Our first science experiment last week was about camouflage, specifically why animals have/use camouflage and how it keeps them alive. In our science book there is this experiment that my children really enjoyed. In fact, they asked if they could do it for our next Family Home Evening activity when we invite another family to participate with us.
Step One:
Dump out some M&Ms onto a paper towel and sort them into groups by color. Count the smallest group and then take away as many as you need from the other colors to make them all equal. (So, most of my children had groups of 9.)
Step Two:
Pick three colors of construction paper that match three of the colors of M&Ms. Take seven papers from each of the three colors and tear them into six pieces. Crumple those pieces and throw them into a laundry basket. Line the sides of the laundry basket with six pieces of construction paper, two of each of the three colors.
Step Three:
Dump all of your sorted M&Ms into the laundry basket.
Step Four:
Set a timer for 2 minutes. Start searching for your M&Ms.
Step Five:
Fill in your experiment results and talk about how the M&Ms were camouflaged in the habitat that you created. Ask which color was easiest to find and which was not. Which color would best be suited for the laundry basket habitat?
My children loved this experiment. Eliza found all of her M&Ms. I think next time I'd use mini M&Ms instead of the regular ones. They were just too easy to find! I loved that Jon came down out of his man cave to participate with us. And, despite the fact that we dumped all of the papers from the boys' basket into the girls' basket (so double the habitat), I think he enjoyed himself too!
Comments