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New
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Year 10

Biomimicry

I can identify biomimicry and use nature as inspiration when designing.

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New
New
Year 10

Biomimicry

I can identify biomimicry and use nature as inspiration when designing.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Designers use biomimicry to influence both form and function of designs, such as the bullet train.
  2. Designers observe and record nature using sketches and photography.
  3. Designers use sketches and photography of nature to inspire.

Keywords

  • Biomimicry - using nature as inspiration to solve problems

  • Biomorphism - an aesthetic style that imitates nature's beauty

  • Mood board - a collection of images, texts and samples used by designers to convey feelings about a design

  • Inspiration - someone or something that gives you ideas

Common misconception

Biomimicry is using nature to inspire aesthetics.

Biomimicry uses nature to inspire solutions to problems, biomorphism is about nature inspiring aesthetics.


To help you plan your year 10 design and technology lesson on: Biomimicry, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

This lesson is a great opportunity to get out of the classroom and observe nature.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Additional inspiration images and exemplar mood boards or nature inspired products could be beneficial.

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - outdoor learning
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Nature is everything in the world which occurs independently of people. Which of these are natural?
Correct answer: wind
Correct answer: plants
products
Correct answer: fish
Correct answer: mountains
Q2.
What is inspiration?
Correct answer: something which gives you an idea
something which lights up
appreciating something
admiring something
Q3.
Inspiration can come from personal opinions. It is said to be __________.
Correct answer: subjective
objective
Q4.
Designers consider different subheadings. Match these subheadings to their definitions.
Correct Answer:form,a particular shape, linked to aesthetics
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a particular shape, linked to aesthetics

Correct Answer:function,the purpose
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the purpose

Correct Answer:aesthetics,the look including colour, texture, style of theme
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the look including colour, texture, style of theme

Correct Answer:problem,a situation, person, or thing that needs attention to be solved
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a situation, person, or thing that needs attention to be solved

Q5.
How can designers research and record sources of inspiration?
Correct answer: sketch
Correct answer: photograph
model
Correct answer: video
Q6.
This image is the Eden project in Cornwall, England. What do you think inspired the shape of the buildings?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Bubbles

6 Questions

Q1.
What is 'biomimicry'?
Nature inspires the form.
Nature inspires the aesthetic.
Correct answer: Nature inspires a solution to a problem.
Nature inspires the function.
Q2.
Which word means an aesthetic style that imitates nature's beauty?
Correct Answer: Biomorphism
Q3.
Match the product and the inspiration from nature.
Correct Answer:bullet train,kingfisher
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kingfisher

Correct Answer:hook and loop fastener,burr
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burr

Correct Answer:swimsuit,sharkskin
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sharkskin

Correct Answer:wind turbine blade,humpbacked whale fin
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humpbacked whale fin

Q4.
When exploring nature, what is a video particularly useful for?
Correct answer: understanding how something works
understanding the aesthetics
understanding the form
Correct answer: understanding the function
Q5.
What is a collection of images, text and samples which are used to inspire design known as?
Correct Answer: mood board
Q6.
What was the inspiration for the bullet train?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: The kingfisher's beak, kingfisher, the kingfishers' beak, kingfisher's beak