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Create your own creature.
What is its name?
What kind of habitat will it live in?
What things can you invent inspired by the creature?
Storytellers have invented all sorts of creatures, such as dragons and unicorns. But you can also invent a creature consisting of body parts of real animals all mixed up. This is a great way to explore function.
Biology and human design have the concept of function in common. A tree must stay upright, and so does a house. Identifying the function is at a core when you engage in biomimicry with young children. But this exploration should be carried out in a fun and exciting way. Creating a creature built of different animals may help a young child to explore how special frogs’ eyes are or how a hammerhead shark uses its head.
Storywriting is a great way to encourage children to explore animals and plants in-depth. The story can be used as a platform upon which ideas can be developed. These ideas can later inspire innovations and designs.
Start with the idea of a creature. Give your creature a name, and you have a unique character for your story. Instead of telling children what to create, stand back and let their ideas blossom.
Invent something inspired by the animal or plant and let the innovation play a key character in a story; for example, a story can contain a robot that looks like an animal or a person can use an innovation such as shoes that make you run like an ostrich.
Write about the animal’s superpowers, special skills and wants. What if you turned into the creature? How would you feel? What could you do? Create an exciting setting for the story.
You find the biomimicry booklet here.
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.
Love this! This is a great resource for me. My students with learning disabilities will live the hands-on learning! Thanks!
I love your story writing idea. It’s a great way to research animals!
Love the idea of using story writing. That’s a great way to research animals.