Funny, beautiful, excting, sad and heartbreaking. The BBC’ s Seven Worlds One Planet has it all! A celebration of the diversity of life on each of the seven continents nearth, but also a hunting look into the challenges faced by animals in a modern world. Narrated by David Attenborough this is a real treat. AndContinueContinue reading “Seven Worlds, One Planet – Inspirational videos”
Author Archives: maliasa
Particle Robot – Inspirational videos
Particle robots, working as an oscillating group, do not have any need for centralised control. The particle robots change their rhythms based on how intensely a nearby light is shining. Robots that work together in this way could move through different types of environments, even places that they have never visited before. Working together asContinueContinue reading “Particle Robot – Inspirational videos”
Nature, Invention, Biomimicry Books & Games
Books make a wonderful gift! Books are one of my biggest weaknesses. I love thin books, thick books, adult books, children’s books, picture books and books with nothing but words! Here is a list of books that inspire us to look at nature. The books may challenge us to invent things, solve problems, dream andContinueContinue reading “Nature, Invention, Biomimicry Books & Games”
Inspirational Autumnlicious & Spooktacular Videos – Spiders, Bats, & Owls
Flying bats, owls and even spiders. Be amazed and feel inspired by these wonderful creatures, and use them as inspiration for wonderful, imaginative Halloween creations. Move away from the plastic toys and costumes, and celebrate the wonder of nature this Halloween. If you search for spiders, bats and owls in the search box, there areContinueContinue reading “Inspirational Autumnlicious & Spooktacular Videos – Spiders, Bats, & Owls”
Moss Green Shades & Mimic Stick Insect
“A world that shimmers in different moss green shades can be as beautiful as a colourful coral reef.” Biomimicry with Theo & Tuva: Nature spotting inspires wild ideas Theo & Tuva are exploring nature in the warm spring sun, on warm summer days when the rain is pouring down, when the snow sparkles and onContinueContinue reading “Moss Green Shades & Mimic Stick Insect”
Review of the book “Biomimicry with Theo & Tuva: Nature Spotting Inspires Wild Ideas” by Asa Jomard
I would like to thank Natursidan.se and Erik for the review of my book. Go here to read the review. I hope this inspires you to have a look at the book. So far, I have sold a couple of copies in the US and Japan! And the Swedish version is doing well! Frequently AskedContinueContinue reading “Review of the book “Biomimicry with Theo & Tuva: Nature Spotting Inspires Wild Ideas” by Asa Jomard”
Climate Change and Biomimicry
Can we capture carbon using plants and animals as strategic tools in our climate toolbox?. The global climate is changing, and the focus is often on decreasing the output of greenhouse gases via technologies or ideas such as carbon offsets or carbon taxes. Yet, reducing the emission of carbon is only one idea. We couldContinueContinue reading “Climate Change and Biomimicry”
Bats! Bats! Bats!
Big fruit bats, vampire bats with razor-sharp teeth, and the cutest fluffy white bat with yellow ears and an interesting leaf-shaped nose. In the latest biomimicry booklet, I slipped into medical applications inspired by nature by accident. And it was the Honduran white bat that sparked the initial idea. The Honduran white bat can storeContinueContinue reading “Bats! Bats! Bats!”
Fantastic Fungi -Inspirational Video
Autumn and Mushroom! Learn more about the magic underneath your feet. This is the trailer for the stunningly beautiful movie by Louie Schwartzberg and Paul Stamets. You can read more about their work here. You may also like Inspired by Fungi and Creepy Smelly Burglar Alarm. https://youtu.be/bxABOiay6oA Frequently Asked Questions What is biomimicry? Biomimicry isContinueContinue reading “Fantastic Fungi -Inspirational Video”
What do you do with a tail like this?
Invent a gliding suit or a robot inspired by sugar gliders. Or a new sport inspired by short tails. What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins is a striking book with intriguing facts. Explore amazing things that animals can do with their ears, eyes, noses, mouths, feet and tails! TheContinueContinue reading “What do you do with a tail like this?”
Ready to let your ideas fly?
Thrilled to announce that the printed version is here! Ann-Margrethe, Cecilia and I hope you like it. You find it here. 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 howContinueContinue reading “Ready to let your ideas fly?”
A sad tree
“We need more talkative trees.” Fairy tales have trees with human faces, trees that can talk and whisper, and sometimes even walk or fly. Yet, trees are, despite all their brilliant features, easy to ignore. They grow slowly, really slowly, and even if deciduous trees shed their leaves and burst with new leaves each spring,ContinueContinue reading “A sad tree”
A sharp idea – Biomimicry
The forest is home for thousands of species, big animals like bears, and deer, and smaller animals like hedgehogs, porcupines and rabbits. Thousands of ways to explore possibilities and be inspired. Porcupine Quills to Needles (21st Century Junior Library: Tech from Nature) by Jennifer Colby is a book in a series that aims towards providingContinueContinue reading “A sharp idea – Biomimicry”
A summer filled with the sound of squirrels! – Sound Mapping
Sound is important when you are birding or bat spotting, but we can learn a lot about nature from closing our eyes and focusing on distinguishing signals. Our garden has this summer been bursting with the sounds of squirrels playing the trees. If we focused, we could hear them jumping from one branch to theContinueContinue reading “A summer filled with the sound of squirrels! – Sound Mapping”
Breathe in nature, be inspired, solve problems, dream, build!
Biomimicry stimulates the imagination and inspires children to see nature as a place that offers both adventure and play, as well as a chance to discover the secrets of nature. Biomimicry is a way to explore the functions that animals and plants perform both themselves and in their ecosystems. This approach is a creative wayContinueContinue reading “Breathe in nature, be inspired, solve problems, dream, build!”
Board Games for a Curious Biomimicrist
This post contains ad links. Summer and Board Games! Evolution Board Game, Climate Board Game and Evolution: The Beginner Board Game are great games for children who love nature. The first two games are suitable for slightly older children. The games come from North Star Games, and they have quickly become very popular games. TheContinueContinue reading “Board Games for a Curious Biomimicrist”
Puffilicious Rubbish Picker Litter Stick
The idea appeared yesterday when we were walking our dog. So many interesting ideas appear when you are walking. Walking improves creativty, according to a Stanford study. Stuck at home, staring at the walls, ideas seem hard to hatch. We have been thinking about the puffins, but every idea seemed . . . boring .ContinueContinue reading “Puffilicious Rubbish Picker Litter Stick”
The City of the Birches – Biomimicry with Theo & Tuva
Our book “Biomimicry with Theo & Tuva: Nature spotting inspires wild ideas” is almost ready! Here is our backcover with a pale yellow-green birch. And beautiful birch heart! The birch has a little special meaning for all of us because Umeå is the city of the birches. Ann-Margrethe and I studied at university there togetherContinueContinue reading “The City of the Birches – Biomimicry with Theo & Tuva”
Puffin Beaks Glow under UV light! Biomimicry Journal
Have you ever seen a puffin in the wild? One of the great things about biomimicry is that there is interesting information and great videos on the Internet and in the library. So, if you, like me, have never had the pleasure of seeing a puffin in the wild, you can still study this beautifulContinueContinue reading “Puffin Beaks Glow under UV light! Biomimicry Journal”
Puffins – Clownlike inspiration
Puffins have been in the news this week. Sadly, climate change might be the reason behind the crested or tufted puffins decline in numbers in the Bering Sea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIDTMo5zCSM Although, I have previously used endangered animals as inspiration for ideas, when I selected puffins a couple of weeks ago for a new booklet that IContinueContinue reading “Puffins – Clownlike inspiration”
Everything You Need For A Treehouse
“Treehouses are for wonder. Treehouses are for snacks.Treehouses are for whispers and snickers and echoes.Treehouses are for everyone.” Ever dreamt of having a treehouse? A magical place where you can escape from reality. Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins and Emily Hughes is a wonderful celebration of treehouses. Children dream up fantasticContinueContinue reading “Everything You Need For A Treehouse”
Theo & Tuva: Nature Spotting and Wild Ideas
Excited to share a picture from the book. Here, the twins, Theo and Tuva, are pondering over the intricate ways that ladybirds fold their wings. Go here or here to read more about ladybirds! Frequently Asked Questions What is biomimicry? Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learnContinueContinue reading “Theo & Tuva: Nature Spotting and Wild Ideas”
Biomimicry Invention Game
This is an idea that I got a long, long time ago. Finally decided to make a start, and I made a booklet with an invention board game with a focus on six fantastic and inspiring animals: giraffe, dolphin, zebra, giant panda, meerkat and cheetah. When using biomimicry with young children, it is often easierContinueContinue reading “Biomimicry Invention Game”
Celebrate Spring – Turn Blue for a Couple of Days
The wonderous world of frogs is a treasure trove of inspiration. There is something utterly magical about the idea of changing skin texture or colour. Just look at the Moor Frogs (Rana arvalis) who turn blue in spring. Well, at least the males turn bright blue. They are usually reddish-brown like many other frogs. BlueContinueContinue reading “Celebrate Spring – Turn Blue for a Couple of Days”
Wild Buildings and Bridges
Nature and architecture are perfect partners! Are you planning a biomimicry challenge? The book Wild Buildings and Bridges: Architecture Inspired by Nature by Etta Kaner is a great introduction to using nature as inspiration for design and architecture. Thought-provoking questions and illustrated examples mixed with directions that invite children to build and explore their ideas.ContinueContinue reading “Wild Buildings and Bridges”
Observing Nature
“. . . observe simply for the sake of curiosity.” Inspired by the book iSites: Nature Journaling for Biomimicry by Erin Rovalo, the plan was to spend at least part of the day observing the natural world. Spring is sometimes the best of times to tune in the senses and just be filled by theContinueContinue reading “Observing Nature”
Moles with incredible noses and paws
The star-nosed mole’s incredible-looking nose is not used to smell; instead, the nose is used to feel. Moles spend most of their time underground, where it is dark, so it is important to have a good sense of touch. This fascinating animal is the only known mammal that can smell underwater! Wow! The mole sendsContinueContinue reading “Moles with incredible noses and paws”
Ideas and Groundhogs are Everywhere!
The groundhog is an interesting character and a perfect animal to use as an introduction to biomimicry. If the various names this rodent is known by do not spark any ideas, its behaviour and fascinating face might. Groundhogs are known as woodchuck, groundpig, whistlepig, thickwood badger, monax, moonack, weenusk, red monk and, among French Canadians inContinueContinue reading “Ideas and Groundhogs are Everywhere!”
What is Biomimicry?
I often get a blank face when I talk about biomimicry. So what exactly is biomimicry? Well, like most things, the more you know, the more complicated it becomes to explain something. A quick answer is that the word biomimicry consists of two words: bio which means life mimic which means to imitate. Bio whichContinueContinue reading “What is Biomimicry?”
An Egg is Quiet
This post contains ad links. Smashing the walls of a coconut takes some skill! An Egg Is Quiet (Nature Books) is stunningly beautiful and makes a fascinating introduction to the amazing world of eggs. Poetic text and wonderfully informative, it explores interesting facts about eggs that really spark curiosity and imagination. Written by Dianna HuttsContinueContinue reading “An Egg is Quiet”
Daydreaming about Ladybirds
November and not a ladybird in sight. The cold November weather has arrived and the pretty ladybird is hibernating. And somehow, the things you cannot see quickly become more interesting! The slow-motion video below of a ladybird taking off provides you with an opportunity to slow down. Being mindful is to slow down and observeContinueContinue reading “Daydreaming about Ladybirds”
Cool and Warm Ptarmigan Sneaker Kit – Biomimicry for Young Children
What if, we could design a greener and cheaper shoe where you replace part of the shoe when the weather changes or when one part of the shoe is worn out? My strongest memory of seeing ptarmigan comes from a skiing holiday in the Swedish mountains. I never really liked cross-country skiing and on aContinueContinue reading “Cool and Warm Ptarmigan Sneaker Kit – Biomimicry for Young Children”
Creepy Smelly Burglar Alarm
Can you rethink the way burglar alarms work? The creepy-looking devil’s fingers sparked the idea. Looks are important, but for this nature-inspired idea, the smells that the fungi release are more crucial for the alarm to work. A burglar alarm usually works by making a loud noise. The focus is on sending a message toContinueContinue reading “Creepy Smelly Burglar Alarm”
Moth – An Evolution Story
The colour of an animal can decide whether it lives or dies. Moth is a story of the peppered moth written by Isabel Thomas, and illustrated by Daniel Egnéus. An awe-inspiring story about a speckled and freckled master of disguise. A fight for survival in a world that is changed by humans. Important and a bit sadContinueContinue reading “Moth – An Evolution Story”
Devil’s Fingers – Spooky Video Inspiration –
Looking for non-plastic inspiration to celebrate Halloween? Nature is not always pretty and beautiful. It can be ghoulish and horrific! Imagine that you are out walking on a sunny autumn afternoon when you stumble across a fungus emerging from what looks like strange-looking eggs. Slender pinkish-red arms emerge from the top which creepily can moreContinueContinue reading “Devil’s Fingers – Spooky Video Inspiration –”
Sea Slug Borrowers – Inspirational video
Spots, stripes, bold vibrant colours or soft milky pastels. Nudibranchs do everything to capture your attention. These soft-bodied creatures warn predators with their high-contrast markings and colours. But some sea slugs are a bit more cunning, and they steal stinging cells that they collect from hydroid prey. The nudibranch’s gut is impressive, with fingerlike branchesContinueContinue reading “Sea Slug Borrowers – Inspirational video”
Inspired by Wonderland: A Year of Britain’s Wildlife, Day by Day
Red deer, squirrels, dormice, and harlequin ladybirds for Halloween! October is filled with fascinating animals and plants. There is plenty to see and sometimes wildlife is right on our doorstep if we know what to look for and how to look. The book Wonderland: A Year of Britain’s Wildlife, Day by Day by Brett WestwoodContinueContinue reading “Inspired by Wonderland: A Year of Britain’s Wildlife, Day by Day”
Reindeer Challenge – Zero Waste Ideas for a Reindeer Party
Plastic is everywhere! Can you help design packing materials for a Reindeer Party to celebrate that all the Xmas gifts have been delivered around the world? Reindeer are vegetarians, so they eat only plants. During the summer months, they eat grass and shrubs. Once the snow covers the tundra, they start looking for lichen. WhyContinueContinue reading “Reindeer Challenge – Zero Waste Ideas for a Reindeer Party”
Dot-ish Positive Nature Words
Wild things Mud Faces Talking trees Adventure Peace Magical Fill a page in your Biomimicry Journal with positive nature words. Creative and inspirational energy is important when you think dive into nature. For young biomimicrists, looking at animals and plants with a positive and curious mindset is vital. We are, after all, hunting for possibilities!ContinueContinue reading “Dot-ish Positive Nature Words”
Supertiny Bats with Superpowers
Unstoppable hunters of the night! A couple of weeks ago, we went for a bat walk in Sutton Park. Equipped with warm clothes and torches, we searched for bats in the dark autumn evening using bat detectors. The rain was drizzling, but luckily, the bats still came out to feed. Bats are mammals, and they areContinueContinue reading “Supertiny Bats with Superpowers”
Inspired by Fungi
Fly agaric, jelly ear, shaggy inkcap and sickener. How many fungi can you identify? And have you ever seen ghost fungus? Fungi grow in a range of different environments. They live in the soil, on plants and animals, in fresh water and in seawater. They even grow on your body! Many fungi are colourful, andContinueContinue reading “Inspired by Fungi”
Step out of the classroom and into nature
Looking for hands-on lessons and activities that engage children in environmental literacy? Biomimicry offers project-based instruction that may inspire future generations to care for nature and to see nature as a spot that offers not only calmness and spectacular experiences of beauty and drama but also can make your head twirl around with possibilities. PossibleContinueContinue reading “Step out of the classroom and into nature”
Super Siri Spider Sieve
What lives in the ocean? Fish, dolphins, sea otters, whales, octopuses, plants, corals, sea turtles and sea spiders. And plastic! Marine creatures are vulnerable to fragments of plastic littering the world’s oceans. Big animals such as whales are ingesting microplastics. Microplastics are small fragments of plastic, less than 5 mm. There are different types ofContinueContinue reading “Super Siri Spider Sieve”
Shells – Biomimicry
Make a garland of your drawings of seashells that you find at the beach. Cut out the drawings and make a little hole. Thread a ribbon or string through the holes, and the garland is finished. You can put the garland in your Biomimicry Journal and save it as inspiration. You can also put theContinueContinue reading “Shells – Biomimicry”
A Day at the Beach
Use the beach to spark your imagination! What could be better than lying in silence at the shore, listening to the waves and watching sand grains roll back and forth? Explore beaches and admire seashells while you breathe in the sea air. A day at the beach is a wonderful adventure. It is a greatContinueContinue reading “A Day at the Beach”
Inspired by Plantopedia
This blog post contains affiliate links. Bring the joy of plants to children! Parks, woodlands and gardens are dazzling with interesting plants. There are the stinkers, the air freshers, and the perfumed. Plantopedia: Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth (Wide Eyed) by Adrienne Barman has all sorts of plants, from the biggest to theContinueContinue reading “Inspired by Plantopedia”
Buildings inspired by Termite Mounds – Inspirational Video
What can be worse than spending a day in a too-cold classroom? Schools are often too cold or too hot for optimal learning. Research suggests that the best results are achieved when the room temperature is 22 degrees Celsius. A too-hot classroom makes students sleepy, and a too-cold classroom makes them focus on ways toContinueContinue reading “Buildings inspired by Termite Mounds – Inspirational Video”
Cherry Blossom Estate – Eco-friendly Houses Inspired by Nature
“build buildings like trees and cities like forests” William McDonough Ah, the dance of the cherry trees. Few things in nature are as lovely as the pink clouds of cherry blossoms. A wonderful way to welcome Spring. The loveliness is perhaps even more lovely since it is so fleeting. And the display in our gardenContinueContinue reading “Cherry Blossom Estate – Eco-friendly Houses Inspired by Nature”
Biobing – Caterpillar Climbing Shoes
Inspired by the wonderful caterpillars in the previous blog posts, we designed some Biobing shoes. These shoes are made for climbing in the mountains. Just like a caterpillar, you can climb upside down when you are wearing these shoes. There are little sticky caterpillar-shaped wheels that let you scale big rocks. These wheels automatically flattenContinueContinue reading “Biobing – Caterpillar Climbing Shoes”
Awe-inspiring Caterpillars
What if you had a couple of false legs? What could you do? Caterpillars with feathery blue spikes, long black whiskers, curling orange horns and what looks like a hundred feet. A caterpillar has 6 feet, but it looks like some have more than 6 legs. Most of those legs are false legs. These legsContinueContinue reading “Awe-inspiring Caterpillars”
Biomimicrylicious Time
Finding engaging activities that inspire our children to be responsible guardians of Earth is challenging. But biomimicry – learning from nature – can make all the difference. By using nature as inspiration, children can find viable solutions and invent things that are characterized by a more natural and sustainable foundation. Children can search for patternsContinueContinue reading “Biomimicrylicious Time”
Inspired by Gentle Giants – Giraffes
Cool Giraffe Neck Twister Game Giraffe Jaws Giraffe Long Tongue Robot Come up with an idea for a giraffe invention. A useful or not-so-useful innovation inspired by the beautiful animals with long gracious necks, dark long tongues and four stomachs to help them digest their food. Illustrate your idea with instructions and diagrams. Build aContinueContinue reading “Inspired by Gentle Giants – Giraffes”
A Beetle is Shy
How would you describe a beetle? Beetles can be colossal or tiny creatures. They can be colourful or plain, friendly and helpful or harmful. Beetles can even be tasty. And telegraphic! During spring, beetles and bugs are everywhere we look outside, and it is the perfect time to explore their amazing skills. AContinueContinue reading “A Beetle is Shy”
Build a Character – Explore functions
This post contains ad links. Create your own creature. What is its name? What kind of habitat will it live in? What things can you invent inspired by the creature? Storytellers have invented all sorts of creatures, such as dragons and unicorns. But you can also invent a creature consisting of body parts of realContinueContinue reading “Build a Character – Explore functions”
Non-Boring Trees
Are trees boring? Do all trees look the same? Ever heard of the Rainbow tree? Or seen a tree where the fruits grow on the bark? And what if you could see the roots of the tree? Thinking about and searching for information about trees is a great way to not only learn about natureContinueContinue reading “Non-Boring Trees”
How biomimicry boosts students’ observation skills, creativity and critical thinking.
Creativity is the process of having original ideas that have value. Ken Robinson Slugs and snails can usually be found hiding under branches and rocks in the schoolyard. Introduce students to biomimicry, and you are likely to come across groups of students marvelling at a slug or snail creeping along the surface. This may not onlyContinueContinue reading “How biomimicry boosts students’ observation skills, creativity and critical thinking.”
Inspirational Video – How does a penguin launch itself from the sea?
Can you guess how quickly the emperor penguins launch themselves out of the sea? Twice as quickly as their normal swimming speed; their swimming speed is 3.4 m/s (7.6 mph). It looks almost as if these rather heavy flightless birds are flying. The flight might be short, but how do they do it? Penguins trapContinueContinue reading “Inspirational Video – How does a penguin launch itself from the sea?”
How to Speak Monkey
Do you have any special food call? A special ice cream call? Or a banana call? Playing with language can be fun as well as a serious business. Watching the TED-Ed video by Anne Savage provided us with plenty of inspiration for pondering about how we communicate. A think dive into communication from a differentContinueContinue reading “How to Speak Monkey”
Festive Reindeer Mind Map
Get into the Festive Spirit and learn about the cool reindeer! Help Father Christmas and use biomimicry to invent new gadgets to make his life easier. Begin the biomimicry journey by making a Festive Reindeer Mind Map using Christmas decorations. We made a mind map from old decorations and wrapping paper. You can use tinsel,ContinueContinue reading “Festive Reindeer Mind Map”
Festive Biomimicry Reindeer
The Festive Season is perfect for exploring some magical fun! Reindeer are amazing. Wonderful inspiration for helping Father Christmas. Exploring questions – funny, silly and serious – that excite our minds and then looking for ways to put an answer together. Sometimes the solution will work; sometimes, especially when exploring the world with young children,ContinueContinue reading “Festive Biomimicry Reindeer”
Pussy Willow Madness – Art, Poem and Science
What way does the willow grow where you live? There are some special willows that grow in the Arctic. The branches help to protect the plants from the cold wind. Can you draw a Polar Willow that grows in the Arctic? The pussy willows are out, and that is a sure sign that spring isContinueContinue reading “Pussy Willow Madness – Art, Poem and Science”
Inspirational Video – Chameleon Tongue Attack
What if your tongue was twice the length of your body? What could you do? What would you like to do? Can you invent something useful, magical and fun by using the flexible yet powerful chameleon’s tongue as inspiration? Sticking out your tongue may be a bit rude, but it is a powerful weapon ifContinueContinue reading “Inspirational Video – Chameleon Tongue Attack”
Biomimicry Journal – Bubble Froth Inspiration
What if you can use foam to protect yourself from germs? What would you look like? Foam-nesting frogs build meringue-like structures to protect their young even under the harshest conditions. The nests look delicate, but they are tough structures. These types of frogs can provide inspiration for lots of ideas. Creating a Biomimicry Journal isContinueContinue reading “Biomimicry Journal – Bubble Froth Inspiration”
Patterns Everywhere! Be Inspired
Almost too perfect to be true. Like an artist has dreamed up some geometrically perfect and correct plants or sand dunes. Nature’s symmetry is a subject that has fascinated philosophers, mathematicians, artists, architects, and physicists. This is the heart of biomimicry — nature’s patterns aren’t just pretty; they’re often the most efficient shape for aContinueContinue reading “Patterns Everywhere! Be Inspired”
Build a Snow City
There have been plenty of chances to watch the squirrels who visit our garden more or less every day. Squirrels are quick, agile and fascinating. Also squirrels. . . have sharp claws that help them shift direction when they are climbing trees can run headfirst down trees have light and small bodies And most importantlyContinueContinue reading “Build a Snow City”
The Genius Factor: How to Capture an Invisible Cat
Can you teach a caterpillar maths? Or turn a super-sized cat invisible? Meet the 6th-grade genius and inventor Nate Bannister who every Friday the 13th does three not-so-smart things to keep life interesting. The Genius Factor: How to Capture an Invisible Cat by Paul Tobin is the perfect treat for future inventors. This book isContinueContinue reading “The Genius Factor: How to Capture an Invisible Cat”
Inspirational Video – Invisible Shadow
What if you could hide in your own shadow by glowing? Not sure I quite understand how the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) can cruise above its prey without casting a shadow even on a moonlight night but it is fascinating! And beautiful. There is something almost magical with bioluminescence. The tiny squid hunts atContinueContinue reading “Inspirational Video – Invisible Shadow”
What if a pile of colourful autumn leaves was used as inspiration?
A think dive into a pile of colourful autumn leaves. The forest is going to sleep. Days are getting shorter and the animals are squirreling away for winter. Plants and flowers are capsulated and the trees start to let go of their leaves. Autumn is a wonderful season for discovering what happens when nature slowsContinueContinue reading “What if a pile of colourful autumn leaves was used as inspiration?”
Inspirational Video – Jay Collecting Acorns
How many acorns will a jay collect over a season? Squirrels are not the only animal that love to collect and bury acorns. A jay can store as many as 5, 000 acorns! They place their acorns in many different places such as natural holes, crevices in tree bark and under leaf litter. Just likeContinueContinue reading “Inspirational Video – Jay Collecting Acorns”
The Wonders of an Autumn Walk
Children are curious about the wonders of autumn. They would ponder nature’s beauty of leaves changing colours and trees dropping treasures. Even if you have witnessed many autumns, you may still be impressed by the beauty. Autumn in the forest is so magical. Raindrops look like jewels, and the towering trees provide the perfect backdropContinueContinue reading “The Wonders of an Autumn Walk”
The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane, Jackie Morris
Children may be better at identifying Pokémon characters than real animals and plants but is that really the problem? The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane is a quest to reconnect young readers with the natural world. All over the country, there are words disappering from children’s lives. Today, many words of natural words are slowlyContinueContinue reading “The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane, Jackie Morris”
Creatures of the Deep: The Pop-Up Book
Awesome inpiration for little innovators! Open slowly this pop-up book and marvel when the exquiste pop-ups pop-out in slow motion. Creatures of the Deep: The Pop-Up Book is a perfect for educational purposes since every pop-up can been seen from all sides. But most of all it is wonderful combination of science, art and paper engineering.ContinueContinue reading “Creatures of the Deep: The Pop-Up Book”
Be Inspired by Antarctic Ballet and Sliding Penguins
Running, hopping, waddling, jumping, sliding, porpoising, tobogganing, and diving penguins. Penguins are always ready for action. On land, they have rather poor eyesight but in the water, they have exceptional vision. They can dive up to 35 meters in the water. Why not draw a diving robot that can dive and see underwater? Or inventContinueContinue reading “Be Inspired by Antarctic Ballet and Sliding Penguins”
Curious Me – Dragonflies
Biomimicry is a smart way to teach children to observe nature and to use it as inspiration to solve tough problems. The focus is on observing functions and the way nature solves problems. Nature is filled with unique designs and behaviours that help living things adapt to their environment and survive. Biomimicry allows children toContinueContinue reading “Curious Me – Dragonflies”
How to raise a child who cares about nature
It is in the news every day, from climate change to disappearing species, and we need to do something to reverse these trends. But how do we encourage children to not only care but also take action? Curiosity, care and compassion for our natural world come from early contact with nature. A sense of wonder,ContinueContinue reading “How to raise a child who cares about nature”
Whispering Ancient Trees – Listening to Nature
Do trees take the shape of the voices they have heard? That was one question that popped up on a walk when we saw this magnificent old tree with a gnarled trunk. A trunk filled with faces and animals. . . Trees are a precious part of our heritage, and at the very beginning ofContinueContinue reading “Whispering Ancient Trees – Listening to Nature”
Cubist Glue Art, Doodling, and Sleepy Parrotfish – Biomimicry for Young Children
Imagine that you are a tired parrotfish. You are going to sleep, but first, you need to make a protective cocoon. A cocoon that will keep enemies away. What does it feel like inside the cocoon? One exercise in the booklet Biomimicry for Young Children – Sea Life is about the colourful and interesting parrotfish.ContinueContinue reading “Cubist Glue Art, Doodling, and Sleepy Parrotfish – Biomimicry for Young Children”
Biomimicry for Young Children – Inspired by Endangered Orangutans
On the third day of March We saved three Swinging Orangutans Our think dive this month is inspired by not only orangutans but also dreams about Easter bunnies and chocolate. After we have learnt that the production of palm oil is a major threat to orangutans, we decided to make a chocolate bark using chocolateContinueContinue reading “Biomimicry for Young Children – Inspired by Endangered Orangutans”
Be Inspired by Frogs
Do you know why frogs have big eyes that bulge out? Or why frogs can walk upside down? Frog eyes are big and come in a stunning range of colours and patterns. Perhaps you have seen a frog resting in the water with only its eyes and nose above the surface. Frogs can protrude theirContinueContinue reading “Be Inspired by Frogs”
Slugs are Cool
Would it not be great if you could smell with your body just like a slug? Slugs are everywhere! And gooey slime is a wonderful substance that can solve many problems. Britain has ideal conditions for slugs to thrive – cool, damp summers and warmish, mild, wet winters. Climate change also contributes to turning ourContinueContinue reading “Slugs are Cool”
What is Biomimicry?
Biomimicry is an exciting way to inspire young children to be creative and curious and to observe the world. Children come to understand how animals and plants can be used as a platform upon which ideas and inventions can be developed. Biomimicry bridges the boundaries traditionally found in education and provides young children with anContinueContinue reading “What is Biomimicry?”
Hunting for the Golden Ratio
Does the golden ratio exist in the world of art, architecture and design? Or is it a myth? Why not spend some time to check it out for yourself? The golden ratio is regarded as a way to define something beautiful. Great artists such as Salvador Dalí are said to have used the number sequenceContinueContinue reading “Hunting for the Golden Ratio”
Climate Smart Fairy Houses
Nowadays even fairies need to be climate-smart. So we built climate-smart houses for the fairies that live in our garden. We got inspiration from studying cones. Pine cones open and close depending on the level of moisture in the air. The scales of pine cones open in hot and dry weather and close in wetContinueContinue reading “Climate Smart Fairy Houses”
Ice-Cream Roots – Mixing Ideas with a Touch of Magic and Imagination
Thinking, whether it is planning what information you need to solve a problem, exploring where in your body you feel certain, or searching for new ideas, is something that should be exciting and fun. For too long, the image of a serious person sitting still and thinking about serious stuff has ruled. A creative approachContinueContinue reading “Ice-Cream Roots – Mixing Ideas with a Touch of Magic and Imagination”
Looking for Spirals in Nature
Filled with inspiration after having completed a course at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology. One week was spent looking for patterns in nature. Like the fractal nature of tree branching and antlers. Or spirals like galaxies, shells, pine cones and sunflower heads. After a while, I startedContinueContinue reading “Looking for Spirals in Nature”
Exploring Concepts and Building Things
The focus during the first years of formal education is to teach children basic concepts such as height and length. Worksheets are often designed to help teach identifying what is the same and what is different, and to determine which things that go together. A concept is an abstract pattern in the brain that standsContinueContinue reading “Exploring Concepts and Building Things”
Interesting eyes! – Biomimicry for Young Children
Eyes! Geckos with zig-zagged pupils. Chameleons that can look in two directions at the same time. And frogs that can see above the surface while they are underwater! Eyes are a great topic to explore when you are talking about biomimicry. You can solve design challenges: “Use one of the words that rhyme with frog.ContinueContinue reading “Interesting eyes! – Biomimicry for Young Children”
Design a Helmet Inspired by Ladybirds
Imagine that you have wings like a ladybird. What would you do? Ladybirds are delightful to have around, and we always close our eyes and make a wish when a ladybird flies away from our hands. Since I love roses, ladybirds are a true friend for that reason as well. And a rosebush is indeedContinueContinue reading “Design a Helmet Inspired by Ladybirds”
Biomimicry, Pasta and Mind Mapping – Dandelion Magic
Ahhh, you never really know where you might end up when you blow dandelion seeds. Watching the little parachutes dance away in the chilly spring breeze may spark many ideas. Observe, listen, touch, smell and, in some cases, even taste. Creativity, curiosity, and observing the world are exciting ways to bring nature into the classroomContinueContinue reading “Biomimicry, Pasta and Mind Mapping – Dandelion Magic”
Daffodils Dancing in the Wind – Biomimicry for Young Children
The poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” or Daffodils was composed in 1804, two years after Wordsworth saw the flowers while walking by Ullswater. It was a stormy day, and the inspiration for the poem came from a description of the event written by his sister Dorothy. Through our curious biomimicry lens, we wereContinueContinue reading “Daffodils Dancing in the Wind – Biomimicry for Young Children”
A Day at the Beach – Inspired by Sandpipers and Seagulls
Building sandcastles, surfing on waves, and licking the world’s yummiest ice cream! A day at the beach can be truly magical. Children can tank their bodies with warm sun rays and their parents’ endless love. But it can also be a day filled with wonderous and mind-boggling ideas and questions. Dream, build and invent. InventContinueContinue reading “A Day at the Beach – Inspired by Sandpipers and Seagulls”
Autumn Owl Robo – Use Biomimicry to Teach Children to Think
I have big eyes. The big eyes help me to. . . Owls are most vocal in autumn, and you can twit-twhoo-ing when you make this craft inspired by owls’ big eyes. The big eyes help owls to see in the dark. We made an Autumn Owl robo with several eyes so that it canContinueContinue reading “Autumn Owl Robo – Use Biomimicry to Teach Children to Think”
Biomimicry Inspiration from Africa with Crocolicious Love
As Roald Dahl memorably put it in Dirty Beasts, “No animal is half as vile as Crocky-Wock, the crocodile” — a fittingly dramatic introduction to an animal that’s inspired more real science than his poem gives it credit for. We had a period when we read rhymes from Dirty Beasts every night. In the end,ContinueContinue reading “Biomimicry Inspiration from Africa with Crocolicious Love”
Hunt for Straight Lines
What prevents a tree from growing in straight lines? Are there straight lines in nature? And are there right angles? The trees have lost most of their leaves, and the structure of the trees is visible. So the other day we hunted for the tree with the straightest trunk and branches. When we look atContinueContinue reading “Hunt for Straight Lines”
Be a Rabbit Detective – Life Cycle, Biomimicry, Inspiration for Ideas
In a local park not far from our house, there are lots of rabbits running around. Watching the bouncy rabbits is always an exciting time. Rabbits are also a common pet. And pets can provide the perfect inspiration for new ideas. A Rabbit’s Life Cycle Before you can be a good rabbit detective, it helpsContinueContinue reading “Be a Rabbit Detective – Life Cycle, Biomimicry, Inspiration for Ideas”
Endangered Frogs and Lily Pads – Biomimicry for Young Children
What would you think if there were no frogs to kiss? In stories, frogs are often portrayed as ugly and slimy. When frogs are not hopping off lily pads or croaking”ribbit” in the pond, they are often said to turn into a beautiful prince or princess if you dare to kiss them. And it isContinueContinue reading “Endangered Frogs and Lily Pads – Biomimicry for Young Children”
Autumn Leaves – Colour and Shape
Being a nature detective during the autumn can be a lot of fun. Mushrooms just waiting to be admired and sometimes even picked. If you walk quietly you may spot squirrels and birds. Acorns, conkers and pine cones can be collected and turned into wonderful arts and crafts. Piles of leaves just waiting for youContinueContinue reading “Autumn Leaves – Colour and Shape”
Eternal Magic Leaf Sheep Snack Bar and Photosynthesis – Biomimicry
A couple of weeks ago, I found the cutest little leaf sheep. A sea slug that looks adorable and has the most amazing ability – an animal that can rely on sunshine for its nutrition. It sounds like a test from school, and you would definitely fail if you ticked that genes from an algaContinueContinue reading “Eternal Magic Leaf Sheep Snack Bar and Photosynthesis – Biomimicry”
The Twelve Months of Endangered Animals Songs- Cool & Hot Zebra Socks
On the eighth day of August we saved eight elegant zebras. Black and white stripes. For years, scientists thought this striking pattern worked like a natural air conditioner — the idea was that the black stripes warm up in the sun faster than the white ones, creating tiny air currents that cool the zebraContinueContinue reading “The Twelve Months of Endangered Animals Songs- Cool & Hot Zebra Socks”
Sunday Walk – Autumn Biomimicry Food Challenge
The forest is coming to a standstill and animals are preparing for the colder weather. One year, the theme for the Biomimicry Institute’s Global Design Challenge was How to improve food systems by looking to nature for design solutions. We decided to embrace this challenge on our Sunday walk. Autumn is a busy time forContinueContinue reading “Sunday Walk – Autumn Biomimicry Food Challenge”