As we learn about different animals and insects throughout the year, my students quickly learn that camouflage is an important adaptation that many animals have. To help my students better understand this idea, I decided to give them some hands on experience in camouflaging animals.
I purchased some fabric that had patterns similar to those in nature and in water from my local craft/fabric store. I tried to choose fabrics that were single colors with leaf, floral, or water looking patterns so that the animals and insects could be more easily camouflaged.
Next, I cut the fabric into 7 x 7 squares. I've found that this is a good size and I can get 6 squares out of each cut of fabric. Each small group of students can have one of each of the types of fabric and have plenty to explore with as they work to camouflage their animals and insects.
I gave each student a small bowl that held a few Baby Jungle Animals, Sea Life Creatures, and some Just Buggy Bugs & Spiders and set them loose to camouflage their animals and insects. It was fun to watch my students explore with the different colors on some of the Sea Life Creatures. Many of them had two or more colors on them, so they had to think carefully about the best way to camouflage them. Several of the Baby Jungle Animals and the Just Buggy Bugs & Spiders also caused my students to stop and consider the best way to camouflage them. Was a darker color better or should they go with a pattern that was "busier"?
After we had a chance to explore with the animals and insects, I noticed my students looking more carefully outside on different surfaces, checking to see if any animals or insects might be hidden in plain sight! We plan to take our animals and insects outside soon to try to camouflage them there as well!
