Workshops | Lesson Plans | Discussion Questions | Homework Help | School Visits

K -12

Materials:
Assortment of leaves
Collection sacks (optional)
Finger paints
Newspapers
White paper
Colored pencils

Introduction:

Wild horses are famous for blending in with their environments. This is how they stay safe from predators, including people. Briefly discuss the concept of camouflage before going on a walk to find leaves or weeds.

Step One:

Go on a walk. Have students keep their eyes open for insects which use camouflage to stay safe. Remind students to look for a variety of leaves and suggest that recently fallen leaves are best, so they won't be ripping out purposely planted flowers.

Step Two:

On your return to the classroom, allow students time to compare leaves and to sort them by size. Have them select a variety which will fit on their white paper.

Step Three:

Ask students to find the bumpy side of leaves -- the side with veins.

Step Four:

Cover desks (or floor) with newspaper and fold a pressing pad of newsprint (just fold newspaper to a manageable size for step six).

Step Five:

Use fingers to spread paint on bumpy side of leaves.

Step Six:

Have students place leaves, paint side down, on white paper, then use the pressing pad created in step four to gently press leaves so that they print on the paper.

Step Seven:

Gently remove newspaper, then leaves (ideally with clean fingers) and marvel at the prints.

Step Eight:

Let prints dry completely.

Step Nine:

Have students use colored pencils matched to their finger paint hues to draw horses partly hidden by leaves. Size and proportion are not important. Please see teacher notes below.

Step Ten:

Create your own classroom art gallery. Invite an audience so your students can revel in the compliments and reinforce what the lesson taught by explaining camouflage to visitors.

Teacher Tips:

• This project is especially successful with students who think they're not artistic. They needn't draw well, because parts of the horses are hidden and they can choose the parts they're not confident in drawing.
• Students may draw any animal which uses camouflage, including snakes, which are pretty simple.
• Older or more sophisticated students may point out that their horses are disproportionate to the leaves. You may want to suggest that the leaves are symbolic of the natural world the horses inhabit.