Animal Vision Exploration

Hey, young Nature Explorer! Today, you're embarking on an eye-opening journey with Animal Vision Exploration. You'll dive into the intriguing world of animal eyes and learn how different species see the world. Get ready for an exciting adventure!

What You'll Need:

  • Curiosity and Imagination
  • ​Nature Journal, and pencils
  • Braille slate and stylus 
  • (Tactile) drawing paper
  • Favorite drawing tools
  • Tactile markers
  • Pictures or images of various animals
  • Everyday household items with different textures to make the animal eyes. For example, textured fabrics and paper, sponges, and rubber bands
  • Internet access for research 
  • Screen reader (if available)
  •  Optional: family member or friend to assist

Instructions:

​Step 1. Animal Eyes:
Go online and find pictures of different animals, such as birds, insects, cats, or snakes. Choose a few animals you find interesting.


Step 2. Learn About Animal Vision:
Research your chosen animal online to learn how they see the world. Uncover information about their unique visual abilities. Consider factors such as color vision, night vision, or peripheral vision.


Step 3. Create an Animal Vision Table:
Create a comparison table in your Nature Journal, digital device, or on (tactile) drawing paper with the following columns: pupil, iris, sclera, eyelid, eyelashes, and eyebrow.
​
  • Describe the visual characteristics of each animal's eyes based on the images you found and enter the information in the table. 
  • If you have low or no vision, use tactile markers to outline the table or create a tactile version for easier data entry. 


Step 4. Tactile Artwork
Create tactile artworks of the animal eyes you researched using your collected art materials. Consider the eye's form, size, pupil changes, eyelids, surrounding hair, feathers, or scales. 


Step 5. Imagine Life as an Animal:
Close your eyes and imagine what it would be like to see the world through the eyes of one of the animals you researched. Think about how their vision would affect their daily life. 


Step ​6. Create a Record:
Write down or sketch your thoughts, imaginings, and what you discovered about how animals see the world in your Nature Journal, braille slate, or on (tactile) paper. This record serves as an excellent reference, enabling you to go over the details of your inquiry anytime.​


Step 7. Questions:
Write the answers to the following questions in your Nature Journal or braille slate.

  1. How do you think the vision of animals like eagles, bats, or cats helps them survive?
  2. In what ways do you think those animals use their unique visual abilities in their daily lives?
  3. How does the vision of animals active at night differ from those active during the day, and what adaptations help them see in low-light conditions?
  4. How might human activities, such as light pollution, impact the vision and behavior of nocturnal animals in urban environments?
  5. What technologies or equipment humans have created to help them see like animals? 
  6. What did you discover about the different ways animals see? How does this information help you value nature?


Step 7. Share Your Discoveries:
Share your unique tactile artwork and animal vision chart with your family, friends, and others important to you!​ Let your creativity ignite discussions about the wonders of nature and inspire others to explore more!


Conclusion:
As you wrap up your exploration of animal vision, think about the remarkable diversity of visual adaptations across species. From nocturnal vision to ultraviolet perception, each adaptation reflects nature's ingenious solutions for survival. This exploration sparks curiosity and appreciation for the complex interactions between animals and their visually dynamic environments.

Image credit: Photograph by Aukid Phumsirichat