Introduction
Being able to blend into the environment is an adaptation known as camouflage. This adaptation helps animals blend in with their surroundings. In nature, every advantage increases an animal's chances of survival, and therefore its chances of reproducing. This simple fact has caused animal species to evolve a number of special adaptations that help them find food and keep them from becoming food. One of the most widespread and varied adaptations is natural camouflage, an animal's ability to hide itself from predator and prey.
Task
You are a zoologist looking to identify various animals and the camouflage characteristics they exhibit to hunt or hide for survival. Can you classify and distinguish these creates before they are eaten or starved to extinction!
Process
1. Choose a continent from the list below you believe has an interesting assortment of wildlife and through that continent take a trip through natural habitats identifying various species and learning about there abilities to camouflage themselves.
2. Create a chart of these creatures identifying the characteristics and if they are considered the hunter or the hunted based on the camouflaging abilities.
3. Write a report of your findings to be published in the class' Scientific Research Journal.
Evaluation
You will be graded on your ability to list camouflage characteristics specific to your selected wildlife as well as your final report reporting your finds. Included in your findings must be a discussion of the terms: protective coloration, protective resemblance, mimcry, counter shading, and warning coloration.
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CATEGORY |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
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Summary |
Summary describes the skills learned, the information learned and some future applications to real life situations. |
Summary describes the information learned and a possible application to a real life situation. |
Summary describes the information learned. |
No summary is written. |
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Data |
Professional looking and accurate representation of the data in tables and/or graphs. Graphs and tables are labeled and titled. |
Accurate representation of the data in tables and/or graphs. Graphs and tables are labeled and titled. |
Accurate representation of the data in written form, but no graphs or tables are presented. |
Data are not shown OR are inaccurate. |
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Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar |
One or fewer errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar in the report. |
Two or three errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar in the report. |
Four errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar in the report. |
More than 4 errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar in the report. |
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Appearance/Organization |
Lab report is typed and uses headings and subheadings to visually organize the material. |
Lab report is neatly handwritten and uses headings and subheadings to visually organize the material. |
Lab report is neatly written or typed, but formatting does not help visually organize the material. |
Lab report is handwritten and looks sloppy with cross-outs, multiple erasures and/or tears and creases. |
Conclusion
You have learned about camouflage. You have also learned the value of this characteristic related to animal's habitat. By visiting several sites and learning of the many types of camouflage adaptions you are able to identify a variety of species as either predator or prey. You've investigated some of the following questions:
What are some of the camouflage abilities different creatures have?What are the advantages of each of these abilities? What habitats will you find particular camouflage capabilities and why?Congratulations on completing this Camouflage Challenge, visit some of the resources below to further understand topic!All about camouflage!Predator and PreyAnimals that Disguise
Credits
All images used were from copyright free google image searches.
Teacher Page
This Webquest aligned with a ProjectWILD lesson plan that requires students to create a colorful creature and describe how the coloring would help improve its chances for survival. The assignment can be broken into two 45-minute sessions that allows for students to conduct their research and finally draw up the lab report on their specific findings. The lab report can also be a time to allow students to become creative -including drawings, constructing a shadow box, or whatever they see fit to give a good description of what they have concluded.
Standards
Ecosystems and Their Interactions (4.6)