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”
Tag Archives: Biomimicry
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”
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”
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?”
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”
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”
Inspired by Endangered Sloths – Sloth Meditation
Imagine that you can be a sloth. What does it mean to find your inner sloth? Sloths are asleep a good portion of the twenty-four-hour day. The rest of the time they are slowly moving and feeding. What if you were licking an ice cream in a way that a sloth munches slowly on leaves?ContinueContinue reading “Inspired by Endangered Sloths – Sloth Meditation”
Biomimicry for Young Children Inspired by the Endangered Sloths
Bring slowness into the world! On the Second Day of February, We Saved Two Sleepy Sloths Would it not be great to stretch time? How can we celebrate slowfulness? William Beebe was a sloth researcher who was very impressed by the sloths’ slowness. He wrote, “Sloths have no right to be living on this earth,ContinueContinue reading “Biomimicry for Young Children Inspired by the Endangered Sloths”
Biomimicry for Young Children – Inspired by Endangered Dugongs – Donald Dugong Seacleaner
Meet Donald Dugong Seacleaner! The graceful dugongs spend time eating seagrass from the bottom of the sea. Seagrass is important to save. We wrote a story about Doctor Delia Dugong who saved the seagrass (this is an unpublished story). We also reversed our thinking and ended up with an idea where we take something awayContinueContinue reading “Biomimicry for Young Children – Inspired by Endangered Dugongs – Donald Dugong Seacleaner”
Biomimicry for Young Children – Inspired by Endangered Dugongs
Dugongs spark our curiosity and tug our heart-strings. These sea cows are beautiful and fascinating creatures. On the first day of January we saved One swimming dugong Inspired by the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, we made up a song where we each month saved an animal – The Twelve Months of Endangered AnimalsContinueContinue reading “Biomimicry for Young Children – Inspired by Endangered Dugongs”
Imagine a city! A Smart City!
People flying with their umbrellas as the wind blows. Paintings that escape from their frames. Buses are fish and fish fly in the sky! Imagine a City by Elise Hurst is an invitation to imagine all sorts of fantastic things. She encourages us to not only imagine fantastical cities but also take the game aContinueContinue reading “Imagine a city! A Smart City!”
Biomimicry for Young Children – Magic DinoPills
What if you were a dentist? Can you invent something inspired by dinosaurs? Magnificent plant-eating dinosaurs provided inspiration for the idea of Magic DinoPills. This is biomimicry applied to medicine — not copying an animal’s shape, but copying the biological trick that makes its trait possible. The long-necked, plant-eating giants such as Diplodocus and CamarasaurusContinueContinue reading “Biomimicry for Young Children – Magic DinoPills”
Jelly Bean Frog Story Writing and Robos- Biomimicry for Young Children
Tiny, tiny, tiny frogs! Some frogs are the size of a jellybean. Jelly bean frogs – wonderful inspiration! Of course, we could not resist cutting out the tiniest frogs and putting them beside jelly beans. Brachycephalus frogs are less than 1 cm long (0.39 inches) or approximately the size of a jelly bean. They haveContinueContinue reading “Jelly Bean Frog Story Writing and Robos- Biomimicry for Young Children”
Fibonacci, Cones and Biomimicry
Pine cones can be a great source of inspiration for craft and art projects. Use goggle eyes to transform a cone into a pet, a monster, or an owl. Wrap the cone in tinsel and glitter and have a sparkly Christmas decoration. The seeds can be glued onto a paper and a hedgehog or birdContinueContinue reading “Fibonacci, Cones and Biomimicry”
Spooky Spiderlicious Spycamera – Halloween-Inspired Biomimicry for Young Children
Be inspired by Spiders to prevent a thief from stealing Halloween treats. Spiders! Oh no! Although I have never been afraid of spiders, I must admit that finding a poisonous redback in my shoes in Queensland did make me jump back. The redback spider is a beautiful black spider with a big red stripe onContinueContinue reading “Spooky Spiderlicious Spycamera – Halloween-Inspired Biomimicry for Young Children”
Why is Biomimicry Important?
It might be difficult to understand why biomimicry is important and what children can learn from this approach of looking at nature to find inspiration for new ideas. Most schools teach children about how animals and plants grow, where they can be found, and taxonomy, but nature can be used as an inspiration to solveContinueContinue reading “Why is Biomimicry Important?”
Digging Deeper – Biomimicry and Philosophy
It is deceptively easy to think that biomimicry is simply an approach where the only purpose is to invent and design new things. Yet, biomimicry goes beyond mere invention and design; it is a way to learn from and mimic the strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges. New and exciting insights canContinueContinue reading “Digging Deeper – Biomimicry and Philosophy”
CroakMet Messaging Service – Biomimicry for Young Children
In the summertime, bike riding is even more fun! Yet there are several problems with bike riding. Frogs’ amazing bulging eyes and low, horse-like croaking sound inspired us to solve two of the most annoying problems. How do you talk to your best friend without shouting? How do you see everything that goes on behindContinueContinue reading “CroakMet Messaging Service – Biomimicry for Young Children”
Biomimicry, British Wildlife and Foxes – Fox Nose Box
Foxes are fantastic. They can leap up into the air and dive into a pile of snow to catch a mouse. Inspired by foxes, we made a Fox Nose Box – the food packing of the future. Just like foxes have great noses, so does this food box. The black nose is filled with trillionsContinueContinue reading “Biomimicry, British Wildlife and Foxes – Fox Nose Box”
Biomimicry Postal Stamps to Celebrate Nature
Postal Stamps to Celebrate Nature! Stamps are tiny works of art — small enough to fit in your hand, but often packed with incredible detail. For over 30 years, the United Nations Postal Administration has issued special stamps to raise awareness of endangered species. In 2017, twelve colourful stamps featured animals and plants newly addedContinueContinue reading “Biomimicry Postal Stamps to Celebrate Nature”
Smart Feathers – Biomimicry for Young Children
Owls have beautiful as well as smart feathers! Why not make a project and study feathers? The beauty of bird feathers provides inspiration for art activities. Their smart design is perfect for young curious biomimicrist. A great way to study how feathers have evolved and to use their clever design as inspiration for searching forContinueContinue reading “Smart Feathers – Biomimicry for Young Children”