Ideas Inspired by Animals

Did you know that a lot of inventions are inspired by animals? Here is the Jan/Feb 2015 article from National Geographic Young Explorer. This is a great family of magazines! Click here to link to National Geographic magazines.

Here is a video that highlights some inventions inspired by animals!

Remember when we studied Jacques Cousteau?

Jacques Cousteau was inspired by underwater creatures when he invented things:

Pick any animal and look for its functional parts. What could you invent?  Make a drawing of your new invention!

The inventions are coming in! I'll post any that are sent to me below:

Forrest invented a new thing from a bird. He says it is called KingFisher robot, and it helps people to fish. The robot uses its beak to pluck fish out of water, and makes it easier for us folks to fish! 

Kaydence invented something to help short kids reach things on high shelves!

Animal Teachers

Another big idea in our animal inquiry is how some animal parents teach their young skills to survive. Watch these videos to see some animal teachers and animal babies who are learning, and then email, write, or text me the answer to the question at the end of the post!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpTqV6LPl8c&list=PL6y7laYk481IYExh0bsq9OYC4hOyXytVb&index=12&t=0s

What kinds of things did you see babies learning?

Make Your Own Clock!

Thanks to Caleb's mom, here is a great math craft activity! Click on the picture below or these words for the activity.

Styrofoam Cups Place Value Activity

Right before school ended in March I had shown the kids an activity using styrofoam cups to show the expanded notation of numbers.

Here is a video showing how to make your own! Our first grade goal is numbers in the 100s, so a cup for ones, tens, and hundreds should be perfect.  However, if you refer to the math guide I gave at conferences, your child may benefit from making one up to the thousands or ten-thousands!

Functional Parts Activity

During our animal inquiry we talked about how animals have special parts on their bodies that help them survive.

You choose an animal on pebblego or watch the video below:

Leave a comment below:
What is a functional part of an animal that you found?