Acorn Engineers

Key Topics/Vocabulary: Human Impact, CO2 Emissions/Cycle, Biosphere, Atmosphere, Fossil Fuels, Oaks, Stoma, Dendrochronology

Grade Levels: 3rd-6th

Click here for Series #2 Description 

Science Framework

Spanish Lesson Plan

Lesson Video

Lesson Bridge

Prepare students for Lesson (2) Greenhouses by mentioning how too much carbon in the atmosphere can cause climate change. Connect this Lesson (1) to Waste Audit (3) by reminding students how some natural and organic materials break down and return to the earth thus sequestering (or holding) carbon from the atmosphere. Non-natural or non-organic waste items do not return nutrients to the earth and can even be toxic to our environment (landfills).

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, students explore how oak trees contribute to the carbon cycle and how acorn shells protect seeds using structure and design. They apply principles of biomimicry to engineer their own protective pods for a small object, mimicking the function of acorn shells.

Suggested Activities and Learning Objectives by Grade Level:

• 3-5-ETS1-1: Define a simple design problem that includes criteria and constraints.
• 3rd Grade: 3-5-ETS1-1: Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
• 4th Grade: 4-LS1-1: Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that support survival.
• 5th Grade: 5-LS1-1: Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water.
• Middle School: MS-ETS1-2 (6th): Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Essential Question(s) that Connect CCCs and SEPs: 

• What makes an acorn shell such an effective natural design? (Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating information).
• How can we use the acorn as inspiration to solve human problems? (Asking Questions & Defining Problems)
• How does planting and protecting trees impact the carbon cycle? (Cause & Effect)

Vocabulary:

Biomimicry – The design of materials or systems inspired by nature

Carbon Cycle-The carbon cycle is nature's way of reusing carbon atoms, which travel from the atmosphere into organisms in the Earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again

Viable – Capable of working successfully

Impact resistance – The ability to absorb a blow without breaking

Protective structure – A design element that shields or cushions something valuable

Materials:

• Real acorns (enough for observation and testing)
• Bucket of water (optional for viability test)
• Acorn shell diagrams or magnified images
• Small objects to protect (beads, LEGO figure, etc.)
• Recycled materials: cardboard, egg cartons, tape, string, foil, cotton balls, etc.
• Rulers, clipboards, pencils, scissors
• Printed carbon cycle diagram or poster (optional)
• Food Water Drought Garden Journals (optional)

Prep:

• Be familiar with a basic version of the carbon cycle so you can draw it for students. Or have a diagram ready to go!
• Gather acorns
• Gather recycled materials (ask teachers to help you source!)

Activity Procedure:

Engage:

Ask: What do you think would happen to the Earth if we had no trees? (Think, Pair, Share)

Explain that trees, especially large oaks, help us breathe by taking in carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen.

Introduce the carbon cycle with a visual aid. Emphasize:

• Plants take in CO2 and store carbon in their wood, leaves, and seeds.
• Animals release CO2.
• Dead organisms decompose and recycle carbon.

Explore:

Either walk the class to an oak tree nearby to collect acorns, or pass out acorns that you have on hand. Have students examine the acorns.

Think, Pair, Share What do you notice about their shape, hardness, or design?

(Optional) Test which acorns float (likely non-viable) and sink (likely viable) in a bucket of water.

Discuss: Why do acorns have hard shells? What are they protecting against? (Think, Pair, Share)

Explain: 

Share that engineers often use biomimicry: solving human problems by copying designs from nature.

Explain the Acorn Engineering Challenge. Your goal is to:

• Design a protective shell for a tiny object (like a seed) that can survive a drop from 4 feet. Use materials from the classroom to build your own version of nature’s acorn shell.

Connect it back to the carbon cycle: Protecting acorns means more oak trees, and more oak trees means more carbon stored and cleaner air.

Action:          

1. Review Garden Agreements
2. Students sketch their designs with labeled parts. You can have them do this in pairs or in groups.
3. Build prototypes using recycled materials. (You may want to limit their recycled materials use so you have enough for each class)
4. Test from a height of 4 feet: Did the object survive?
5. Allow time to redesign and retest.

Reflect:

Discuss: What part of nature inspired your design? How does protecting seeds help the environment?

Reflect in journals or as a group: How does this connect to the carbon cycle? What can we do to protect more trees in our community?

Extensions Activities:

• Organize a school tree planting in the garden.
• Do some tree yoga poses.
• Go on a tour of the different trees growing in the garden or around the school.
• Renewable or Nonrenewable? Worksheet
• Carbon cycle video