Build It From Nature

Provided by: PBS |Published on: July 16, 2026

Activity - Classroom

PKK12

Scientist Reviewed ↗

Synopsis

This printable activity invites children to explore how nature inspires human-made designs.
Children cut out and match pictures of three animals to three human-made objects that were inspired by them: a frog to swim fins, a kingfisher to the bullet train, and a bird to the airplane.

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Subjects: Science

Authors: PBS

Region: Global

Languages: English, Spanish

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Teaching Materials

Classroom Implementation:

Print and pre-cut the picture cards for younger children, or have older students cut their own as a fine-motor warm-up before the matching activity.
After matching, ask students to explain in their own words which animal feature helped each object work, reinforcing the idea that structure supports function.
Use body movements to imitate different animals' characteristics and how they work in the inventions.

Extensions:

Take students on a walk to find other natural features (wings, webbed feet, shells) and brainstorm what human-made tools those features could inspire.
Have students sketch new inventions that employ biomimicry in their designs.

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Scientist Reviewed

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Build It From Nature

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources