Overview

Students will explore sustainable materials and the relationship between material structure and function, a key concept linking living systems and design. They will learn foundational concepts in polymer chemistry, particularly focusing on sodium alginate, and explore its applications in bio-based materials. Students will create their own sodium alginate bioyarn by mixing sodium alginate powder with water and calcium chloride, using measurements to ensure consistency. As part of the lesson, students will learn essential skills such as measuring, mixing, and understanding the importance of material properties like tensile strength and elasticity.