Animal Camouflage

Shown is a natural landscape featuring tall, dry grass and sparse trees with muted brown and green foliage, south of Cherokee, Iowa on a November day. In the middle of the frame, a coyote is camouflaged among the grass and brush, blending in with its surroundings due to its similar coloration.

Cherokee

Iowa Core Standard

1-LS1-1

Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs

Driving Question

How do you think camouflage helps animals (like coyotes) survive?

Probing Questions

In the photo, how would you say that the coyote camouflaged?
How do you think camouflage helps the coyote survive against predators?
How do humans mimic animals using camouflage?

Classroom Suggestions

Students could:

Draw a picture of another animal that uses camouflage to survive.
Explain the different ways that humans mimic animal camouflage.
Design a way to camouflage themselves based on the models seen in nature.

Resources

PBS LearningMedia | WyomingPBS Education Collection | Camouflage: Students will learn the ways in which animals protect themselves from predators, with the emphasis on camouflage and an adaptation to avoid being detected.
PBS LearningMedia | Camouflage Explained: Wander & Wonder | Young Explorers: Why do owls have brown and white feathers? Why are frogs green? Join Abby Brown and her friend as they create paper creatures to learn all about camouflage!

Contributors

Phenomena submitted by Lexi Wiltgen.

Photo by Landen Kneip.