Behavioral Adaptations

Behavioral adaptation is a change in the way that animals act in order to stay
alive and reproduce. For example, Herons, wetland birds, migrate from cold
countries to warmer areas like the UAE in winter.
My lesson objective is to understand how camouflage protects prey from
predator.
Scientific Question
How does an animal adapt to protect itself from predators?
Materials
1. Red colored mat.
2. Colored balls.
3. Plastic Bowl.
Procedure
Number of players: 4
1. One player will put the balls in the bowl and place the mat on table,
then spread the coloured balls randomly on the mat without

looking.
2. All players step back 10 steps from the position of the mat.
3. Each player counts the number of the Yellow, the Blue and the Red
Balls to record in the Results table.
4. Compare your results with your friends’.

Results

Yellow Balls Blue Balls Red Balls

Number of Balls Number of Balls Number of Balls
Actual From a Actual From a Actual From a
Distance Distance Distance

Calculate the
difference:
(Actual - from a
Distance)
Conclusion
Write a conclusion on your results and explain the science behind the
conclusion. Use the following key words: Behavioral adaptation,
camouflage, predator, prey.

If you were the player who spread the colored balls, were your results
different from your classmates’? If yes, why do you think this happened?

Extra Challenge
Research one animal which can change its color immediately, depending
on the environment around it. Write a one paragraph summary of your
research.

Hint: Chameleon, Octopus.