Tiny, tiny, tiny frogs!
Some frogs are the size of a jellybean.
Jelly bean frogs – wonderful inspiration!
Of course, we could not resist cutting out the tiniest frogs and putting them beside jelly beans.
Brachycephalus frogs are less than 1 cm long (0.39 inches) or approximately the size of a jelly bean. They have bright, colourful, poisonous skin to protect themselves from being eaten. Also, the skin is often rough and bumpy. They often have three toes and two fingers, instead of the five toes and four fingers that are found on most frogs.
Photo: Luiz Fernando Ribeiro, CC BY SA
The frogs live in cool “cloud forests”, and seven frogs were recently found living on seven mountains. The tiny frogs are sensitive to changes in temperature, so it might be tricky for them to change from the cool mountain climate to the warmer temperatures in the valleys below.
- What if these tiny, tiny frogs decide to meet?
- How can they overcome the problems?
- What things could the tiny jelly bean frogs invent to make sure that they could meet?
Perhaps the frogs can build robots to help them fly over the valleys. Since frogs have strong back legs, perhaps the Jelly Bean Frog Robo could have wings attached to the legs to help them fly. Or extra pairs of back legs so that they can jump and jump and jump. . .
They could attach a frogachute. Or build a temperature bubble or spray some heat foam to make sure they can survive temperature changes. This could help them to jump down the mountains and meet in the valley.
Brachycephalus leopardus has yellow skin covered with dark spots.
Photo: Marcio R. Pie, CC BY SA
All these ideas can lead to an exciting story about Seven Inventive Frogs living on Seven Mountains and how they make things so that they can meet. Several things may not go according to plan, and this is a great way to explore and discover risks with certain ideas.
By planning and telling a story involving inventions and ideas, children gain a deeper insight into not just how nature solves problems but also how ideas need to be modified and changed to work as a solution. Biomimicry is a way to use nature for inspiration, and there are no ready solutions to be found. Instead, ideas and solutions need to be modified and changed.
Frogs are great animals to study to get ideas; you can read some blog posts about biomimicry and frogs here and here.
A booklet about frogs and toads can be found here and here.
Happy Jelly Bean Frogilicious
Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.
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