Camouflage
Background Information & Activities

© 1999-2009 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Camouflage is how animals blend in with their environment. Animals can use camouflage to help them remain hidden from predators or prey. Some animals can change their appearance as their surroundings change. An octopus can change the color and texture of its skin extremely quickly in order to hide in the changing terrain of the ocean floor. An Arctic fox will change the color of its fur based on the seasons. In the warmer months, the Arctic fox will grow brown fur to hide in the trees, and in the winter, it will grow white fur to hide in the snow.

Some animals change colors not to camouflage themselves, but to express their mood. Chameleons can turn yellow, dark blue, or even black if they become angry. Some animals have special patterns, or markings that help them blend in with each other and confuse predators. For example, zebras use their stripes to confuse their main predator, lions. Zebras' stripes prevent lions from focusing on one animal. Some animals use mimicry to imitate another animal or plant. Walking sticks are often ignored by predators who mistake them for twigs. Some harmless snakes mimic rattlesnakes in appearance and behavior in order to be left alone.

It is important for your children to understand that animals use camouflage as a way to stay safe. Discuss different animals and have your child think about how camouflage helps the animals to survive. We recommend watching the Rainforest movie together as a review. Understanding camouflage will deepen your child’s comprehension of the natural world.

Camouflage Teacher Activities – Click Here!

Camouflage Family Activities – Click Here!

Camouflage Teacher Activities

© 1999-2009 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

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? 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. 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.

Camouflage Family Activities

© 1999-2009 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Hide and Go Seek

Under adult supervision, have your child and his or her friends play hide-and-go-seek in the park or in the neighborhood. Remember to set strict boundaries so children remain safe. If possible, play the game at night or at sunset. Have a few children wear light-colored clothing, and have others wear dark clothing. As they play the game, ask them how the clothing makes it harder or easier to find each other. Who was easiest to tag? Why?

Hidden at Home

Cut out shapes using different colors of paper. Then hide the shapes in your home. Try to camouflage a few shapes. For example, you might cut out a white circle and hide it in a white bathtub. Have your child go on a hunt and look for all the shapes. Have him or her explain why each shape was easy or hard to find.

Sound Walk

With your child, go on a walk at twilight. Be sure to pick a safe and familiar place and bring a flashlight. Listen to the sounds that you hear together. Many animals like to be heard and not seen. What animals do you hear? Have your child use the flashlight to find the animal. Have your child think about how animals camouflage themselves at night.