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Why are polar bears white?

Why are polar bears white?

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tiger

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tiger

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katydid

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katydid

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toad

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toad

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all animals

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moths

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DISCUSS:

Why are polar bears white if they don’t have any predators (other animals that might want to eat them)?

Can you think of how this is helpful to them?

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# Extensions
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the activity and exploration you just completed.
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# Visual Activity: Find the Animal

Here are two galleries of camouflaged animals. Be sure to make the images full screen.

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# Readings

These Common Core aligned readings are free with registration on ReadWorks. All readings include comprehension questions.

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# Video & Discussion: *The Mixed Up Chameleon*

Watch a video of The Mixed Up Chameleon.

Ask your students:

  • Why did the chameleon wish to be himself again?
  • Can you tell me all the ways that the chameleon changed himself?
  • How does being white help a polar bear? Why didn’t it help the chameleon?
  • Being tall helps a giraffe reach leaves high in the trees. Did the chameleon need to be tall?
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Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this lesson, students make observations to construct an explanation of why camouflage is helpful to animals. In the activity, Moth Hide and Seek, students test their ability to spot camouflage moths, and then design a camouflage pattern for a moth of their own and hide it in the classroom!

Preview activity

Exploration

17 mins

Wrap-Up

8 mins

Extend this lesson

Download this Lesson to your device so you can play it offline: