“The day will come when man will have to fight noise as inexorably as cholera and the plague.”
Robert Koch, 1905 Nobel Prize-winning bacteriologist
The city is filled with noises – loud, monotone sounds. Often in today’s world, silence is difficult to find and create. Quiet is good not only for us humans but also for animals. Quiet helps animals to communicate and sense danger. Fans of silence have created quiet places map. Yet, nature is seldom really quiet; we just cannot hear natural sounds because our world is often filled with noises created by humans.
Creating a space where kids can listen to nature can be a powerful experience. In biomimicry, we can start with a problem that we would like to solve. But allowing kids to follow and explore something that captures their interest in nature is an empowering experience. A great ah-ha moment can appear when we least expect it. Nurturing curiosity is the key to learning. Young children may listen for 1 minute or two, but it is not how long that is that is the most important thing. Listening, like all skills, takes time to develop.
A couple of years ago, we made a sound map in the garden. The autumn months are also filled with exciting sounds such as the wind rustling the leaves, acorns dropping, water trickling, and birds gathering in flocks.
Playing a game with kids where you tune into nature by disabling one or more of your senses is not only a fun game but also a great way to learn about nature. Below are some great videos to inspire you to hunt for sounds this autumn.
- Can you identify the sounds?
- What organism makes this sound?
- What is the organism doing?
- What is different when you close your eyes?
- Does it make a difference if you hold your nose while you listen?
- Do the sounds change during the night?
Autumn is also perfect for walking through a park looking for a colour.
- Where can you find this colour?
- Is there a pattern?
- Is the colour still there after a couple of days?
- Has the colour changed? Why? Why not?
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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