Building a Platypus Nest

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Objective: Students will learn about the life cycle of a platypus and discover that it is the only mammal that lays eggs.  Students will learn about the habitat of a platypus and how they dig a burrow to lay their eggs and raise their young.
Grade: 2nd
Length: 1 class period


Lesson Development Process

1. Study the science curriculum: Second grade students learn about animal classification, habitats, and life cycles.  Standards related to this lesson are:
SCI.G2.4.a Animal life cycles
SCI.G2.5.b An animal's habitat includes adequate food, water, shelter or cover, and space
SCI.G2.5.c Habitats change over time due to many influences

2. Research the real-world problem: A platypus does not give birth to live babies like other mammals.  The platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs.  The platypus lives in or near streams and must dig a burrow to lay its eggs.  The nest inside the burrow provides shelter for the babies when hatched and until they are ready to go out into the stream.

3. Brainstorm engineering solutions to this problem: Students will be presented with the engineering problem of building a burrow on the bank of a stream out of different types of blocks.  The burrow must be built so that it provides shelter for two eggs and does not fall apart.  The challenge is for the platypus (a hexbug nanobot) to enter the burrow from the stream, travel through the burrow to reach the eggs, and turn around and return to the stream without compromising the structural integrity of the burrow.  Students will use the engineering design process with this lesson.

4. Incorporate technology: Students will use hexbug nanobots as their platypus.  The hexbug nanobots are small, battery-operated robots that move by vibration.  Students will discover that the force of the vibrating hexbug nanobot will push their blocks away and cause the burrow to collapse or break apart.  Students will have to problem-solve as they engineer more structurally sound burrows. 

5. Look for correlated math standards: Students will apply knowledge of geometry, measurement, and counting as they build, test, and make improvements to their burrows.

6. Allow for creativity: The choice of block type and burrow designs will provide a creative outlet for students.  Students will be encouraged to collaborate and share ideas about different ways to design the burrow.  Students will discover through testing that there is more than one possible solution.

- Jennifer Clark, FCPS STEAM Teacher




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