I wonder what camouflague is...

Lesson Overview:

Students will make their daily observations and then look at the way that Manduca, other animals, and humans use camouflage. This exploration of camouflage is facilitated by a teacher directed camouflage experiment and the creation of a camouflage collage.

Subject Area Focus:  science, language arts, & art

Objectives:

1. learn the definition of camouflage
2. look at ways hormworms use camouflage
3. brainstorm lists of other creatures that use camouflage and the types of camouflage they use
4. think of how and when people use camouflage and draw parallels between the two
5. make a camouflage collage

Materials:

• journals
• pictures of Manduca in its native habitat
• dictionaries (if needed)
• national geographic & other animal magazines
• newspaper, colored paper, glitter decorations
• scissors
• glue sticks or tape

Procedures:

1. Before class, fill a large bin filled with strips and scraps of newspaper. Cut a few worm shapes out of newspaper too (5). Then cut worm shapes out of brightly colored paper, varied colors, some even glittered. Mix all of the worms into the newspaper strips and scraps.
2. In class, ask the students to come up and grab a worm out of the bin.
3. Most likely, students will choose colored and glittered worms instead of newspaper worms.
4. Ask the class why they think most students chose the colored and glittered worms and not the newspaper worms. (The newspaper worms were better at hiding in their surroundings)
5. The teacher will ask students:
   - What is camouflage? If there is no clear consensus, look it up.
   - Do you think Manduca uses camouflage? How? (pictures of Manduca in their natural habitat could be shown on the computer screen at this point)
   - Think of a few other animals that use camouflage and record them in your observation journals
6. Teacher should ask:
   - Do people ever use camouflage? When and why?
   - Have you ever used it?
   - Do humans use it for the same reasons insects do? Record your thoughts in your observation journal.
   tell the students where the materials they will need for the days projects are and tell them to get their supplies when they need them.
7. Using pictures from a magazine (National Geographic) or pictures you create on your own, make a camouflage collage.
8. Projects can be displayed around the room or combined to make a large wall or bulletin board collage.
9. If the teacher wishes the initial collages can be used as a stepping stone for in-depth projects on animals and camouflage.
   
   
   
   Can you find the Manduca in this picture?
   
   

• The Manduca on the left was fed a diet of natural tobacco leaves.
• The Manduca on the right was fed a diet prepared in the lab like the kind of diet you feed your Manduca.