Desalination Design Challenge: 02 How Do Animals Conserve Water?

In this lesson (which builds off lesson 1), students explore how animals have evolved adaptations to conserve water and manage salt in high-salinity or arid environments. Through guided reading, discussion, and comparison of animal adaptations, students learn how nature solves water scarcity challenges without relying on energy- or resource-intensive processes. The lesson introduces biomimicry, sustainability, and green chemistry as frameworks for innovation and prepares students to apply nature-inspired strategies in later water filtration and desalination design challenges.