na2ure – a think tank

bridging visual-spatial reasoning

play

automatic pattern recognition

biomimicry

through platform design and research for use in preschool to PhD

see patterns make connections

we research and develop systems for visual literacy and spatial play
tied to how our vision evolved, how our brain learns, and how it is connected to natural forms, patterns and growth — we call it “da Vinci vision”

3 systems to learn visually

Pattern ABC

Nature’s building blocks are like her set of LEGOs to grow form and pattern at all scales, respecting the physical limits of materials to function in their environment from the cellular to galactic levels. Patterns are a pre-verbal pre-math way for young children to access visual-spatial learning across every domain, and bring spatial skills to learning language and math. The patterns are as relevant in K-12 as in university through doctorate in STEAM fields. A set of pattern alphabet educational activities have been built to help teachers and parents explore the pattern ABC in and outside the classroom.

Periodic Table for Biology
The Periodic Table of Elements allows Physics and Chemistry a framework for physical and chemical properties to be analyzed and made into formulas. Biology has ultra complex diagrams of the Tree of Life, Linnaean Taxonomy, and wordy descriptions. Mashing taxonomy into a graphical system, even young children can identify animal and plant traits and species groupings according to traits they can see visually or know easily.

Motion ABC

Long before they can speak, infants explore their world by sensori-motor methods. As they notice patterns in movement, they begin to think relationally, about motion and position. This begins the acquisition of language with prepositions which promote spatial reasoning — a key tool to pre-verbal thinking. The motion abc segues into the Pattern ABC.

each system has play products

Ani-gram-it™
board and card games that teach kids all about the animal kingdom—including classification, anatomy, diversity and function—through play.

Bark Memory Game

a game that will turn players into tree identification experts in no time! each pair of beautiful, hand-drawn cards accurately depicts a different type of tree bark, such as Oak, Maple, Olive and Birch.

ferret
the entire Encyclopedia of Life–including how nature designs and solves problems around structure, pattern and color–without it ever feeling like school.
ferret is an iPad app that teaches kids all about animals, from anatomy to habitat and behavior. Game play challenges kids to describe animals’ anatomy from the inside out, using intuitive building blocks.

Pattern ABC

the pattern alphabet cards – nature’s 2D and 3D building blocks at all scales how animal (and human) vision evolved pattern recognition to survive

partnerships

The partnership between SILC and na2ure provides a strong foundation for SILC to realize several of its goals. For example, na2ure’s Pattern Alphabet is a comprehensive introduction to spatial reasoning for young children and thus provides a venue both for research on how spatial thinking is learned, and for developing more effective spatial education techniques. SILC seeks to engage with na2ure to develop applications for the Pattern Alphabet and to develop new techniques for enhancing and promoting spatial thinking.


Alex Wolf

Alex had a playful childhood and a bang up education at Exeter, RISD and in programs abroad. Ever since, she has been trying to dissect her RISD know how and give it to children in breadcrumb-sized pieces, one bit at a time.

Convinced that children are bright creative thinkers, from 0-5 especially, and need literal and figurative space and tools to express that creatively, she works in how they see and perceive space, form, pattern and motion.

Dr. Vijal Parikh

Vijal is fascinated by the brain and how we learn. He’s a consulting psychiatrist for New York City Health and Hospitals where he provides collaborative care for multiple primary clinics. He’s interested in policy and public health work and completed a fellowship in public psychiatry at Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric institute. His work with disadvantaged populations is the basis of his view that there’s need for effective, creative learning tools that engage learners young and old in discovering and developing their skills and passions.

awards + press + talks

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