Camouflies
Summary:
Students make picture frames with colorful, patterned
fabric and card stock. Then they color pictures of butterflies and
dragonflies to blend in with the background fabric in the picture
frame. These can be taken home to hang on the fridge as a
reminder of camouflage!
Objectives/ Standards:
The students will…
 Learn ways that insects avoid being preyed upon
 Create take-home demonstrations of camouflaged
insects
Background:
Insects utilize a variety of defense mechanisms to avoid
being eaten by predators. Some have the ability to fly or run
away while being pursued; others give off foul smelling odors.
Some insects are venomous and can bite back to protect
themselves; and others roll up into their protective, hard shells.
Most insects also utilize their coloration to stay live. There are
Four basic camouflage strategies:
1. The first strategy is called Concealing coloration. This
means that the animals/insects outer covering is colored
such that he blends with the natural surroundings (ex. A
chameleon, an arctic hare, a black panther)
2. The second strategy is disruptive coloration. A pattern
that does not coincide with the contour and outline of the
body, so that they don’t stick out to predators. (ex. A
zebra, tiger, lynx, anything with stripes or spots)
3. The third strategy is disguise. The creature that uses this
type of camouflage blend with their surroundings (ex.
Stick insect, thorn insect)
4. And finally, the last type of strategy is mimicry. These
animals/insects are colored so that they look like other
harmful or distasteful animals/insects so that they will be
avoided by potential predators. The Owls butterfly in
Africa mimics the face of an Owl to make any potential
predator think twice about making an attack.
Essential Questions:
 How do insects avoid being eaten by predators?
 How does camouflage help an insect to stay alive?
Grade Level: 1-5
Duration: 30 minutes
Indoor/ Outdoor/ Both:
Vocabulary/Terms:
 camouflage
 pattern
 disruptive coloration
 concealing
coloration
 disguise
 mimicry
Materials:
 Brightly colored and
patterned fabric
 Card stock cut into
frames
 Black-line pictures
of insects
 Scissors
 Crayons or colored
pencils
 Glue
 Magnets for hanging
on the fridge
Can you see the moth in
this picture?
4H Junior Wildlife Stewards (2008)
Set-up:
Each student should receive one precut frame and one or two black-line pictures of butterflies
and/or dragonflies.
Procedure:
Ask students if they know any kind of strategies that animals or insects use to avoid being eaten
by predators. Share with students that in order for some animals to survive, camouflage is
necessary to help protect them from becoming prey. Explain that there are four basic
camouflage strategies that animals are equipped with to enhance their survival. Many animals
use a combination of several strategies at once!
Notes:
The Activity:
1. Have students start by choosing a background fabric.
2. Cut the fabric to fit behind the frames that they have been give.
3. Place the fabric on the table, colorful side up.
4. Put glue on the back of the frame and then paste it down onto
the fabric. Allow this to sit and dry while you work on the
coloring part.
5. Have students choose one type of camouflage strategy and apply
it to their black-line drawings with consideration for the colors
and patterns found on their fabric.
6. Students cut out the colored drawings and paste them to the
background fabric in their picture frames.
7. In the hallway or outside students can prop up their camouflage
frames against a wall or tree.
a. Walk back 5 steps. Can they identify the insect in the
frame?
b. Walk back 15 steps. Can they still see them?
c. Walk back 30 steps. How about now?
Wrap-up:
Have students show off their Camoufly frames to the rest of the class describing what strategy
of camouflage they used and why the colored their insects the way they did.
Assessment (how will students demonstrate their understanding?):
 They will be able to explain their use of colors and pattern in camouflaging their insects
 They will test to see how effective their method was in making their insects blend into
the fabric background.
4H Junior Wildlife Stewards (2008)
Extensions
A. Have students draw and color an animal that they might see out in the woods or in a
park nearby (make sure they press hard with their coloring utensil to make a deeply
colored picture). Cut out the drawings and take them outside. Prop them up against
rocks or trees.
o Walk back 20 feet. Can they see them?
o Walk back 40 feet. Can they see them now?
o Keep moving back from the pictures until they can no longer be seen. (set a
limit so that students don’t leave the park area)
B.
Relevant Books:
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Other Relevant Activities/ Games:
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4H Junior Wildlife Stewards (2008)