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Blue Mussels: Expert Sustainable Engineers: 02 Stuck on Sustainability

Blue Mussels: Expert Sustainable Engineers: 02 Stuck on Sustainability
Contributors
Beyond Benign
Beyond Benign, Inc.
Learning Objets
Summary
The purpose of this lab is to encourage students to think about the performance of a glue by investigating how changing the environment affects its adhesive properties. Students will gather data to later analyze and draw conclusions from as a class.
Keyword Tags
Biomimicry
Adhesives
Blue Mussels
Material Property
Elementary STEM
File (PDF, PPT, image, etc)
stuck_on_sustainability.docx
Learning Goals/Student Objectives
- Predict how environmental conditions affect adhesive performance.
- Conduct a hands-on experiment to test a hypothesis about glue behavior.
- Collect and analyze data to evaluate adhesive strength in wet vs. dry environments.
- Use evidence to explain how traits or material properties are influenced by environmental factors.
- Connect biomimicry concepts (blue mussel adhesion) to human-engineered adhesives.
Object Type
Activities/Technology (e.g., in-class activities, online games, hands-on activities/manipulatives, outreach, virtual tools, etc.)
Audience
Elementary School
Other Faculty Educators/Teachers
Green Chemistry Principles
Waste Prevention
Design for Energy Efficiency
Use of Renewable Feedstocks
Design for Degradation
Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Quality Education
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Responsible Consumption and Production
Climate Action
Life Below Water
Safety Precautions, Hazards, and Risk Assessment
This lab uses non-hazardous materials (marbles, Elmer’s glue, water).

Key precautions include:
- Avoid prying marbles apart with fingernails (prevents breakage or injury).
- Water spills should be cleaned promptly to prevent slipping.
- Ensure supervision during timing, handling materials, and pulling tests.
- No chemical hazards are present; normal classroom safety procedures are sufficient.

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Submitted by

Tyler Schisler
Published on
Moderation state
Published
Collection
3rd Grade Resources
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Blue Mussels: Expert Sustainable Engineers: 03 Adaptation Investigation
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