The Color of the Seasons
Field Study 1
Overview: Using color students relate seasonal changes to changes in habitat conditions of birds.

Time: 30-45 minutes

Location: Outdoors

Learner Outcomes:

  1. Students will be able to correctly categorize colors typically associated with a particular season.
  2. Students will create graphs which illustrate which color of bird is adapted to which season.

Vocabulary

  1. Camouflage
  2. Migration
  3. Seasons

Materials

  1. Laminated circles divided into quarters with the seasons labeled.
  2. Picture of ptarmigan in summer and in winter
  3. Pictures of various colored birds.

Preparation

  1. Designate four areas of similar coloring for student groups to hide play-dough birds.

Clean-Up

  1. Return natural objects.

Season Pies

Ask. . .

  1. What are the four seasons we have in the San Luis Valley?
  2. What season are you visiting the Refuge?
  3. What does fall/winter/spring and summer-sound/taste/smell/look/feel like?

Explain. .

  1. We are going to use our sense of SIGHT to explore the colors of all the seasons in the San Luis Valley. Each season of the year has a unique set of colors.

Do. . .

  1. Have students collect as many different colored natural objects as they can in 5 minutes. Sit in a large circle and show students the season pie chart. (see left).
  2. Go through each season and have students bring up colors that corresponds to each season.

Discuss. . .

  1. Why do we find certain colors in certain seasons.
    • Fall (orange, yellows, browns)- leaves changing, seeds
    • Winter (white, brown, blues) snow, plant dormant, frozen water
    • Spring (browns, yellow greens)- sprouting plants
    • Summer (all colors, shades of green)- Flowers, green plants

Bird Blending

Explain. . .

  1. We are going to do an experiment to find out what colored bird is best adapted for this season.
  2. Divide the students into four groups: green, brown, red, yellow. Each group will create10 birds using play-dough. Have each group hide their birds in plainsight, their birds in a 20'X8' area.
  3. After the students have placed their birds, have them line up facing away from the hiding area.
  4. Once all birds are hidden, have the group turn around and observe (without moving).
  5. How many birds did you see? Record your results in their journals.

Discuss. . .

  1. Based on our results, which bird was hidden the best for this season?
    " Where do the rest of the birds go, if this isn't a safe place for them to blend in?
  2. Migration to southern places where they blend in with the tropical plants.
  3. Some birds don't migrate but change coloring, like the ptarmigan (show picture).

Do. . .

  1. Have students collect and return the play-doh to the corresponding container for the next group.

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