resource
Wild Buildings and Bridges: Architecture Inspired by NatureEtta Kaner and Carl Wiens
This book for kids age 8-12, celebrates examples of nature's influence on building and bridge designs all over the world and includes simple activities that help illustrate some concepts.
Gretchen Hookerresource
Business Innovation and Solutions Through BiomimicryMontana Natural History Center
This video features professor Jakki Mohr discussing ways to connect business and nature through biomimicry.
Gretchen Hookerresource
STEM Activity for 1st Grade: Nature-Inspired DesignDavid Lee EdTech
This video describes a project in which students used design thinking and nature inspired design to engineer a tool for a family activity.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Powers of Ten: Blue Morpho ButterflyNational Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
The Blue Morpho Butterfly is a frequently referenced example of structural color. This lesson plan explores the structure and possible biomimetic applications.
Sherry Ritterresource
Wild-Inspired Robotic ArmsPBS LearningMedia and NOVA
A video excerpted from NOVA: “Making Stuff Wilder,” provided with a background essay, accompanying classroom project guide, and discussion questions for grades 6-12.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Biomes and BiomimicryDiscovery Education
In this activity, students work in teams and use biomimicry to build an Adaptation Station that will enhance life for humans living in a specific environment.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Biomimicry: The “Natural” Intersection of Biology and EngineeringCeleste Nicholas & Jeffrey Peterson
An article detailing a biomimicry engineering project for middle school students. Provided with NGSS alignments (MS-ETS1-1 and MS-LS4-6) by curators at NSTA.
Gretchen Hooker resource
“Trait Mountain” STEM UnitSTEM Roots
This three-week life science themed unit is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards for first grade—including a comprehensive lesson on biomimicry aligned to NGSS 1-LS1-1.
STEM Rootsresource
Implementing Biomimicry and Sustainable Design with an Emphasis on the Application of Ecological PrinciplesVanderbilt University
In this collection of lessons high school students study ecological relationships in the Sonoran Desert, examine species adaptations, and then apply what they have learned in a design challenge.
Gretchen Hooker resource
It’s in the Bag: Engineering BioInspired GearMuseum of Science, Boston
Created for after school and camp programs, this unit takes students through a bio-inspired engineering design challenge.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Structural BiomaterialsJulian Vincent
An introduction to the structural materials in natural organisms and what we can learn from them to improve man-made technology.
Denise DeLucaresource
“Who Is Your Champion?”Caryn Walker, Roberta L. Ethington, and Alyssa Y. Stark
This article for teachers outlines a series of upper elementary lessons on structure and function, with an extension lesson that incorporates related engineering design. Provided with NGSS alignments (4-LS1-1) by curators at NSTA.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Mother Nature’s ShoesSciGirls
In this episode from the PBS series SciGirls, nature’s strategies inspire a group of friends to design a safer shoe for walking on icy streets. An accompanying activity teaches students about friction.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Bio-Inspired Design ProjectThe Kids' Science Challenge
A collection of lessons created in conjunction with the “2009 Kids’ Science Challenge."
Gretchen Hooker resource
Just Passing Through: Designing Model MembranesMuseum of Science, Boston
This unit, from the Engineering Is Elementary series, introduces elementary students to bio-inspired engineering.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Biomimicry & Science: Applying Nature’s StrategiesBiomimicry Institute & EcoRise
A high school science curriculum that reinforces core concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics, and includes a biomimicry design challenge.
AskNature Teamresource
Engineering Inspired by NatureThe Center for Learning with Nature
An award-winning, standards-aligned engineering curriculum for middle and high school.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Bio-Inspired Design: Scientist Audio ProgramsPulse of the Planet
A collection of 28 two-minute radio segments featuring scientists talking about natural strategies and bio-inspired design.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Fritz Vollrath: “Who wouldn’t want to study spiders?”The Guardian
Article and accompanying 13 minute video featuring a researcher who studies the biology of spider silks to develop high-tech fibers.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Biomimicry: Natural DesignsUniversity of Colorado Boulder
50 minute activity for 3rd-5th graders focused on biomimicry in engineering.
AskNature Team resource
Wild Buildings and Bridges: Architecture Inspired by NatureEtta Kaner and Carl Wiens
This book for kids age 8-12, celebrates examples of nature's influence on building and bridge designs all over the world and includes simple activities that help illustrate some concepts.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Business Innovation and Solutions Through BiomimicryMontana Natural History Center
This video features professor Jakki Mohr discussing ways to connect business and nature through biomimicry.
Gretchen Hooker resource
STEM Activity for 1st Grade: Nature-Inspired DesignDavid Lee EdTech
This video describes a project in which students used design thinking and nature inspired design to engineer a tool for a family activity.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Powers of Ten: Blue Morpho ButterflyNational Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
The Blue Morpho Butterfly is a frequently referenced example of structural color. This lesson plan explores the structure and possible biomimetic applications.
Sherry Ritter resource
Wild-Inspired Robotic ArmsPBS LearningMedia and NOVA
A video excerpted from NOVA: “Making Stuff Wilder,” provided with a background essay, accompanying classroom project guide, and discussion questions for grades 6-12.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Biomes and BiomimicryDiscovery Education
In this activity, students work in teams and use biomimicry to build an Adaptation Station that will enhance life for humans living in a specific environment.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Biomimicry: The “Natural” Intersection of Biology and EngineeringCeleste Nicholas & Jeffrey Peterson
An article detailing a biomimicry engineering project for middle school students. Provided with NGSS alignments (MS-ETS1-1 and MS-LS4-6) by curators at NSTA.
Gretchen Hooker resource
“Trait Mountain” STEM UnitSTEM Roots
This three-week life science themed unit is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards for first grade—including a comprehensive lesson on biomimicry aligned to NGSS 1-LS1-1.
STEM Roots resource
Implementing Biomimicry and Sustainable Design with an Emphasis on the Application of Ecological PrinciplesVanderbilt University
In this collection of lessons high school students study ecological relationships in the Sonoran Desert, examine species adaptations, and then apply what they have learned in a design challenge.
Gretchen Hooker resource
It’s in the Bag: Engineering BioInspired GearMuseum of Science, Boston
Created for after school and camp programs, this unit takes students through a bio-inspired engineering design challenge.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Structural BiomaterialsJulian Vincent
An introduction to the structural materials in natural organisms and what we can learn from them to improve man-made technology.
Denise DeLuca resource
“Who Is Your Champion?”Caryn Walker, Roberta L. Ethington, and Alyssa Y. Stark
This article for teachers outlines a series of upper elementary lessons on structure and function, with an extension lesson that incorporates related engineering design. Provided with NGSS alignments (4-LS1-1) by curators at NSTA.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Mother Nature’s ShoesSciGirls
In this episode from the PBS series SciGirls, nature’s strategies inspire a group of friends to design a safer shoe for walking on icy streets. An accompanying activity teaches students about friction.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Bio-Inspired Design ProjectThe Kids' Science Challenge
A collection of lessons created in conjunction with the “2009 Kids’ Science Challenge."
Gretchen Hooker resource
Just Passing Through: Designing Model MembranesMuseum of Science, Boston
This unit, from the Engineering Is Elementary series, introduces elementary students to bio-inspired engineering.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Biomimicry & Science: Applying Nature’s StrategiesBiomimicry Institute & EcoRise
A high school science curriculum that reinforces core concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics, and includes a biomimicry design challenge.
AskNature Team resource
Engineering Inspired by NatureThe Center for Learning with Nature
An award-winning, standards-aligned engineering curriculum for middle and high school.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Bio-Inspired Design: Scientist Audio ProgramsPulse of the Planet
A collection of 28 two-minute radio segments featuring scientists talking about natural strategies and bio-inspired design.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Fritz Vollrath: “Who wouldn’t want to study spiders?”The Guardian
Article and accompanying 13 minute video featuring a researcher who studies the biology of spider silks to develop high-tech fibers.
Gretchen Hooker resource
Biomimicry: Natural DesignsUniversity of Colorado Boulder
50 minute activity for 3rd-5th graders focused on biomimicry in engineering.
AskNature Team 
