February 2022

Animal Rainbow

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Academic Standards

Reading Objective:

Children will identify different ways that an animal’s coloration can help it hide, confuse flies, scare enemies, or signal that it is toxic.

Next Generation Science Standards:

K-LS1 Animals’ Survival Needs

1-LS1 How Animals Use External Parts to Survive

Vocabulary:

camouflage

Check comprehension and inspire discussion.

 

1. Are frogs with bright colors good to eat?
(No! Their bright colors can say they have poison.)

2. How do pink crab spiders hide from birds?
(They sit on pink flowers, where they blend in.)

3. How do some chameleons scare enemies?
(Their skin turns red.)

4. Where could a yellow snake camouflage itself?
(Answers will vary.)

 Go online to print or project the Reading Checkpoint.

  • Some female crab spiders can also turn yellow to hide on a yellow flower.
  • Scientists think poison dart frogs are poisonous because they eat poisonous ants.
  • Chameleons can also change color to camouflage themselves or to show that they’re relaxed.

Materials: markers, kid scissors, copies of the skill sheet

Overview: Children explore camouflage as they color a frog and hide it in the classroom. Will others be able to find it?

Directions:

  1. To begin, remind children that some animals use camouflage to hide from predators. Their colors match what’s around them, so they’re hard to see!
  2. Ask students to look around the classroom. Where could a blue frog hide? Where could a red frog hide? Tell kids to silently pick a spot and note its color.
  3. Pass out copies of the skill sheet. Send kids back to their seats.
  4. Kids can color their frogs to camouflage in the spot they’ve picked, then cut them out.
  5. Divide the class into Groups A and B. Group A kids put their heads down while Group B kids hide their frogs. Can Group A find them? Then switch.
  6. Try hiding the frogs in noncamouflaged spots. Are they easier to find?