Kaeda Boyles, Heather Fink, Ellen Kapitan, Suzy Lyttle, Nicole Pakan, Allison Pfeifer, Sarah Tuttle, and Rod Williams

Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

This activity will teach students how animals use coloration to stay alive within their environments.

Lesson Plan Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Teacher’s Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Frog Tally Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Vocabulary Worksheet & Key . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Camo Frogs Picture & Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Bright Frogs Picture & Key . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Animal Line Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Animal Coloration Photo Examples . . . . . 17

w w w . p u r d u e . e d u / n a t u r e

FNR-470-W

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Estimated Time60 minutes

Vocabulary• Coloration• Aposematiccoloration• Crypticcoloration• Sexualdimorphism

Lesson ObjectiveStudentswillbeabletoidentifyandgiveexamplesofdifferentcolorationstrategiesandindicatehowtheyaffectananimal’sbehaviorandsurvival.

Targeted Grade-Level Indiana Standards Math

2.1.8;2.1.9;2.1.123.1.2;3.1.10;3.1.13;4.2.3;4.3.2;4.6.2;4.6.35.1.1;5.1.4;5.1.5;5.2.1;5.2.2;5.2.5

Science

2.2.5;2.4.1;2.4.43.1.2;3.1.3;3.2.1;3.2.5;3.4.1;3.4.2;3.4.34.2.4;4.5.45.4.4;5.4.5;5.4.7;5.5.1;5.5.10

Required Materials• CamoFrogsPictureandKey• BrightFrogsPictureandKey• FrogTallyAandBWorksheets• AnimalLineDrawings• AnimalColorationPhotoExamples• ForestEcosystemPoster• VocabularyWorksheetandKey• Thickpaperforanimalprintouts• Crayons/markers

Reference MaterialsSeeteacher’snotes.

Lesson Plan Overview

Authors Kaeda Boyles, Heather Fink, Ellen Kapitan, Suzy Lyttle, Nicole Pakan, Allison Pfeifer, Sarah Tuttle, and Rod Williams

Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank the Indiana licensed teachers Mrs. Ahnert and Mrs. Garrett for allowing this plan to be presented in their classrooms, and for their thoughtful reviews of this lesson plan.

The authors would like to give a special thanks to their fellow students in the Nature of Service Learning class for providing helpful ideas and critiques on previous versions of this publication.

Purdue University Agricultural Communication Service • Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service • Editor: Steve Leer • Designer: Dan Annarino

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Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material may be available in alternative formats.

Apr. 2013

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Procedure1. ShowCamo Frogspictureontheoverhead

orprojector.Havethestudentsquietlycounthowmanyfrogstheycanfindin30secondsandrecordthatnumberontheFrogTallyworksheet(worksheetAforpiechartingorworksheetBforbargraphing).

2. ShowtheBright Frogspictureandhavethestudentsquietlycounthowmanyfrogstheycanfindin30seconds.RecordthatnumberontheFrogTallyworksheetchoseninstep1.

3. ShowtheCamo Frogs KeyandthentheBright Frogs Key.Pointoutthelocationsoffrogstothestudents.Thereare10frogsineachpicture.UsingeitherFrog Tally work-sheet A or B,helpthestudentscalculatethepercentageoffrogstheyfoundineachpicture.Illustratethisusingthepiechartand/orbargraphprovided.HavestudentsanswerQuestion1.

4. Discussreasonsforobserveddifferencesinnumberoffrogsbetweenthetwopictures(somefrogsareusingcrypticcolorationandsomeareusingaposematiccoloring).

5. Explainthatanimalsuseavarietyof colorationstrategiestostayalive.Define andthenshowexamplesofaposematiccoloration,crypticcoloration,andsexual/genderdimorphism.

• Aposematic coloration:skunk, coralsnake

• Cryptic coloration:Fowler’stoad, arctichare

• Sexual/gender dimorphism:cardinal,mallard

6. Giveeachstudentoneofthebirdorfrogcoloringsheets(theteacherwillneedtohandoutrepresentativesofallsheetspro-vided).Eachcoloringsheethasadescriptionofcryptic,aposematic,maleorfemale.Studentsshouldcolortheiranimalaccordingtothedescriptiononthesheet.Forexample:a. Femalebirdsandcrypticfrogswill

needtoblendintotheirsurroundings.Studentsshouldcolorthemearthtoneslikegreen,brown,and/orblack.

b.Malebirdshaveshowycolorsthatattractafemale.Studentsshouldusebrightcolorsforthese.

c. Aposematicfrogsissueawarningsign.Studentsshouldcolorthesefrogswithbrightcolorsandboldpatterns.

7. Afterthestudentshavecoloredtheiranimalsheet,theywillthenactouttheanimal’sdefensestrategy.Toaccomplishthis,theteacherwillactasapredator(bobcat,hawk,wolf,snake,etc.)andthestudentswillrespondinthefollowingways:aposematicandmaleanimalswillstandupandholdtheirground;crypticandfemaleanimalswillfreezeinplaceand/orhide.Studentsthatdonotexhibittheproperbehaviorwillbecapturedbytheteacheruntilthenextround.

8. Asaconclusion,havethestudentsrevieweachcolorationstrategyandfillouttheVocabulary Worksheet.

9. Ashomeworkorasecondclassroomactivity,havethestudentspickoneoftheiranimalsandwriteastoryaboutit.

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Teacher’s NotesAnimal coloration,whichcanincludeboththecolorationandpatternsofcoloronananimal’sbody,mayaffectthebehavior(activeduringthedayvs.nighttime)andsurvivalofmanyspeciesintheanimalkingdom.Thecolorationofananimalcanhelpitblendintoitsenvironment(crypsis)ormakeitstandout(aposematic).Inthislesson planwecompareandcontrastafewdifferent colorationstrategies:aposematicvs.crypticand ofmalesvs.females.

Aposematic Coloration vs. Cryptic ColorationAnanimalutilizingaposematic coloration,orwarningcoloration,isalertingotheranimalsthatitispotentiallydangerous.Thesebrightlycoloredandboldlypatternedanimalsstandoutintheirenviron-mentandadvertisethattheymaybepoisonous,venomous,ortastebad.Animalsthathaveaposematiccolorationoftenmoveslowlyandareactiveduringthedaylighthours.Afewexamplesofanimalswithaposematiccolorationareskunks,poisonarrowfrogs,bees,coralsnakes,red-spottednewtsandmonarchbutterflies.Ananimalutilizingcryptic colorationblendsintoitssurroundings.Acrypticallycoloredanimalmayhavecolorationthatbreaksupitsoutlineorthatmatchesitemsinitshabitatsuchasrocks,leavesandtreebark.Animalsthatdisplaythiscolorationstrategywillattempttohideduringthedaylighthoursandbecomeactiveatnight.Crypticcolor-ationusuallyinvolvesablotchypatternofbrowns,tans,greens,oranycolorfromtheirenvironment.Someanimalsarecapableofchangingtheircolor-ationseasonallytomatchtheirsurroundings,likethesnowshoehare,thatchangesitswhitewinter

colorationtobrowninthesummer.Examplesofcrypticallycoloredanimalsarebobcats,deer,hornedlizards,greenfrogsandwalkingstickinsects.Insummary,bothaposematicandcrypticcolor-ationhelpincreaseananimal’ssurvival,buttheyworkindifferentways.Ananimalwithaposematiccolorationisgoingtodisplayitsbrightcolorsandpatternstoapredator,relyingonthepredator’sknowledgethatthisanimalwillbedangeroustoeat.Acrypticanimalwilltrytohideandblendintoitssurroundings,relyingonitscolorationtomakeitinvisibletothepredator.

Sexual/Gender Dimorphic ColorationSexualorgender dimorphism(sexualdimorphismisthescientificterm;however,dependingonagegroupandmaturity,gendermaybesubstituted)isthedifferencebetweenmalesandfemaleswithinaspeciesofanimal,and,inthiscase,thedifferencesincoloration.Thisphenomenonismostnoticeableinbirdsbutcanoccurinothertypesofanimals.Typically,themaleisbrightlycoloredtosignalheisthebestmateforfemalesortoattracttheatten-tionofapredatorwhenamalefleesthenest.Females,ontheotherhand,aregenerallydullerincolorationbecausetheymusttendtothenestaftereggsarelaid.Ifafemaleisbrightlycoloredwhilesittingonanest,apredatorcouldeasilyfindherandthenpotentiallyeatherortheyoung.Exam-plesofanimalsthatdisplaysexuallydimorphiccolorationarenortherncardinals(themalesarebrightred,whereasfemalesaregray/tancolor),mallards(maleshaveagreenhead,whereasfemalesarebrown),andring-neckedpheasants(malesarebrightlycoloredwithgreenandred,whereasfemalesarebrown).

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Frog Tally A Worksheet

How many frogs can you find in each picture in 30 seconds?

Camo Frogs Picture

I found: _________ of ________ frogs.

OR

I found: ______________ % of the frogs.

Bright Frogs Picture

I found: _________ of ________ frogs.

OR

I found: ______________ % of the frogs.

Pie Charts

Question 1 - Did you find more frogs in the first or second picture? Why?

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Frog Tally B Worksheet

How many frogs can you find in each picture in 30 seconds?

Camo Frogs Picture

I found: _________ of ________ frogs.

OR

I found: ______________ % of the frogs.

Bright Frogs Picture

I found: _________ of ________ frogs.

OR

I found: ______________ % of the frogs.

Bar Graph

Question 1 - Did you find more frogs in the first or second picture? Why?

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___________________________________________________________________________________ Picture 1 Picture 2

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Vocabulary Worksheet

WORD BANKGender Dimorphism Cryptic Coloration Aposematic Coloration

1. ________________________________ An animal using bright colors to warn predators to stay away.

2. ________________________________ An animal that blends into the environment and hides.

3. ________________________________ When males and females are colored differently.

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Vocabulary Worksheet — KEY

WORD BANKGender Dimorphism Cryptic Coloration Aposematic Coloration

1. ________________________________ An animal using bright colors to warn predators to stay away.

2. ________________________________ An animal that blends into the environment and hides.

3. ________________________________ When males and females are colored differently.

Aposematic Coloration

Cryptic Coloration

Gender Dimorphism

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Camo Frogs Picture

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Camo Frogs Picture — KEY

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Bright Frogs Picture

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Bright Frogs Picture — KEY

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Animal Line Drawing

MALE BIRD

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Animal Line Drawing

FEMALE BIRD

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Animal Line Drawing

APOSEMATIC FROG

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Animal Line Drawing

CRYPTIC FROG

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

Animal Coloration PhotoAposematic Example

SKUNK

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

CORAL SNAKE

Animal Coloration PhotoAposematic Example

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

FOWLER’S TOAD

Kath

erin

e W

hitt

enm

ore/

USF

WS

Animal Coloration PhotoCryptic Example

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

ARTIC HARE

Animal Coloration PhotoCryptic Example

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

FEMALE CARDINAL MALE CARDINAL

Animal Coloration PhotoCryptic Example

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Coloration Exploration Lesson Plan

FEMALE MALLARD MALE MALLARD

Animal Coloration PhotoCryptic Example