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Biomimicry and how many human inventions were inspired by nature (worksheet)
An adaptation is simply something that a living organism has or does to help it survive and reproduce successfully. Adaptations can be divided into two groups: physical and behavioural adaptations. Physical or structural adaptations are specific features of living things that help them to move, breathe, find and catch food, reproduce and escape predators. Some examples include; webbed feet for swimming (ducks, frogs, beavers); fur or feathers for insulation from cold water (mink, ducks); and a turtle’s tough shell for protection.
Behavioral adaptations are things that an animal does to enhance its own survival. Some example include: constructing a burrow (badger), or lodge (muskrat) for shelter; being active mainly at night to avoid being detected by predators (mice, beavers); and staying very still to take advantage of camouflage (fawn or frog).
Humans have copied many of animals' adaptations and made inventions inspired by this natural noticing and wondering. The term for these inventions based on natural inspiration is biomimicry.
Follow-Up Activity: Look around your school and house thinking carefully about all the different tools and designs of things. Can you think of any that seem inspired by nature? Write a short story about how someone came up with this invention. As inspiration tell a story of a hunter back thousands of years ago tracking animals through the snow and becoming frustrated when animals are able to scamper away, "floating" atop the snow while their feet sink down to their hips. Over time the hunter notices the fact that animal feet are in proportion much bigger than her own. She then endeavors to enlarge her own feet, in the process creating the first snowshoe!