National Geographic
Engineering Inspirations from Nature
With James Cameron's DEEPSEA CHALLENGER expedition as an example, engaged engineering learners learn about biomimicry and how engineers can imitate processes in nature to design new technology. They experiment with temperature on...
TerraCycle
What Can Nature Teach Us about Sustainable Design?
Talk about Velcro®, Gecko Tape, WhalePower turbine blades, and other innovations that mimic nature to inspire your STEM or engineering class. This set of worksheets gets them thinking about imitating nature in terms of sustainable...
Curated OER
Technological Twins
Young scholars list comparisons between technology and nature. Then they create superheroes with special animal characteristics and describe how ordinary persons might replicate the changes with technology.
Captain Planet Foundation
Rotting Away
What happens at the end of a plant's life cycle? Show kids the natural way that plants show that they're decomposing, as well as the importance of compost, with a instructional activity about living organisms. After reading Log Cabin by...
National Wildlife Federation
Fill the Bill
The structure of a bird's beak lends itself to specific functions. Using an assortment of everyday objects, learners mimic the behaviors of bird beaks. They learn about the habits of different birds by studying their beaks.
NOAA
Satellite Communications
How do satellites communicate? What types of satellites orbit Earth? Discover and mimic the way satellites communicate between two points in a hands-on activity that has pupils using mirrors, flashlights, and marbles.
Curated OER
The Fractal Geometry of Nature
Learners identify patterns found in nature. In this algebra lesson, students model situation in nature using fractals. They investigate biological geometric structures and draw conclusion based on geometric concepts.
University of Minnesota
Mirroring Emotions
Do you ever give your class the "teacher look"? Without saying a word, they become silent and engaged (hopefully). How do they know what you're thinking? Explore the concept of nonverbal communication and how it relates to our mirror...
Curated OER
Mimicry: An Example of Adaptation
High schoolers are able to explain the relationship between adaptation and ability for survival and reproduction. They are able to give examples of a series of adaptations that would support the idea that evolution is a series of minor...
Teach Engineering
Adapatations for Bird Flight - Inspiration for Aeronautical Engineering
It's a bird, it's a ... device made to mimic birds. The eighth installment of a nine-part module has pupils read various articles to learn about bird flight. They consider the implications for aeronautical engineering.
Curated OER
Fly Tying
Students practice fly tying and explain water conservation efforts in Iowa. In this ecology, Iowa geography, and natural resources lesson, students identify basic equipment and material needed to fish, then tie flies. Students name...
Yale University
Discovering Persephone
Here is a resource that introduces learners to how the stories from Greek mythology explain the workings of natural phenomena, movements of the seasons, and how the conflicts of the gods mimic our own daily difficulties. Learners...
Curated OER
Balance in Visual Art
Young scholars examine works of art to develop an understanding of the importance of visual balance in works of art and nature. Students research artists and their artwork for examples of visual balance. Young scholars create works of...
Curated OER
Adaptation and Mimicry - Biology
Pupils compare and contrast adaptations involving camouflage, warning coloration, and mimicry. They explain the relationship between adaptation and ability for survival and reproduction. Students define Batesian and Mullerian mimicry and...
Curated OER
Make a Rain Stick
Students create a rain stick to imitate the nature sounds in a rainforest habitat. In this rainforest habitat lesson plan, students create a rain stick to mimic the cultural tools used in the South American rainforest. Students use paper...
Curated OER
RAINSTICKS
Students create a rainstick from recycled materials and begin learning about the "nature" of the rainforest.
Teach Engineering
Penny Perfect Properties (Solid-Liquid Interations)
I can get more water to stay on a penny than you can! Collaborative pairs determine the volume of liquids that can be contained on the surface of copper pennies and plastic coins. The pairs analyze their results using graphs and go on to...
Glynn County School System
Earth's Magnetic Field and the Moon
The surface of the moon has an amazing tale to tell. Learn about the moon's story with a PowerPoint presentation that describes the unique features of the moon's surface as well as explains its movement in relation to Earth.
Curated OER
Mimicking Nature; Science, Aviation, Flight, Wings
Students consider the relationship between form and flight and investigate the history of man made flight and how wing shape and flexibility affects the maneuverability of an aircraft.
Curated OER
Basics of Archaeology
Middle schoolers identify what and how to complete an Archaeological excavation is conducted. They identify the transition from one layer to the next more easily if the colors of the layers are different. When creating a dig, the...
Curated OER
The Power of the Environment in Our Lives
Students participate in a series of activities designed to demonstrate the differences between symbiotic and parasitic relationships. They discuss the differences and catergorize man's relationship with nature.
Curated OER
Alternative Alphabet
Learners determine and compare hieroglyph content and frequency to sentences constructed in an alternative alphabet based on symbols that mimic sounds of the alphabet. They decide which images are hieroglyphs and which ones are not.
Curated OER
Sounds Around
In this sounds instructional activity, students choose one of five activities to do at home with parents. Students experiment with making sounds with natural objects, list "noisy" foods or count all the outdoor sounds that can be heard.
Scholastic
The Science of Marijuana—How THC Affects the Brain
Marijuana can affect every part of a user's life—starting with the delicate nervous centers of the brain. An informative article and worksheet prompt teenagers to learn more about how the THC found in most forms of marijuana can...