Although children often characterize animals by the animals' color or pattern, the children seldom understand the evolutionary and ecological factors that favor particular colors. In this article, we describe two activities that help students understand the distinct evolutionary strategies of warning coloration and camouflage. Because both of…

Color, texture, line, shape, and form are just some of the words the author's students learn as they study the environment around them. In this article, the author describes an art lesson wherein her fifth grade students look at the richness of form, pattern, and color in different animals. This lesson on close-up views helps her students see the…

In teaching drawing and painting, the author encourages students' creative spirits. She also encourages creative writing to accompany their artwork. Colorful language in their written work and personal response to an artwork makes a complete, meaningful lesson. In this mixed-media exploration, using animals as a theme, third-grade artists explored…