Purdue University TRAILS

TRAILS 2.0 offers a place-based learning context that enables students to explore their local environment and connect with STEM professionals from their region.

TRAILS Lesson Plans

The Charging Sun: Self-Sustaining Portable Charger

Students will study the physics behind different types of flight and using biomimicry design a simple flying machine.

Lesson focuses on students learning about how sustainability, biomimicry, and architecture can work together to create innovative and feasible housing solutions for those in need. Students will need to collect information on the complications that people encounter when faced with

Animal Architects

This unit takes biological phenomena such as transpiration of plants, laws of thermodynamics, animal behavior and regulation of body temperature, to create innovative, eco-friendly housing and landscape designs. This unit specifically focuses on the need for sustainable development by implementing

Bumblebot: Engineering a Pollination Solution

Students will model photosynthesis and energy transfer, examine human influence on pollinators, and learn bee behavior in order to understand why pollination is important to ecology and food production. Through the design process, using biomimicry and 3D printers, students will

Engineering Design

Biomimicry

Scientific Inquiry

3D Printing

Place-based STEM Education

TRAILS 2.0 offers a place-based learning context that enables students to explore their local environment and connect with STEM professionals from their region.

TRAILS Lesson Plans

Fishing Lure Design Contest

Communication

Campus

Information

Other