Help Educate 50 Village Children in Bali

ECO WARRIOR: BIOMIMICRY THEME

Exploring Natural Wonders through Biomimicry at Begawan Learning Centre

Since February 2023, the students at Begawan Learning Center have embarked on an exciting learning journey centered around the theme of Biomimicry. This theme allows the children to explore the wonders of adaptation that exist in the natural world and how humans have applied these ideas to create innovative solutions to everyday problems. Through this theme, the students learn about the different levels of biomimicry, including form, behavior, and the ecosystem, enabling them to understand how nature can inspire sustainable and environmentally friendly designs.

1. Holistic Education Approach: Begawan Learning Center is committed to providing its students with a holistic education that focuses not just on academic excellence but also on the development of life skills. The learning approach is based on four principles: cognitive, emotive, introspective, and active learning.
2. Cognitive Learning: Students engage in activities that help them differentiate the levels of biomimicry and analyze how nature has inspired technological innovations. They explore how biomimicry can be used to create more efficient and effective products and systems.
3. Emotive Learning: Students delve into the beauty and intricacy of nature, discovering how it sparks creativity and innovation. They learn about the features of various natural forms and apply these features to design new and interesting creations.
4. Introspective Learning: Students engage in discussions on the process of adaptation in living organisms and reflect on how humans can learn from nature to create sustainable solutions. They develop a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainability and its integration into everyday life.

Nature-Inspired Building Models:

The students designed and built their own nature-inspired building models using Lego. They were shown examples of Indonesian and international buildings that mimic nature, such as cacti, sea turtles, lotus flowers, and more. The students collaborated in groups, brainstormed ideas, and brought their creations to life. They presented their unique designs to the class, explaining their choices and how the buildings would function.

Modified Hand Fans:

The students learned how to apply biomimicry principles to design quieter and more efficient hand fans. They discovered that conventional hand fans are often noisy and inefficient. Using popsicle sticks, a plastic bottle, glue, a skewer, string, and paper, the students created modified hand fans inspired by owl wings. They revised their designs until their fans were more efficient and quieter.

Begawan Breeding Centre Visit:

The Eco Warriors class visited the Begawan Breeding Centre in Banjar Begawan. They learned about the Begawan Program in Bali Starling Conservation and took part in interactive activities to understand how to prevent poaching of the Bali Starling in the wild. They also had the opportunity to meet a veterinarian and learn about the educational pathway to becoming a veterinarian.

Wind Turbine Biomimicry Lesson:

The students learned about the potential of biomimicry in addressing energy challenges. They participated in a treasure hunt game to gather information about wind turbines and their design. They built miniature working models of wind turbines, learning how they mimic the shape and movement of humpback whale fins to generate energy with minimal environmental impact.

Explored Biomimicry in Aviation During Field Trip at Bali Airport

An exciting field trip to the Bali airport allowed the Eco Warriors to explore biomimicry in aviation. They learned about aviation history, aircraft design inspired by nature, and career prospects in the field. Engaging in informative discussions with aviation experts, they gained insights into the history and development of aviation, various aircraft types, and the physics of flight. Witnessing planes taking off and landing, the students were captivated by the awe-inspiring sight, leaving a lasting impression on their minds.

How Nature Inspires Transportation Design

Transportation design inspired by nature became a focal point of the Eco Warriors' learning journey. They participated in animal puzzles that hinted at transportation vehicles, guessing which ones were inspired by an owl, a penguin, and a kingfisher. Their curiosity led them to explore the extraordinary design of Japan's bullet train, the Shinkansen, which took inspiration from these creatures. They were amazed to learn about the train's re-designed front end resembling a kingfisher's beak, resulting in reduced noise when passing through tunnels. They also discovered how the pantograph, designed to resemble an owl's wing, ensured quieter passage near residential areas. Building and racing their own train models further engaged their hands-on learning experience, allowing them to apply their knowledge practically while fostering teamwork and critical thinking skills.

Exploring Biomimicry Through Enggang Dance at Begawan Learning Centre

At the Begawan Learning Centre, the Eco Warriors had the unique opportunity to explore biomimicry through the art of dance. They observed traditional Indonesian dances inspired by nature, connecting with the interplay between culture and the environment. The Enggang dance, inspired by the Enggang bird, became the highlight of this activity. Divided into groups, they learned the dance's choreography and performed together, showcasing their synchronized movements and deepening their understanding of the relationship between culture and the environment. This immersive and engaging activity expanded their awareness of biomimicry and its diverse applications, fostering teamwork, communication, confidence, and self-esteem.

Biomimicry Inspires Fashion Designs at Begawan Learning Centre

In a creative twist, the students explored the remarkable designs hidden in nature and their potential applications in the world of fashion. Divided into small groups, they collaboratively created fashion pieces inspired by creatures such as the mantis, jellyfish, frilled lizard, fan palm, black bat flower, and albuca spiralis. Using materials like cement, paper, and cardboard, they incorporated the shape, movement, texture, and patterns of their chosen creatures into their designs. The culmination of their efforts was a runway showcase, where the models confidently presented their nature-inspired fashion pieces while the rest of the group acted as fashion designers. This activity emphasized the importance of creativity, collaboration, communication, and curiosity as essential elements of a meaningful learning process.

FINAL PROJECT : How Students Are Turning Nature Into Art and Functional Products

The Eco Warriors have embarked on their final project, showcasing their innovative solutions inspired by biomimicry through engaging DIY videos. Their creations include a doormat made from recycled clothes, dream catchers using natural materials, an Enggang bird-inspired dance performance, a net-zero building model, beeswax wraps as an alternative to plastic, paper weaving inspired by spider webs, and experiments with natural batteries. Through their projects, they aim to promote sustainability, reduce waste, and inspire others to embrace biomimicry for a greener future.

SPECIAL CLASS

Empowering Young Minds through KISARA’s Self-Identity Sessions

In collaboration with Begawan Learning Centre, KISARA has been conducting learning sessions on sexual and reproductive health and rights for the Eco-Warriors since 2021. These sessions aim to assist young students in navigating the challenges and transitions of adolescence.

Most recently, on 28 April, KISARA joined us for a special session focused on discovering self-identity. The students were thrilled to delve into the intricate dynamics between themselves, their families, and their same-age peers.

The interactive learning session proved to be highly engaging for the Eco-Warriors. They were introduced to the physical, psychological, and social changes that come with the teenage years, as well as the crucial characteristics they need to cultivate to become more empowered in the future. These included effective communication, self-confidence, and time management. The students also gained insights into the concepts of gender equality, peer educators, peer leaders, and the various relationship patterns among teenagers, including those with same-age peers or sexual partners. These valuable insights and materials will undoubtedly assist them in navigating the challenges and transitions of adolescence.

A notable highlight of the activity was the self-reflection exercise. Each Eco-Warrior traced their right and left hands on paper, listing five characteristics of a person they admire on the left hand, and their own traits on the right hand. They then compared their traits with those of their idols, searching for similarities. This exercise encouraged the students to reflect on their own identities and establish connections with positive role models.

TEENAGERS CLASS: Expand Community Teenagers Artistic Horizons with Filmmaking

Discover Filmmaking as an Artform

This course covers films in general and digital films in particular, including the theory and history of filmmaking, composition, capturing good moments and techniques for using SLR cameras. Students also hear from our experienced videographer, Ihsan, who will share his experiences in the industry and answer questions about interesting experiences and the technical aspects involved in capturing events on video. By enrolling in our course, students can explore the many exciting career opportunities in the film industry, from videography to screenwriting, directing, and producing, and develop skills that can help them succeed. In the final project of this course, students are encouraged to create films about the environment, nature, or cultural heritage activities that they have experienced in the village of Melinggih Kelod. We hope that this project will inspire students to be more aware of their surroundings and the importance of preserving nature and cultural heritage.

FLOWERBUD

Permaculture Field Trip: Connecting Learning to Real-World Experience

On 28 April, the Flowerbud group from Begawan Learning Centre, consisting of preschool and grade 1 students, took a field trip to Begawan’s permaculture garden and rice fields, to witness firsthand how a healthy and sustainable environment nurtures the growth of plants and animals. Here’s what happened during their exciting day out.

Exploring the Permaculture Garden: The students explored the permaculture garden, trying to identify the plants, writing down their names, and drawing them on paper. They learned about different plant species and their uses while appreciating the beautiful garden. Next, they visited the animal section, where they saw ducks, chickens, snails, fish and bees. The students learned about their different habitats and behaviour. They even counted how many they could spot, which was a fun way to learn about the different animals. From there, the students made their way to the rice fields, where they participated in a fun activity that involved walking and running while being mindful of the narrow paths and coordinating their steps. This experience allowed them to focus on their balance, coordination and motor skills.

Using Binoculars to Observe Distant Objects: During the field trip, the students were given the opportunity to use binoculars to take a closer look at distant objects. Their first challenge was to locate free-flying Bali Starlings, but unfortunately, they did not spot any. Nonetheless, they still enjoyed using the binoculars to observe other objects in the distance. From there, the students made their way to the rice fields, where they participated in a fun activity that involved walking and running while being mindful of the narrow paths and coordinating their steps. This experience allowed them to focus on their balance, coordination and motor skills.

Inspiring Love for Nature: This field trip was an awesome way for the students to connect what they learned in the classroom to the real world and understand the importance of keeping our environment healthy. They saw firsthand how a healthy environment supports the growth of plants and animals, and how crucial it is to take care of the environment. 

Links:

• Begawan's Website