Branching Out
What do lightning bolts, neurons, and proboscis worm tongues have in common? They are all examples of branching, a pattern found throughout nature (seriously, watch this Science Channel video to learn more about the proboscis worm - your nightmares will thank me). Branching is also used in physical constructs like 3D printing tree supports and visualizing intangible constructs like family trees. And in all of these examples, every branch tells a story. With no obstacles in its path, a river would carve a straight line from a high elevation to a low one. But a change in the landscape, a dense layer of bedrock, a sudden drop in slope, or a fallen boulder, forces the water to split and carve a new path. When a plant sends roots deep down into the soil, those roots are searching and reaching out for water, nutrients, and support. Each branch is evidence of the root’s explorations.
Science With Depth Activity: Branching Out
These choices, these branches, are what give texture, depth, and interest to the lives we live. Think back to some of the defining moments in your life. Would you compare your experiences to an explosive lightning bolt, a meandering river, or the surprising proboscis worm’s tongue? How could you represent your story in branches?
Materials:
Paper, drawing materials, ruler, art supplies, Science With Depth Branching Out handout
Steps:
Step 1: Discover. Hunt for branching patterns within your current science unit or lead your students outside on a "branching pattern expedition."
Step 2: Analyze. Use physical evidence to explain the branching you see. Did a plant root fork to bypass a buried stone, or did it split to chase a hidden pocket of moisture?
Step 3: Sketch. Draw the natural branching pattern precisely on your paper, labeling the points where the system changed direction based on your scientific observations.
Step 4: Synthesize (Extension). Use the Science With Depth Branching Out handout to create a rough draft of your story told entirely by branches. Map your personal narrative onto the lines of your scientific sketch. Finally, produce a visual representation of that story using the artistic medium of your choice.
The NGSS Framework: Making Connections:
Crosscutting Concept: Patterns. Students identify repeating structural patterns in nature, making cross-disciplinary connections to define how these patterns govern a larger system.
Science and Engineering Practice: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information. Students compile natural observations, evaluate physical evidence, and communicate complex, abstract processes through a novel artistic medium.
Reflections from the Deep:
As you move through your day, take time to read the story of the branches you see around you. And when you find yourself at a crossroads, remind yourself of the words of Robert Frost, ”Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
Benthic Buzz:
Did you or your students discover an incredible branching pattern on a summer hike? Did you map out a story in branches? Hit reply and share a photo of your artwork or reflections with me at holly@sciencewithdepth.com. Stay curious!