Skip to Main Content

Cool Chameleons

Why do chameleons change color? Learn about and draw this fascinating animal.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Talk to the class about chameleons. They are arboreal (meaning they live in trees). They are found in mainly in Madagascar and Africa, but also in Spain, Portugal, Asia, and in rain forests. Note that they are reptiles and that reptiles have been on the planet for over 300 million years. Ask students if they can name any other types of reptiles.

  • Step 2

    Explain that contrary to popular belief they change color mostly as a reaction to temperature and as a social signal to indicate their mood, though sometimes this can help them camouflage themselves.

  • Step 3

    Have students draw a chameleon with crayons. They should create an outline first of the chameleon on the branch before coloring in and of the features. Have them embellish the drawing by going over it with watercolors.

Standards

SCI: Design pictorial or graphic representations/models that are useful in communicating ideas.

SCI: Describe what living organisms have in common (eating, breathing, growing, and reproducing) and distinguish them from non-living things.

Adaptations

Read the book "Born to Stand Out" by Nikki Rogers, a book about a chameleon who finds his true colors. Ask students to reflect on times they felt had to hide their "true colors" in order to fit in.

Chameleons must shed their skin throughout their life to accommodate their growing bodies. Ask students to investigate other animals that do this, such as snakes, frogs, spiders, and even humans!