Quest 6 – The nature of design
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- Earth School
Let’s Begin…
Nature teaches us to solve problems beautifully, intelligently, and sustainably. Did you know Velcro was inspired by burrs stuck in fur? Or that engineers made spider-shaped robots? This design process is called biomimicry. To begin, let’s watch a video to learn why architect Mick Pearce designed a building inspired by a termite mound. After the video, continue onto other sections to learn more, interact, act and share.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Before you dive into the rest of this Quest, check out these great videos to learn how designers study nature to improve the ways we make stuff. It's no wonder we're so inspired by the natural world— nature has been “product testing” for billions of years!
Watch 1: What Is Biomimicry? (Fast Company)
Watch 2: 8 Useful Technologies Inspired by Nature (SciShow)
Watch 3: Science Copies Nature’s Secrets-Biomimicry (IFSVND)
Watch 4: Hidden Miracles of the Natural World: Louis Schwartzberg (TED)
LEARN + INTERACT
Test the power of nature and find the strength of an eggshell with this project from Science Sparks. (for ages 11-14)
Search for instances of biomimicry in your life. Grab a pencil and paper or download an Inventor’s Notebook from the Spark Lab. Then, make a list of the products you use each day. Can you think of something in nature that might have inspired their shape or function? (for all ages)
Draw a detailed picture of one of the most amazing things you have observed in nature (for example: a turtle’s shell, a field of flowers, a porcupine’s spine). What is distinctive about its shape? What are its key parts? How does it “work”? How is it connected to other parts of nature? (for all ages)
Read teacher John Marconi and his students’ very detailed report about green cities and think about your town. What parts of your city or town are your favorite? Least favorite? How would you improve them? Draw inspiration from nature as you design improvements. (for ages 15-18)
ACT + SHARE
Lead a discussion with your family (or online with your neighbors!). Ask everyone about a specific problem they or your community is facing. How do you think nature could solve this problem? (for all ages)
Observe nature for a few minutes and then write a poem about the form and function of something that caught your attention. Ask your parents or teacher for help sharing your poem online with #EarthSchool. (for all ages)
Write a letter to someone from your local government or to a community leader. Explain what biomimicry is, then show them a nature-based design that can improve your community. Suggest what they could do to help make this happen. Need help constructing your letter? Here’s a sample. (for all ages)
Watch a new movie on biomimicry and climate change narrated by pioneering biomimicry expert, Janice Benyus, and share the link with a friend. Feeling really ambitious? Attend her entire online course. (for ages 15-18)
WANT MORE?
Watch this video from Berkus Design Studio to learn how architects get inspired by the natural world. (for all ages)
Watch designer Neri Oxman talk about Design at the Intersection of Technology and Biology and learn about other ways to get original perspectives from biomimicry. (for ages 15-18)
Read about 7 surprising technologies inspired by nature with Live Science. (for ages 15-18)
Design an improvement for your neighborhood. Pick a problem (litter in a local park, not enough parking spaces, a run down building, for example), and use what we’ve learned about biomimicry to figure out a way to improve the issue. Before you begin, brush up on your design skills with this tool, which is used by world class designers at Stanford University. (for ages 15-18)
Create a new civilization. Lots of species live underground. Could humans? Design an underground civilization with this project developed by educator John Spencer. (for ages 11-18)
This Earth School Quest was created by the following incredible educators and environmental experts: Richard Matthew, Steve Davis and Bill Tomlinson, University of California Irvine
Watch 1: What Is Biomimicry? (Fast Company)
Watch 2: 8 Useful Technologies Inspired by Nature (SciShow)
Watch 3: Science Copies Nature’s Secrets-Biomimicry (IFSVND)
Watch 4: Hidden Miracles of the Natural World: Louis Schwartzberg (TED)
LEARN + INTERACT
Test the power of nature and find the strength of an eggshell with this project from Science Sparks. (for ages 11-14)
Search for instances of biomimicry in your life. Grab a pencil and paper or download an Inventor’s Notebook from the Spark Lab. Then, make a list of the products you use each day. Can you think of something in nature that might have inspired their shape or function? (for all ages)
Draw a detailed picture of one of the most amazing things you have observed in nature (for example: a turtle’s shell, a field of flowers, a porcupine’s spine). What is distinctive about its shape? What are its key parts? How does it “work”? How is it connected to other parts of nature? (for all ages)
Read teacher John Marconi and his students’ very detailed report about green cities and think about your town. What parts of your city or town are your favorite? Least favorite? How would you improve them? Draw inspiration from nature as you design improvements. (for ages 15-18)
ACT + SHARE
Lead a discussion with your family (or online with your neighbors!). Ask everyone about a specific problem they or your community is facing. How do you think nature could solve this problem? (for all ages)
Observe nature for a few minutes and then write a poem about the form and function of something that caught your attention. Ask your parents or teacher for help sharing your poem online with #EarthSchool. (for all ages)
Write a letter to someone from your local government or to a community leader. Explain what biomimicry is, then show them a nature-based design that can improve your community. Suggest what they could do to help make this happen. Need help constructing your letter? Here’s a sample. (for all ages)
Watch a new movie on biomimicry and climate change narrated by pioneering biomimicry expert, Janice Benyus, and share the link with a friend. Feeling really ambitious? Attend her entire online course. (for ages 15-18)
WANT MORE?
Watch this video from Berkus Design Studio to learn how architects get inspired by the natural world. (for all ages)
Watch designer Neri Oxman talk about Design at the Intersection of Technology and Biology and learn about other ways to get original perspectives from biomimicry. (for ages 15-18)
Read about 7 surprising technologies inspired by nature with Live Science. (for ages 15-18)
Design an improvement for your neighborhood. Pick a problem (litter in a local park, not enough parking spaces, a run down building, for example), and use what we’ve learned about biomimicry to figure out a way to improve the issue. Before you begin, brush up on your design skills with this tool, which is used by world class designers at Stanford University. (for ages 15-18)
Create a new civilization. Lots of species live underground. Could humans? Design an underground civilization with this project developed by educator John Spencer. (for ages 11-18)
This Earth School Quest was created by the following incredible educators and environmental experts: Richard Matthew, Steve Davis and Bill Tomlinson, University of California Irvine
We look forward to seeing your Quest in action!
Document your Quests— take photos of the experiments, activities, drawings, and writing prompts you tried— and share your journey with the Earth School team and students by using #EarthSchool. We'll feature some of your photos and stories on our social channels, hopefully encouraging others to join the cause!
Explore additional creative activities (for all ages!) from the Nature of Society and save images of your work from each Quest in Littlescribe – later you can create an original card, book, magazine or calendar to bring your adventures to life!
Document your Quests— take photos of the experiments, activities, drawings, and writing prompts you tried— and share your journey with the Earth School team and students by using #EarthSchool. We'll feature some of your photos and stories on our social channels, hopefully encouraging others to join the cause!
Explore additional creative activities (for all ages!) from the Nature of Society and save images of your work from each Quest in Littlescribe – later you can create an original card, book, magazine or calendar to bring your adventures to life!
Create and share a new lesson based on this one.
