Introduction
This webquest is designed to help students understand what, how and who uses camouflage as well as why it's used. Students will research to find out more about camouflage , and provide an example of what is using it, why are they using it, how are they using it and why are they using it.
Ms. Soto
3rd grade Life Science Teacher
Sweet Grass Elementary
Charlston, SC
Hello Class! Come join me on this journey to discover what camouflage is. Lets learn what it is, and who uses it? Is camouflage always the same color or material? Why is it used? Mr. Green will be going to the African Safari to study animals. Mr. Green wants to make sure he can study the animals without interupting and scaring them away. He will need all the help he can get.
Task
Can you tell me what camouflage is?
Can you give me an example of who uses camouflage?
Can you tell me an example of why camouflage is used?
Give examples to best camouflage yourself when your outside.
We will begin by learning what camoflage is. Once we all have a good understanding about camoflage we will learn about animals using camoflague and why they need it. We will be paired up with a buddy and answer a list of questions about the insect given to you. Next, we will create a poster about our insect, and why it's important that they use comouflage. The insects will be Lizards, Geckos, Stick Bug, Praying Mantis, Leaf Bug, Green Caterpillar. We will present the poster to Mr.Green to help him learn more about comoflage.
Goals:
Describe what camoflague is.
Describe someone or something who uses camoflage.
Explain why camoflage is used.
Be able to explain what you should wear or look like according to your surroundings.
What we KNOW What I WANT to know What I will LEARN
| people wear it to hunt | Is all camouflage the same |
What camouflage does for things |
| It can be green/brown | Do animals use it |
Times when camouflage is used |
| All animals and insects have predators or are prey | What is important about it | The reasons why we need camouflage |
Process
DAY 1:
Learn about Camouflage in a powerpoint (made by the teacher).
Pair up with a buddy and each group will be assigned an insect to study.
Each group will do some research about their insect:
- Where does your insect live?
- Find a picture of your animal and print it.Tell what your insect looks like?
- What color is it?
- Why does it need camouflage?
- What size is your insect? (Smaller or larger than your hand)
- What does your insect eat/drink?
- Does it need camouflage for protection to hide or to scare off others?
- Is your animal always camouflaged?
- Does is make any sounds?
- Does your insect look like it's surroudings?
- Write down three important camouflage facts that you can tell Mr. Green.
Lets play a game to see if you can find some hidden insects or animals:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/hidden%20animals/Hidden%20Amphibians/frog.html
DAY 2:
Let's do some investigating... Lets all go outside with your notebook. With your partner examine the trees, grass, bushes, side walks and anywhere you think you could find an animal or insect using it's disguise. If you find anything draw and write in your notebook about what you saw. Tell what the insect or animal was camouflaged with, and draw and color a picture. Write three facts about what you saw. This will help you understand a little more about camouflaging and finish answering any questions you might still have about it.
Now, let's make a poster about your insect! First we will need some paper, glue, Markers and all the facts you learned about your insect.
Make sure to answer all questions on your poster. Make it look nice and neat.
Dont forget to add a picture too and most of all tell why you'r insect needs camoflage.
Lets see just how much information we learned about camouflage. After we finish our posters let do an activity to see if we can choose the right colors and backgrounds for animals to be well hidden and out of site.
Camouflage Activity:http://www.abc.net.au/beasts/playground/camouflage.htm
DAY 3:
Let's do another activity. The teacher will pass out a blank piece of paper and a picture of a lizard. You may color the blank piece of paper any color you'd like. Next we have to color the lizard so it will blend in to the picture. A good idea is to color a little, and then place it in your picture to see if it sticks out or blends in, and then keep coloring until you think it would blend in all the way.
Mr. Green is coming to our class to see the posters we made. Each group will get to show their poster and tell about their insect. Then they will tell Mr. Green their three important facts they learned about camouflage. It will be such a big help to tell him how he should camouflage when he goes to the African Safari to study the animals. Give him an idea of what your insect looked like with it's surroundings as well as any sounds the insect made to keep it camouflaged.
Evaluation
GROUP Grading Rubric:
| Category | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | SCORE: |
| Research | Did little or no research | Did reseach, but did not answer questions | Did research, and answered less than 3 questions | Did research, and answered all questions | Did research, and answered all questions and went above and beyond | |
| Journal | Wrote barely any info with no drawing | Drew picture, but did not list any facts | Drew and colored picture and listed only 1 fact | Drew and colored picture and listed 2 facts | Drew and colored picture, listed all three facts and went above and beyond | |
| Poster and Facts for Mr. Green | Did not cover all material and is not neat | Covered most of all material with no picture | Covered all material and included picture | covered all material, picture, neat and creative | covered all material, picture, , neat and creative | |
| Lizard Activity | Did not color picture or lizard | did not color picture only lizard | colored lizard and picture | colored lizard and picture and looks somewhat hidden | colored lizard and picture and looks well camouflaged | |
| Teamwork | Students did not work well together | Students talked mostly, but got some work done | Students got most work done, but not all but worked well together | students got all work done and worked well together | students worked well together and got all work done in a timely manner, and went above and beyond |
OVERALL SCORE: /25
INDIVIDUAL GRADING RUBRIC:
| Basic | Proficient | Advanced | |
| Group Member Participation | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Group Member Communication | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| How effective your group worked together | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| TOTAL | /9 |
Conclusion
Now you know all about Camouflage, what is it, what is does, and why it's important! You have all helped Mr. Green know just what to do to camouflage himself for his trip to the African Safari where he will study animals without interupting them. You have found examples of camouflage as well as made your own examples. All students should know why camouflage is important, and needed by animals and insects. We have played games to further our knowledge and made a fun fact filled poster with all of our finding about our insects.