Nature Inventors Slides
Nature Inventors
How 1st Grade Scientists Learn from the World
What is Biomimicry?
Engineers study nature to find clever ways to solve human problems.
We use nature's "blueprints" to design better tools and technology!
Bio-mimicry
Bio = Life
Mimic = To Copy
🌍 ➡️ 💻
Sticky Plant Hooks
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Burr Seeds
These seeds use tiny hooks to catch a ride on passing animals.
"I'm going for a ride!"
👟
Velcro
We copied those hooks to make fasteners for our shoes and bags.
Riiiiiiiiip!
Streamlined Shapes
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Kingfisher
Its long, pointed beak lets it dive into water without making a splash!
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Shinkansen Train
Engineers gave the train a "beak" so it could travel quietly and fast.
Speedy Skin
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Denticles
Sharks have scales that look like tiny teeth! They help reduce drag in the water.
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Fast-Skin Suits
Olympic swimmers wear suits that mimic shark skin to glide through water faster.
Shock Absorbers
A Woodpecker hits wood with a force of 1,200g!
Their skulls have spongy bone that protects their brain from the impact.
We use these ideas to make better protective gear and helmets.
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Safety Design
The Lotus Effect
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Lotus Leaf
This leaf is "hydrophobic." Water beads up and rolls off, taking dirt with it!
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Self-Cleaning
We made paint and windows that stay clean just by being rained on.
Gravity Defying Grip
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Gecko Feet
Millions of tiny hairs on their toes help geckos walk on glass and ceilings!
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Sticky Tape
Scientists made a super-strong tape that sticks and peels without leaving a mess.
Suction Technology
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Octopus Suckers
Each arm has suckers that can grip tightly, even on slippery surfaces.
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Suction Tools
We use suction to lift glass, fix pipes, and even help robots climb!
Reflective Vision
Cat eyes have a mirror-like layer that bounces light back.
"Cat's Eye" road reflectors bounce car lights to show the way at night.
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Smart Needles
The Mosquito
A mosquito's "proboscis" is made of several tiny needles that are very thin.
Painless Shots
By copying the mosquito, doctors created needles that hurt less when giving medicine!
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Engineer Challenge!
How could nature help solve these problems?
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Bat Echoes
Helping people who can't see navigate safely?
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Cactus Water
Storing water in very dry places?
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Hedgehog Quills
Protecting precious packages during shipping?
Be the Inventor 🎨
Pick a Superpower from nature.
What tool would you build for humans?
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Hearing
👟
Running
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Protection
Nature Match-Up Review
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➡️
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Burrs & Velcro
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Gecko & Tape
🦈
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Shark & Suit
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➡️
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Kingfisher & Train
Keep Observing!
Biomimicry shows us that nature is the best teacher. What will you discover next?
Invention Lab Worksheet
Invention Lab
Biomimicry Design Studio
CHIEF INVENTOR:
1. Choose a Life Form
Draw an animal, plant, or bug that has a special "superpower" (like being fast, sticky, or strong).
2. Analyze the Function
What does this superpower help the organism do?
Capture Food
Protect Itself
Travel or Move
Stay Clean or Dry
The Blueprint
Design a new tool or machine for humans inspired by your choice!
Name of Invention:
How it works:
Authorized for 1st Grade Research
Nature Inventors Guide Teacher Resource
Nature Inventors
1st Grade Teacher Guide
NGSS ALIGNMENT
1-LS1-1
Objectives
- • Identify how animal/plant parts help them survive.
- • Connect natural functions to human engineering.
- • Design a solution inspired by nature (Biomimicry).
Vocabulary
Biomimicry
Bio (life) + Mimicry (copying).
Engineer
A person who designs and builds things.
Function
What a part is designed to do (its job).
Instructional Sequence
1
Engage: The Nature Detective
Open with Slides 1-2. Ask: "Can nature be an inventor?" Introduce the concept of studying nature's "superpowers."
2
Explore: Case Studies (Slides 3-11)
Focus on the Function. Why does a shark need scales? (To move fast). Why do we need swimsuits? (To move fast). Emphasize the connection between the problem and the natural solution.
3
Practice: Identifying Patterns
Students complete the Nature Matchup and Everyday Nature sheets to reinforce common examples.
4
Elaborate: Design Studio
Using the Invention Lab Worksheet, students apply what they learned. Encourage them to choose an animal not shown in the slides (e.g., camel, spider, fish).
NGSS Integration
This lesson supports 1-LS1-1: Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.