Camouflage for Kids: How Animals Hide in Plain Sight (Grade 3 Science)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Some animals are amazing at hide and seek. They can be right in front of you, and you still might not see them! Today we will learn about camouflage.

Camouflage is a color, pattern or shape that helps an animal blend in with its surroundings. It helps prey hide from predators, and it helps predators sneak up on their prey.

Some animals match the color of their home. A polar bear's white fur blends in with snow and ice. A green frog hides among green leaves near a pond, so hungry birds pass it by.

The snowshoe hare changes its coat with the seasons. In summer its fur is brown, like the forest floor. In winter it grows white fur, like the snow. It stays hidden all year long.

Patterns and shapes help too. A tiger's stripes break up its outline in tall grass. Some insects even look like objects. A stick insect looks like a twig, and a leaf insect looks like a leaf.

A few animals can change color quickly. An octopus can change both the color and the bumpy texture of its skin in less than a second, to match the rocks and coral around it.

Now it's your turn. Two moths rest on dark tree bark. One moth is dark and one is pale. Which one is harder for a hungry bird to spot? Pause and try. The dark moth, because it blends in with the bark!

Great job! Remember, camouflage helps animals blend in using color, pattern, shape, or quick color changes. Blending in helps animals survive. Practice camouflage in the Science Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!