Hide and Seek

Did you know?

Peatlands or bogs are largely featureless and provide little cover for animals to hide behind or under. Most animal species have developed some sort of natural camouflage that helps them find food and avoid attack. The specific nature of this camouflage varies considerably from species to species. An animal's environment is often the most important factor in what the camouflage looks like. The simplest camouflage technique is for an animal to match the "background" of its surroundings. Many animals have developed special adaptations that let them change their coloration as their surroundings change. For example, in Scotland, the mountain hare changes its coat from mottled grey/brown in summer to white in winter.

Before the activity

Play a game of hide and seek. How are they hiding? (behind/under). Do wild animals play these games? Let them choose a toy/ bird to take with them on their adventure – talk about the colours in these toys. See if the toys want to join in the hide and seek game.

Talk about your site visit. What colours can they name? Familiarize the children with the paint colour samples (“someone has dropped a rainbow - I wonder if we’ll find any of these colours where we are going”.

Take hand lenses, paint colour sample strips (from DIY stores), and toys eg RSPB bird toys, for the children. Digital camera.

The activities:

Colour and pattern big and small: On site, look at the colours and shapes in the peatland landscape. Take two views – the wider landscape. What colours can they see? (Large peatland areas appear largely featureless, with few trees). Take an ant’s eye view – a close up of the bog. Using hand lens may help here. (You should discover a miniature landscape of hummocks and hollows made up of a carpet of sphagnum mosses and tiny peat loving plants, creating a jewel-like mosaic of colours). What colours can they see?

Colour match: Let each child choose a paint colour strip. Can they match any of their colours to the patchwork of colours around their feet? Can they find a match and show a friend? Would another section of colour strip work better? Can they find enough colours to make a rainbow?

Bird hide and seek: What colours are we wearing? Who has bright clothes on? Can we see each other easily? Ideally take a variety of bird or other toys from brightly coloured to mottled browns. Each child may want to show their toy the special colours around them. Can they find a place to make a nest? Will it be safe? Stand back as a group and see if you can spot all the toys/ birds. Discuss how peatland birds have to nest or rest on the ground and need to wear matching ‘feather clothes’, whereas many woodland species are tree or hole nesters. If possible take a photograph of their toy or bird in situ, and record the children’s comments..

Remember not to leave any bits or toys on site!

Suggested follow-up

Display and discuss the digital images of the toys/ birds against the backgrounds the children have chosen.

Lay the paint colour strips out and see if the children can find the colours that matched the plants they found.

Look at images of animals that live in peatland and bog habitats eg Red Grouse, curlew, snipe, teal, pinkfoot goose, common frog, adder, common lizard etc.

Make a camouflage collage. Paint a background in a mosaic of colours to represent peat, pools, moss, heather, grasses and sedges. (Refer back to the paint colour strips). Cut out shapes of your chosen wildlife in cardboard and stick on scraps of material in appropriate shapes, colours and patterns to represent these creatures in their peatland habitat. Does their camouflage work?  Or, cut out their own digital image of their toy and make a background to match, against which it can ‘hide’.

Downloads

Good site for further information on camouflage, starting with ‘Where’s Waldo’ and then providing images and games to illustrate animal camouflage. http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/adaptations/camou1.html

Further information on animal camouflage See http://science.howstuffworks.com/animal-camouflage.htm