Material Detail
The Evolution Game
Functionality is the essence which biomimics seek to emulate from nature, for example how the structure of gecko feet allow it to climb walls without using glue or how termite mounds regulate temperature without external energy. In this game, students learn about the processes of evolution, natural selection and ultimately, how adaptation leads to functionally advantageous design. Theoretically, students will be competing for food while using the concept of adaptation. In this activity, students will modify a piece of paper each round and try to reach a target in the fewest number of throws. Reaching the target in fewer throws illustrates the process of refinement through generations of time and aids in survival for the organism.
Quality
-
Editor Reviews
-
User Rating
- Comments (1) Comments
- Learning Exercises
- Bookmark Collections
- Course ePortfolios
- Accessibility Info
aleia murray (Student)
This game has an interesting premice wherein students make paper airplanes and fly them to touch a box filled with paperclips; each round, surviving students are allowed to modify their airplane. This continues until there is only one or two survivors. The changes that the planes undergo represent evolution. Although the game sounds fun, it sounds as if it would result in a reduction of diversity, which is not an example of evolution at all. It would require some serious modification if it were to be a decent model of evolution.