Classroom Activities: Camouflage

These classroom activities are designed to complement the Camouflage topic on BrainPOP Jr.

Camouflage Clips
Take your class to a grassy area and divide them into small groups. Give each group 30 paper clips in different colors. Which color will be easiest to see in the grass? Which will be hardest? Have students make their predictions. Have one group member sprinkle the paper clips on the grass and count to 40 while the other members pick up as many paper clips as they can. Have students record their findings. Discuss the results and have students talk about how camouflage can help animals to survive.

Hidden

Create a habitat in a terrarium or fish tank. If possible, use a real animal to study, such as a lizard, beetle, or cricket. If keeping a real animal is not possible, you can use a realistic plastic bug or snake. Tell the class that they are going to create a habitat for the animal. Have students research and learn about the animal and its habitat. How does the animal use camouflage in its environment? What does the animal eat? If it eats insects, do any of them use camouflage? Have students collect and bring in materials to add to the habitat.

Camouflage Mural

Together as a class, paint or color a large mural of a forest. Students may want to research different forests before they sketch their mural to learn what types of plant, animal, and insect life each forest has. Then have each student pick a forest animal, learn about it, and add it to the mural. Explain to the class that this animal should be camouflaged in the forest. Have each student present their animal to the class and discuss how it uses camouflage to stay safe.

Camouflage Outfit

Have students think of ways to camouflage themselves in different places. How would they dress to stay hidden in the forest or in the snow? What colors would they wear to stay hidden in the desert? Have students draw pictures of different outfits. Then compile the pictures into a book to make a clothing catalog.