A curious mind asks lots of questions and then search for answers.
Question asking is at the very core of thinking and innovation. A special kind of questions that can be acted upon and lead to change in the way we look at things. Question asking is a skill that is different from typing rather predictable questions into a search engine.
Beautiful questions are ambitious. And it is questions rather than answers that keeps the interest alive.
When studying animals and plants a great way to get inspiration for ideas by playing “What if”. This question opens up to mind to imagining all sorts of things. Of particular interest when looking at biomimicry is to imagine what it would be like to see and experience the world from the point of view of an animal or plant. This approach may, particularly for younger children, provide insight and understanding that may lead to new ideas.
It is important to remember that the ideas may not from an adult’s perspective be new or fulfill criteria that marks them as creative, but from the child’s point of view a pattern may have been broken and the idea sounds and looks amazing. Never take that joy and marvellous feeling away from the student or child. Embracing new problems with a curious mind is a wonderful thing.
- What if you were a caterpillar? How could you escape from a bird?
- What if you were a woodpecker? How can you tell other woodpeckers that this tree is yours?
- What if you were an ostrich? How would you escape from a lion?
Ostrich feet
Use the feelings and insights to think of ways that you can use the animals bodies and skills to invent something new.
- A toy inspired by a caterpillar.
- A new phone inspired by a woodpecker.
- A robot that can run really fast just like the ostrich.
Or go to the local park and study some animals and plants and ask “What if” and then invent something.
Use LEGO, building block and recycled material to make a model of your innovation.
I would love to see your creations so please send them to me and I will post them here. You find my email address at the top under the page About. Thanks.
We fell in love with the ostrich robot called Konstantin Ivanov. Isn’t it great?
Biomimicry for Young Children 