 What do you already know about the topic 3 Let’s study the Table of Contents What will you learn about in the book’s chapters 4 What would you like to learn about this topic Do you think you might learn about it from this book Why or why not 5 Use a reading journal to write about your knowledge of this topic Record what you already know about the topic and what you hope to learn about the topic 6 Read the book 7 In your reading journal record what you learned about the topic and your response to the book 8 After reading the book complete the activities below Content Area Vocabulary Read the list What do these words mean aerodynamic biomimicry bionic drag echolocation electromagnetic lobular pheromones propulsion prototypes sonic boom tandem turbulence After Reading Comprehension and Extension Activity After reading the book work on the following questions with your child or students in order to check their level of reading comprehension and content mastery 1 Why do biomimics study how nature moves and communicates Summarize 2 Why does the ability to communicate help animals Infer 3 What is an example of improved flight that was inspired by nature Asking Questions 4 What transportation and communication skill or skills have you learned from observing nature 5 What are some animal shapes that help make them move faster Asking Questions Text to Self Connection Extension Activity Pick an animal that travels in a unique way What can biomimics copy that would improve a transportation vehicle or system Draw a design to explain how this new method would improve on the old Consider things such as energy savings safety speed and reliability

Bio-Inspired Transportation and Communication — page 3 — Nature-Inspired Travel An octopus has the ability to whoosh away from predators so fast it seems to disappear The amazing eight-armed mollusk does it by fleeing head-first Water goes into the octopus’s body called the mantle Muscles constrict to close the mantle squirting water back through a tubular opening called a funnel The octopus can move the funnel around to steer its hasty retreat funnel mantle 4

JavaScript Required

Whoops! We're sorry but Epic doesn't work properly without JavaScript enabled. Check your web browser's settings to make sure it's enabled.