Biomimicry for Young Children - Cones 

By Sparking Children's Thinkibility 

Grades: 2nd -5th Biology, Problem Solving, Other Math

Pine cones can be a great source of inspiration for craft and art projects. Use goggle eyes to transform a cone into a pet, a monster, or an owl. Wrap the cone in tinsel and glitter and you have a sparkly Xmas decoration. The seeds can be glued onto a paper and a hedgehog or bird may emerge.

Cones can also provide inspiration for packing things or planning a city. This is the exciting bit about using biomimicry in the classroom, the learning can easily be transformed into creating things. The problems  may require a child to look at functions and explore deeper purposes.

Use glitter glue pens and see if your cones are arranged in spirals corresponding to Fibonacci numbers. Sometimes the number may not be an actual Fibonacci number but often they are close to the Fibonacci sequence.

Why is it useful to arrange seeds in spirals?
Patterning seeds in spirals of Fibonacci numbers helps to pack as many as possible seeds on a cone.

How can you use this?
Perhaps you can pack things in spiral pattern using the Fibonacci sequence to save space. Big things like solar panels or houses. . . or small things like snack chip bags. . .

Link to Biomimicry for Young Children - Cones 

This package contains:
1. Why teach biomimicry
2. Getting Started Guide
3.Things I love about cones
4. Acrostic poem
5. Describe a cone
6. Fibonacci numbers
7. Design challenge - Fibonacci numbers
8. Design a city - Fibonacci numbers
9. Scales open and close
10. Story writing -planning
11. Write a story about innovation
12. How to use biomimicry in the classroom - inspiration and ideas

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