Do you know why frogs have big eyes that bulge out?
Or why frogs can walk upside down?
Frog eyes are big and come in a stunning range of colours and patterns. Perhaps you have seen a frog resting in the water with only its eyes and nose above the surface. Frogs can protrude their colourful eyes so they can see above the surface while they are underwater! Learning from frogs’ bulging eyes has helped designers to make car lights.
It is almost impossible to sneak up behind frogs since they can not only see in front but also to the sides, and partially behind them. This means that frogs do not even have to move their heads to see. Would it not be fantastic to see things that are behind you by putting on some glasses inspired by frogs’ amazing eyes? What would these glasses look like?
Photo: Irene Mei
Biomimicry is an exciting way to be creative, curious and to observe the world. Bio means life, and mimicry means to mimic life and nature. Amazingly, frogs have already solved many of the problems that we are facing today. Frog-watching is a fun way to hunt for ideas and solve problems.
Observing frogs leaping through the air can lead to ideas about how to build a jumping robot. Frogs that live on land and in trees have shorter legs, while frogs that live in water often have very long, strong legs with webbed back feet to help them swim.
How would you design a swimming robot that can overtake a frog with webbed feet?
Photo: Glenn Simmons
Spending time in nature and discovering how fantastic the natural world really is by observing how frogs move around and how they communicate can lead to sustainable solutions. Hearing frogs is easy, but it is rather tricky to spot frogs. The frog may jump into the water when it hears a noise. So walk quietly towards the sound, stay still, and the frog may jump back up after a couple of minutes.
How would you make a shoe that can hold on to a wet and slippery surface?
Tree frogs have sticky pads on the tips of their fingers and toes, which aid in climbing and help them to cling to wet leaves and other smooth surfaces. They can even walk upside down using their suction pads.
Imagine being able to rapidly change skin texture from smooth to spiny. This is what the “punk rocker” frog or the Mutable rainfrog (Pristimantis mutabilis) can do. This weird frog might inspire lots of innovations.
Next time you are out looking for frogs, bring a notebook and write down your observations. Make detailed drawings of what you see and use these as inspiration for ideas ranging from cars to robots, sticky shoes to shape- and colour-changing clothes. Build a cool model of your ideas or make a drawing. You can use recycled material to build a frog robot or a frog lamp.
Be a frog detective this summer and get lots of interesting ideas.
You’ll find the resource here.
Featured photo: Jim Liestman
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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