Prior to beginning the project with the students, search the Internet or old magazines for pictures of rainforest animals that blend in with their environment such as tree frogs, leopards, glass-wing butterflies, leaf katydids, two-toed sloths, and fer-de-lance snakes. Also collect pictures of animals that stand out from their environment like the poison-arrow frogs, tiger-wing butterflies, macaws and slug caterpillars. Then combine both sets in an envelope for students to separate based on whether the animal is camouflaged or not.
Begin the project by asking the students if they play hide and seek with their friends or family. Ask if they think animals play hide and seek. Read the story "Where Did Bunny Go?" by Nancy Tafuri about a bunny who plays hide and seek with his friends. Explain that animals really do hide in nature when they use the colors on their bodies to blend with the area around them. This strategy for hiding is known as camouflage.
Show the students a picture of a camouflaged animal and ask if the animal can hide easily. Ask the students to explain why. Then show the students of an animal that is not camouflaged asking the same questions. Finally, let the students separate the pictures in the envelope into two groups: animals that are camouflaged and animals that aren't. Conclude the discussion by reviewing which animals belong in each group and why, allowing the students to define camouflage in their own words.
Instruct students to search through old science and nature magazines or the Internet for a picture of their favorite rainforest species to cut out or print. Remind them to remove the background so only the animal remains and then glue it to a piece of construction paper.
Next, direct the students to decide whether they will use cryptic coloration or disguise to camouflage their animal and to create a safe environment for their animal using paint, markers, construction paper, magazine illustrations and any other available materials.
When all students have completed their habitats have the class evaluate each project to determine which type of camouflage was used and how easy it is to spot the animal hidden within the created habitat.
Print pictures from the internet or visit a craft store to find fabric that represents some of the different habitats of the rainforest. Discuss the different habitats where butterflies might be found, from the leaf-littered forest floor to trunks of trees to the leafy canopy or brilliant tropical flowers. Have the students consider how animals living in these habitats might protect themselves from predators. Introduce the concept of camouflage, explaining that the coloration of some insects, including butterflies, allows them to blend into their environment.
Give each student a butterfly diagram, a crayon set that matches one of the habitats (pre-packed by the teacher) and a data sheet. Instruct the children to color their butterfly using only the crayons in their pack. An interesting twist would be to have some students create a glass-wing butterfly by cutting out sections of the interior of the wings.
Then have students use their data sheets to predict the habitat in which their butterfly would be the safest. Finally have students gather in small groups to test their hypotheses by taping their butterflies to each habitat and evaluating how easily they are seen.
Provide students with three types of wrapping paper, one patterned and two of different solid colors. Instruct the students to cut out twelve animals that use camouflage like butterflies, lizards or frogs from each of the paper types.
Blindfold one student and place one full piece of patterned paper on the floor, arranging all 36 cutout animals on it. Set a timer for 10 seconds and instruct the blindfolded student to uncover his eyes and pick up as many animals as possible in 10 seconds. Repeat this procedure with 10 different students.
Tally the results and compare the average patterned animal captures with solid animal captures. Have students determine if there is a difference between the two groups and explain why or why not.