Hide the Chameleon
Understand camouflage and contrast: an animal the same colour as its background is hard to see, while a very different colour stands out.
Before you try
What if a bright pink chameleon sat on a green leaf? Who would notice it first?
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What happened?
Move a control to see what changes and why.
Real chameleons do not paint themselves, and they change colour mostly to signal mood and control their temperature, not only to hide. Real camouflage also uses pattern and shape, not just one flat colour.
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Try these ideas
- Hide in the jungle leaves, then use the same colour in the autumn forest. Does the bird find it?
- In a "Stand out!" level, try a colour that is opposite to the background.
- In a "Paint is precious" level, plan every drop before you squeeze.
Why it works
Camouflage means matching your surroundings so that others cannot find your edges. In this game you mix paint until the chameleon is the same colour as the leaves, sand, bark or water behind it, then call a bird to test whether it can be found.
Contrast is the opposite idea. In the "Stand out!" levels a friend is looking for the chameleon, so you want the biggest possible difference from the background. That is why warning signs and safety jackets use colours that clash with their surroundings.
The last levels give only a few drops of paint, so you have to plan the recipe before you squeeze. There are 30 places in all, from jungle leaves to a starry night sky.
Topics covered: camouflage game, chameleon colour game, colour contrast, colour mixing game, animal adaptation.
Check your understanding
Question 1 of 3
Why is a green insect hard to see on a green leaf?
Which colour would stand out most against green leaves?
Why are safety jackets bright orange or yellow?
Explain it in your own words
What changed? Why did it happen? Where might you notice this in everyday life?
For parents & teachers
- Go outside and look for an animal or insect that is hard to see. What makes it hard to spot?
- Ask: which animals want to be seen, and why? Think of poison frogs and peacocks.
- Find three things at home designed to stand out, and three designed to blend in.