Let’s design a dream classroom that inspires and is healthy!
Starting the new term or year in your classroom or homeschool can be even more exciting if you discuss and explore ways to enhance the learning space. What is on the wishlist to make the most of the learning environment?
There is a reason why some rooms in your home or school always appeal to you. It could be the interplay of light, captivating views, intricate organic patterns, the presence of plants, and the use of natural woods and fibres in the materials. The presence of these elements breathes life into the room, creating areas that feel invigorating. Biophilia is about our tendency to connect with nature and living things. Have you experienced a sense of calm while gazing at the ocean? Or walking in a forest after the rain?
The term “biophilia” comes from the Greek words “bios” (life) and “philia” (love). The psychoanalyst Erich Fromm first introduced the term to describe a love of all that is alive. The book “Biophilia,” by the biologist Edward O. Wilson made the term popular again. The book, published in 1984, states that all humans inherently love the natural world.
Biophilia and biomimicry are close cousins — biophilia is our instinct to seek out nature, while biomimicry is what happens when we act on that instinct by learning from nature’s designs. A biophilic classroom isn’t just decorated with plants; it’s a place primed for biomimicry thinking to happen naturally.
This idea grew into a full concept over time — see Biomimicry and Biophilic Design: Stepping into Kindergarten and A Kindergarten Inspired by Biophilic Design and Biomimicry – Outdoor Space for how these ideas developed into full classroom and playground designs.
By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas. This scenario will impact all humans but might harm children, who might lose their connection with nature. A biophilic classroom can enhance children’s learning experience and health and well-being. There is no magic solution to creating a learning environment that ticks all the boxes and prepares children best for future challenges. Yet, reconnection with nature can enhance a child’s development, mental resilience, and learning capacity.
Biophilic design consists of basic principles that incorporate natural elements into any building, such as visual connections to nature in the classroom. While it might not be possible to make major changes to your classroom or homeschool, you can still include some designs to enhance the connection to nature and positively impact the learning environment.
Nature can be brought indoors through plant life to enhance the atmosphere of any space. Including plants can create a stronger connection to the natural world. The sounds of nature can have a positive physiological effect. But which sounds work best? The leaves gently rustle, the babble of a brook, gentle rain, or bees buzzing! Familiar environmental noises are often the most effective in creating a sense of peace. But sound preferences are personal
Consider playing music with nature sounds to create a calming atmosphere that will enhance your students’ and children’s focus and learning.
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.