Color Communicators

Animal Adaptations: Students color a chameleon and pin it up somewhere in the classroom. Can you find their camouflaged chameleons?! - inspired by the Children's Museum of Houston Butterfly Hunt.

Why chameleons change color, not for camouflage, but to communicate - NatGeo

Visit Education.com for a chameleon color changing experiment!

Literacy Connection: The Mixed Up Chameleon by Eric Carle

Writing: What is your chameleon trying to communicate? For example, if he changed to blend in with the map, does he want to travel?

You could also do this activity with octopi or cuttlefish templates.

chameleon template

Note: You could also trace the shape of the chameleon on wax paper. Have students place the template over things to make the chameleon change. Check out Pieces by Polly

Rattlesnake Eggs!

Explore animal adaptations, while playing a prank on your class! All you need is an envelope, one paperclip, and a rubber band. When someone opens the envelope, they jump back because the sound of a rattlesnake projects from inside!

Click here for a video tutorial (easy construction: 3 materials)
Check out the prank in action here! (Instructions with metal washer or button)
Instructions here using 2 clips
Instructions with soda cap

After you scare everyone, ask kids, "Why do rattlesnakes have a special tail?"

Molting Experiment

photo credit: lizard-fle-pics, snake-dkimages.com

Cool Bug Stuff conducted an experiment to demonstrate how snakes, lizards, and bugs shed their skin / exoskeleton, when they grow and molt. Spread glue on one of your hands and let dry. "Slowly peel dried glue off and discuss the different insects and reptiles that shed or molt." For more bug experiments, activities, teaching ideas, and even recipes, visit Cool Bug Stuff