======Candy Camouflage======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
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**Alternative titles:** M&M Predator–Prey Challenge
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Wash hands so the candies remain clean and edible afterward.
  - Prepare two bags of candy:
      * Bag 1: 10 M&M’s of each color (yellow, blue, green, brown, red, orange) plus 10 red Skittles.
      * Bag 2: 10 M&M’s of each color plus 10 yellow Skittles.
  - Pour the contents of one bag into a pie tin or sturdy paper plate.
  - Explain rules: Players (2–4) pretend to be birds with beaks (use pointer finger and thumb). They must collect M&M’s but avoid Skittles (poisonous prey).
  - Set a timer for 20 seconds. On “Go,” predators collect as many M&M’s as possible using their “beak.”
  - When the timer ends, stop hunting. Count and record the number of each candy collected, noting any Skittles accidentally picked up.
  - Return candies to the bag and repeat with the second bag.
  - After both rounds, compare results to see which M&M colors were avoided due to their similarity to Skittles.



====Links==== 
Candy Camouflage STEM Activity - Science Buddies: 
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📄 Candy Camouflage STEM Activity - Science Buddies: [[https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/candy-camouflage]]\\


====Variations====
  * Play multiple rounds to simulate natural selection: after each round, double the number of surviving M&M’s and continue.
  * Use other candy types (Candy Corn, Nerds) to change camouflage difficulty.
  * Show photos of camouflaged animals and time how long it takes for people to spot them.
  * Try outdoors with natural objects (rocks, leaves, seeds) to mimic camouflage in habitats.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Supervise young children to prevent choking on small candies.
  * Remind players not to eat candy until the activity is finished.
  * Ensure hands are washed before and after playing.
  * Use sturdy containers to prevent candy spills.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Which M&M colors were collected the least? Why? (They mimicked the poisonous Skittles.)
  * How does mimicry increase survival in the wild? (Predators avoid prey that look like poisonous or dangerous animals.)
  * What other camouflage strategies do animals use besides mimicry?
  * What might happen to a predator population if prey develop effective camouflage?
  * How does this game connect to real examples like Monarch and Viceroy butterflies?