Prep Time: 15 minutes Lesson Time: 30 minutes Age: 3rd and 4th graders
Source: Adapted from Project Learning Tree
Areas of study: math, science
Summary
Background/objectives: to teach students about camouflage affecting prey, and utilize bar graphs to analyze results of activity
Materials:
- 5 different colors of string that will camouflage differently in grass (ex. light green, dark green, blue, yellow, and clear)
- a plot of grass around 15 x 15 ft^2
- liquid glue or double sided tape
- poster sized sheet of paper
Preparation:
Using the five colors of string, cut 25 approximately 3inch strips of each, then distribute the colors throughout the plot of grass.
Procedure:
- Ask the students what they know about camouflage and how it helps animals survive
- Show students the plot of grass and instruct them to pick up all of the “worms” they can find in a 2 minute period once the activity begins
- Begin two minutes and let all of the children search the plot for as many worms as they can.
- Once the two minutes are up tell each child to bring their worms inside and sort them by color
- Draw columns on the poster paper and put the color labels at the top of the columns.
- Place a line of glue through the center of each column and have the children glue each of their strings to the appropriate column
- Discuss what the results show without counting each string, then count to see if it’s accurate
- Talk about why there were differences between the colors
- Remember to pick up the remaining strings from outside
Assessment:
Tips and Tricks:
Make sure the students space the worms somewhat equally for each column so that the bar chart doesn’t become skewed
How to implement for…
Pre-K-2: could implement pretty easily, just with less detailed discussions
5-6: could bring in talks about shifts in populations, like the peppered moth example.