Exploring Basic Designs and Designs Found in Nature
Discovering patterns in nature isn't just a fun activity, it's a window into the underlying mathematical and physical principles that govern the natural world. From the intricate spirals found in sunflowers to the self-repeating fractals that shape snowflakes, patterns can be found in a wide variety of fascinating structures and arrangements.
One of the most well-known patterns in nature is the fractal. These patterns repeat at different scales, and they can be seen in a multitude of natural forms, such as blood vessels, coastlines, mountain ranges, and even the humble Romanesco broccoli. Fractals also appear in biological structures like the actin cytoskeleton, DNA, and slime mold growth.
Spirals, another common pattern, can be found in a variety of natural structures, from the shell of a nautilus to the arrangement of sunflower seeds. Interestingly, the number of spirals in sunflower heads follows the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical ratio that also appears in pinecones and galaxies.
Tessellations, while often associated with human-made art and architecture, can also be found in nature. Take, for example, the honeycomb structure, a repeating geometric pattern that optimizes space and materials efficiently in biological systems.
Even in our everyday lives, we can find patterns. A simple example would be the arrangement of sweetcorn and peas on a plate, or the boy/girl pattern made around the dinner table. For a more complex example, consider a 5-year-old using DUPLO bricks to create more complicated patterns.
The kitchen can also be a treasure trove of patterns. Look for the symmetry of a snowflake in the frost crystals on your window, or the spirals in the arrangement of sunflower seeds on your breakfast cereal.
It's important for children to understand the concept of patterns, as they are sequences that repeat themselves. This understanding can help them make connections and predictions in the world around them.
While animals with the ability to move typically exhibit mirror symmetry, plants and stationary animals often have rotational symmetry, as seen in the spirals of sunflower heads.
This article was last updated on July 9, 2025, by Emma Vanstone. So, the next time you find yourself marvelling at the beauty of a sunflower or the intricacy of a snowflake, remember that you're witnessing not just nature's artistry, but also its underlying mathematical and physical principles at work.
[1] Fractal Geometry: Nature's Patterns and Chaos. (n.d.). Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.britannica.com/science/fractal [4] Sacred Geometry: The Hidden Mathematics of Nature, Art, and the Universe. (n.d.). Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.britannica.com/science/sacred-geometry
- Kids can find fractals, a pattern that repeats at different scales, in various everyday items like Romanesco broccoli or the actin cytoskeleton within cells, which they might learn about in education-and-self-development books.
- Busy parents can engage their children in home-and-garden activities by finding patterns like spirals in sunflower seeds or tessellations in honeycomb-like arrangements of bees in their garden, making it a fun yet educational lifestyle experience.
- For an interesting learning opportunity, parents can introduce kids to the Fibonacci sequence, a pattern that appears in numbers of sunflower spirals and pinecones, highlighting the connection between math and nature.
- In addition to being beautiful works of art, snowflakes are complex patterns that demonstrate principles of self-repeating fractals, providing a perfect example to spark conversations about science in the lifestyle of curious kids.
