How nature inspires innovation

Title separator

Vocabulary - adjectives to describe objects

ESL lesson about design

LESSON OVERVIEW

This ESL lesson about design focuses on how nature inspires creation of new things. Students learn some vocabulary to describe the design of things, watch a video and have a lot of brainstorming and speaking practice

C1 / Advanced
C2 / Proficiency
60 minStandard LessonPremium Plan

WARM-UP & VOCABULARY

The worksheet starts with a discussion. Students talk about product designers, their skills, and brainstorm features of well-designed products. This ESL lesson about design is also supplemented with useful vocabulary. Students look at some words (e.g. angular, crooked, intricate, sleek, etc.) and answer the questions using them. Then, they put the vocabulary into practice by describing the things in the pictures (a chair, a car, a building, a tea set). Students have to discuss what the strengths and weaknesses of each design are. 

VIDEO & DISCUSSION

In this part of this ESL lesson about design students watch the video and learn how nature inspires designers. First, students discuss a couple of questions and learn the term ‘mimicry’. After that, they watch the first part of the video and answer more questions (e.g. about biomimicry and how it helps to solve problems). Then, they look at three pictures (lotus leaf, ants, forest) and match them to the things they inspired (autonomous cars, building paint, economic system). Students also have to justify their answers. After that, they watch the rest of the video and check their ideas. Students move on to more speaking activities. First, they read some statements, choose the ones they agree with and explain their answers. Then, they look at more inventions and try to guess what element of nature might have inspired them. As a wrap-up activity, students look at two items (a white t-shirt and wired headphones) and discuss them in terms of their design. They talk about problems with them  and how they could be solved using biomimicry.

WORKSHEETS

 

Comments

Title separator

Leave a Reply

  1. samanthajewen

    Hi! Unlimited subscriber here. I loved this lesson, as did my teenage students. One thing they remarked on was the amount of paper used – I try to print things in a way that minimises paper and ink usage, but there are still a lot of gaps and it could be compressed more. Otherwise, thank you so much for the awesome content! – Samantha

    1. Stan

      Great to hear that your students enjoyed this lesson! In terms of the unused white space in pdfs, we tried to compress the text and pics but the results were poor as too many pics and text together were making the pdf look unclear. We always want to limit the number of pages when possible but we always put priority on clarity and legibility, especially in SVs.

  2. snazar13

    Hi! I’ve just used this with my online group of C1/C2 adults. At the end, they said that they had really enjoyed it and wanted a link to the video so that they could watch it again. It’s an unusual topic and they enjoyed the challenge of discussing the different ways in which product design mimics nature. Thank you very much!
    Sarah

    1. Iulia

      Hi Sarah!

      We’re so happy you and your students liked the lesson. Thank you for your feedback:)

  3. Mastering Shelt

    What an amazing lesson! I found it highly engaging and very well put-together. Thank you very much!

    1. Iulia

      Hi:)
      Thank you. It’s always a pleasure to hear that our users like the content:)

Browse other materials recommended for you

Title separator
lesson on digitalization
C1 / Advanced
Standard Lesson 60 min
Loading

Impediments to e-government

General Technology

In this lesson on digitalization students talk about various government services and how they can be improved. They also watch a video about a successful example (e-Estonia), learn some vocabulary and have a lot of speaking practice. 

lesson about science fiction
C1 / Advanced | C2 / Proficiency
Flipped Lesson 60 min
Loading

The stuff of science fiction?

General Technology

In this lesson about science fiction, students watch a video about predicting advances in science and technology, talk about sci-fi and learn some vocabulary related to future predictions.

lesson about technology
C1 / Advanced | C2 / Proficiency
Speaking Class 45 min / 60 min
Loading

Will these lenses change the world?

Technology

In this lesson about technology, students watch two videos about smart contact lenses and discuss augmented reality. 

rules and laws vocabulary
B2 / Upper Intermediate | C1 / Advanced
Standard Lesson 60 min
Loading

Regulating big tech

Business Technology

This lesson on regulation and technology focuses on rules and laws vocabulary. The lesson features a video about a law and a discussion on regulating big companies and different technologies.

C1 / Advanced
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Loading

Global skills passport

Business Technology

In this lesson, students discuss the idea of a global skills passport presented in the article, and practise vocabulary related to the topic.

advanced collocations
C1 / Advanced
Standard Lesson 60 min
Loading

Are small businesses more vulnerable?

Business Technology

In this lesson, students learn and practise advanced collocations, watch a video about cybersecurity and talk about cybercrime.

describing images
B2 / Upper Intermediate | C1 / Advanced
Standard Lesson 75 min
Loading

Have you met the new Dalí?

Technology

In this lesson students watch two videos about AI image generators, learn some advanced vocabulary for describing images, and do some speaking practice.  

C2 vocabulary
C2 / Proficiency
Standard Lesson 60 min
Loading

E-waste recycling

Global Issues Technology

In this lesson, students watch a video, learn C2 vocabulary related to recycling, and discuss some ideas for solving the e-waste problem. 

B2 / Upper Intermediate | C1 / Advanced
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Loading

Who wants to live forever?

Technology

With this lesson plan, students have an in-depth discussion about the idea of recreating dead people as avatars. They also practise useful vocabulary and talk about the metaverse.

Show more lessons

Questions

Title separator

Is there a minimum subscription period if I choose a monthly subscription?

No, there’s no minimum required number of subscription months. You can cancel any time you want. Basically, you can sign up and then cancel your subscription the next day, which will mean you have access for 1 month and won’t be charged again.

What currencies can I pay in for my subscription?

Our default currency is USD (American dollar), but you can also pay in EUR (euro), GBP (British pound sterling) or PLN (Polish zloty). You can change the currency you want to pay in at the Pricing page before selecting a subscription plan.

How can I edit an e-lesson plan?

You can get your own editable copy of an e-lesson plan and make changes to it. To do so, either (1) make a copy of it on your Google Drive (preferable method) or (2) download it in a Powerpoint format (but formatting might be a bit off so we can’t guarantee that it will work well).

Read more FAQ
Title separator

ESL Brains

Forgot password?
or continue with