48.13 in Curtis, Barnes. 1989. 48.11 in Campbell. 8 in Wickler. This activity is designed to simulate mimicry in nature. Various assorted materials can be used to represent prey.
Students represent predators.
Materials used to represent prey should be edible and should come in varying colors. Choose two colors that most closely match to represent the mimic and the model. Select one of these colors and alter its taste by placing in an unpleasant substance such as Tabasco or concentrated lemon extract. This one will represent the model and the closely matching color not treated with an unpleasant substance will represent the mimic. Teacher needs to prepare the unpleasant materials sufficiently in advance to allow materials to become thoroughly dry.