November is Manatee Awareness Month!
In 2005, the United States designated this special month to raise awareness about these stunning animals and their importance to the marine ecosystem. Their moving bodies are fascinating and fun to watch. Manatees and dugongs are endangered species.
This Christmas resource includes dugongs, perfect if your children are fascinated by manatees and dugongs.
“Looking for a captivating resource incorporating music, creative writing, creative challenges and science? Your students will love these unique 12 challenges and learning about endangered animals. This easy-to-use resource will guide you through the process of using the song 12 Days of Christmas to inspire students to ask questions, study animals and use creative thinking to explore ideas.”
Polar Bear Week – Starting November 3rd
The Polar Bears International organisation started this week-long awareness campaign in the early 2000s. The aim was to highlight the impact of global warming and shrinking sea ice on the survival of these majestic Arctic creatures.
Jellyfish Day – November 3rd
Celebrate these beautiful and mysterious invertebrates! Jellyfish have been around for a long time—they were here before the dinosaurs. In 2007, a 505-million-year-old jellyfish was found in Utah, US. Jellyfish rarely leave a trace of their existence since they lack bones, so this find was remarkable.
World Science Day – November 10th
Established by UNESCO in 2001, the day emphasises how science can contribute to global well-being and encourages public engagement with scientific issues and debates.
Turtle Adoption Day – November 27th
This is a day of action to protect endangered reptiles, especially turtles. Christine Shaw founded it in 2011, and since then, the day has grown in popularity and now engages people in communities all over the globe. Many different types of reptiles, including sea turtles, the radiated tortoise, and the painted terrapin, are at risk or endangered, and they need help if their species is to survive.
Snow!
If you are lucky to have snow in November or if your children are eager to see the first flutter of snowflakes, exploring animals in snow is a welcome topic.
You’ll find the resources here, here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.