Animal Camouflage: Nature's Hide-and-Seek!

Science Grades 2nd Grade 9:21 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how animals use camouflage to blend in with their surroundings, hide from predators, hunt for food, and even communicate!

Video Resource

Animal Camouflage | Learn How Animals Can Blend In With Their Environments

Learn Bright

Duration: 9:21
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Camouflage helps animals survive.
  • There are different types of camouflage.
  • Animals use camouflage for different reasons (hiding, hunting, communication).

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define camouflage.
  • Students will be able to identify and describe four different types of camouflage.
  • Students will be able to explain at least two reasons why animals use camouflage.
  • Students will be able to give examples of animals that use camouflage.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they know about camouflage. Show a picture of a camouflaged animal and ask them to find it. Explain that today they will learn all about how animals use camouflage to survive.
  • Video Viewing (10 mins)
    Watch the "Animal Camouflage | Learn How Animals Can Blend In With Their Environments" video by Learn Bright (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-vRzYreZXY). Encourage students to pay attention to the different types of camouflage and why animals use them.
  • Discussion (10 mins)
    After the video, lead a class discussion about camouflage. Use the discussion questions provided. Review the four types of camouflage presented in the video: concealing coloration, disruptive coloration, disguise, and mimicry. Provide examples of each.
  • Activity: Camouflage Creation (15 mins)
    Have students create their own camouflaged animal. Provide them with paper, crayons, markers, or paint. Ask them to choose an animal and a habitat. Then, have them color their animal to blend in with its environment. Encourage creativity and discussion about why they chose their colors and patterns.
  • Review and Quiz (10 mins)
    Review the key concepts of the lesson. Administer the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank quizzes to assess student understanding.

Interactive Exercises

  • Camouflage Hunt
    Hide pictures of camouflaged animals around the classroom. Have students search for the animals and identify what type of camouflage each animal is using.
  • Design a Camouflaged Creature
    Students draw a new animal, give it a name, and explain in writing what kind of environment it lives in. They should also describe how this animal is adapted to its environment.

Discussion Questions

  • What is camouflage?
  • Why do animals need camouflage?
  • What are the four types of camouflage we learned about?
  • Can you name an animal that uses camouflage to hide?
  • Can you name an animal that uses camouflage to hunt?
  • Why do chameleons change color?

Skills Developed

  • Observation
  • Critical Thinking
  • Classification
  • Creative Thinking

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is camouflage?

Correct Answer: Blending in with surroundings

Question 2:

Which animal changes colors to talk to other animals?

Correct Answer: Chameleon

Question 3:

What is it called when an animal looks like something else, like a leaf?

Correct Answer: Disguise

Question 4:

Why do some animals use camouflage?

Correct Answer: To hide from predators

Question 5:

Which type of camouflage uses patterns to break up an animal's shape?

Correct Answer: Disruptive Coloration

Question 6:

If a green frog is hiding in green grass, what type of camouflage is it using?

Correct Answer: Concealing Coloration

Question 7:

Which of these animals uses camouflage to hunt?

Correct Answer: Polar Bear

Question 8:

What does 'predator' mean?

Correct Answer: An animal that hunts other animals

Question 9:

What is it called when an animal looks like another animal?

Correct Answer: Mimicry

Question 10:

Which type of camouflage makes an animal the same color as its environment?

Correct Answer: Concealing Coloration

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

Animals use _________ to blend in with their surroundings.

Correct Answer: camouflage

Question 2:

Some animals use camouflage to hide from _________.

Correct Answer: predators

Question 3:

A chameleon changes colors to __________ with other chameleons.

Correct Answer: communicate

Question 4:

___________ coloration makes an animal the same color as its background.

Correct Answer: Concealing

Question 5:

___________ coloration uses patterns to break up the shape of an animal.

Correct Answer: Disruptive

Question 6:

When an animal looks like a leaf or a stick, it is using the camouflage called _______.

Correct Answer: disguise

Question 7:

When an animal looks like another animal, it is using the camouflage called ______.

Correct Answer: mimicry

Question 8:

A polar bear blends in with the snow because of its _________.

Correct Answer: color

Question 9:

Animals that hunt other animals are called _________.

Correct Answer: predators

Question 10:

Camouflage helps animals _________ in their habitat.

Correct Answer: survive

Educational Standards

2.LS4.1:[Standard] Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats. 2.LS2.1:[Standard] Plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow.

Teaching Materials

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