Design a Collapsible Barrier to Save the Snails!
The periwinkle snail cannot camouflage successfully under LED lights (right) compared to when it is under a low exposure light (left).Copyright 2022 Cristen Hemingway Jaynes, “Modern Streetlights Disrupt Camouflage of Coastal Species, Exposing Them to Predators”, EcoWatch, https://www.ecowatch.com/artificial-lighting-animals-camouflage-survival.html
Periwinkle snails are in trouble! They cannot camouflage themselves at night because the LED streetlights are way too bright. Students design and build a collapsible barrier, using everyday materials, to block the light from reaching the snail. As they design and build, students learn about the effects of placing various objects in the path of a beam of light. Students must also be mindful that the barriers are only needed at night. Thus, students must also make their design collapsible so that the barrier can be moved out of the way during the day.
Structural engineers analyze and design all types of structures, including walls and barriers. They focus on the materials used for the construction and its ability to withstand its intended role. Meanwhile, ecological engineers design and create to improve and maintain the environment for both humans and nature. In the situation provided, structural and ecological engineers would work together to build a barrier that improves the coastal areas that littorinid (periwinkle) snails and humans live in.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Ask questions about the natural world and create designs to solve real-life problems.
- Plan and conduct an engineering design process to understand the effects of placing an object between the target and the light beam.
- Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.