Nature's Patterns

Patterns are made of shapes that are repeated many times.  Patterns can vary in size, shape, or color.



Branching Patterns are best described as tree-like.  Pattern begin with a main trunk and divided into branches, which divide again and again.

We observed that our veins are in a branching pattern, trees, leaves, roots, rivers, and deer antlers are all examples of branching patterns

 

Explosions, Spheres, and Circles

Sea Urchins

Explosion Patterns are best described as patterns that begins in the center and radiates out from the center.   Each radiating line in an explosive pattern makes a direct path--the shortest path--back to the center of the explosion.

We observed many examples of explosions:  fireworks, flowers with a center and petals radiate from the center, sun's rays, and paint splash.  We also learned that flowers that have that center directs bees to the flower's center, where they can suck up the sweet nectar they need to make honey, and drop bits of pollen that the plant need to make seeds.

"Sphere to the ancient Greeks, the circle and its three-dimensional counterpart the sphere, were perfect symbols of the divine."  p48  By Nature's Design

 
Spheres are patterns that can be be described as a perfectly round geometrical object.  We observed that it is 3D and it is perfectly symmetrical.  We studied soap bubbles and noticed how they behave in freezing temperatures.  We noticed the "elastic" film that forms the bubble. What is important to remember that the shape of a sphere provides the most space ( volume) with the least surface area.  Think about a cat curled up into a ball.  She curls up so she doesn't lose heat from her body.  The less  surface the animal exposes to the cold and the less heat she loses."
Animals also curl up to defend themselves against other animals.  When they curl up less of their surface area is exposed.

 Circle/Ring Patterns are patterns that form circles or rings.  If you drop a rock into the water the water ripples and spreads out over an area into concentric Rings.  The ripple rings have radial symmetry.

Look at this toad

 Look at the toad's eye and its gill.  These eye-like patterns can be found on moths and  birds ( think peacocks).  In the animal world these eye-like patterns attract mates and help to communicate with one another.  These  patterns also help protect animals from their predators. 

Spiral Patterns are best described as a type of ring pattern.  They are formed by a continuous curving line.

We observed the spiral pattern in nature and objects.  The ferns breaking through the leaves in the woods, spiral shells collected from the ocean, pine cones, sunflower centers,   and we discussed
how tornadoes and hurricanes spiral.  

An interesting observations is that many spirals are also explosions.  A spider is a good example.  It spins a web in a fine spiral and weaves strands that radiate from the center.  

Packing

Packing and Cracking patterns show us that nature's patterns of packing and cracking is present in those things in nature to make the most with the least.
For example:

Tightest fit  in a corn cob - rows of kernals are staggered, so that the kernels on one row fit neatly into gaps between the kernels in the neighboring row.  Notice that the gaps between the kernals meet in 3's
 
least energy - honeycomb.  Notice also have the 3 way gap as the wax walls of the honeycomb meet.