Science / Math Lesson 5
Time Frame: 45 minutes / can be a 2 day project
*Camouflage is not a first grade term. However, we discuss the term because it appears in many of the books we read.
Science SOL 1.7 The student will investigate and understand the relationship of seasonal change and weather to the activities and life processes of plants and animals.
Essential Knowledge: Explain why the body coverings of some animals change color with the seasons
Math SOL 1.17 The student will recognize, describe, extend and create a wide variety of growing and repeating patterns.
Essential Knowledge: Create a repeating pattern.
Introduction: Everyone will meet on the carpet. Hold up pictures of animals that are camouflaged. Ask the students, “What do you see in the picture?” (I have some really hard ones – I usually start with them!) Afterwards, discuss the term camouflage. Ask – Why do some animals need to camouflage themselves? Discuss.
Activity : Read aloud What Color is Camouflage? by Carolyn Otto. As I’m reading the story, we’ll discuss the different ways the animals camouflage themselves in the story. We’ll discuss why the body coverings of some animals change colors. After reading the story, I’ll show an example and explain to the students how to create an animal that is camouflaged. (Directions are listed below) Send students back to their seats to begin. I will filter around to assist as needed. As the students complete their animal, they will begin to write a riddle to describe their animal. (Sentence Frames – James Elwell and Stephanie Barber) See an example below. ( FYI - in my class we write a lot of riddles throughout the year to describe things. My class would be able to do this independently. If time is limited, collect the camouflaged animals and have the students write their riddles at another time.)
Closing: The students will bring their animal and riddle to the carpet. Each student will have an opportunity to show his or her animal and read his or her riddle. The other students may raise their hand when they know the answer to the riddle and see the animal in the picture. The student who is sharing may call on someone to answer the riddle and point to the animal in the picture.
Assessment: camouflage animal pictures that are completed correctly
Camouflaged Animals
Supplies needed
2 worksheets per child (1 for background / 1 for animal)
**Example of worksheet (can be easily created on the computer)
Animal stencils (our art teacher drew outlines of various animals for me)
Crayons
Pencil
Scissors
Glue sticks or liquid glue
1. Pass out one worksheet. Students will need to make a pattern as they color the lines with their crayons. They need to color each line neatly (no scribbling). They must use the same pressure on their crayon each time they repeat their pattern. The pattern needs to be consistent.
2. When a student completes the first worksheet, check the pattern. If correct, pass out the second worksheet. The student needs to color the same pattern on the second worksheet.
3. Check second worksheet. If it’s correct and matches the first worksheet, the student may choose an animal stencil. (I spread my stencils out on a table) The student traces the animal stencil on the back (white side) of one of the worksheets. The student cuts it out.
4. Have the student add glue to the back (white side) of the animal they cut out. They glue the animal to the front (side with lines) of the other worksheet. They must line up the lines and colors. The student may need help with this.
5. Allow to dry, the student may begin his or her animal riddle.
Comments:
*I usually give the students the worksheets to color for morning work. It saves time. I don’t tell them what the worksheets are for.
*If you hold the completed project up to a window, you can easily see the animal that is camouflage.
*After we share, I hang the pictures and riddles in the hallway. Students from other classes enjoy reading the riddles and looking for the animals.
Animal Riddle
My animal is ______.
Describe the animal – don’t tell what is
My animal eats ______.
My animal lives ______.
My animal likes to ______.
Can you name the animal?