You Can’t See Me

Background

In this activity, students will look for colored items placed in a wooded or grassy area on your school grounds. Some toothpicks are easily found because they are contrasting in color to the area. Natural camouflage prevents some colors from being easily found. This activity can be used with The Camouflage Trail.

Procedure

Scatter the pipe cleaners or toothpicks in a designated area. Allow three to six students in the area for one minute at a time. After each group has searched for one minute, do a visual graph of the colors found by each group in the order that they went. The brighter colors are easier to find and will most often be the ones the first group holds up.

Critical Thinking

1. Why were some colors found before others?
2. Compare the amount of objects found by the first group to that of the last group.
3. Which colors did the last group have to find?
4. Why was it more difficult for the last group?
5. Discuss how this concept applies to animals and insects.
6. Why are some animals brightly colored?

Extension

1. Have students observe coloration in animals, insects, and plants around the sand dunes.
2. What kinds of colors do they see?
3. Look for examples of insects and animals in the Visitor Center.
4. Compare the coloration of these animals with the colors of the environment at Great Sand Dunes.

Adapted from Educator's Guide to Great Sand Dunes, by Lori Cooper, Friends of the Dunes.