The activity helps students explore the importance of adaptations in the survival of animals by focusing on bird beaks.

Adaptation

Structural Adaptations

beak

bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students will be able to :

• Define the term adaptation
•  Give  2 examples of specific animal adaptations and explain how  these  adaptations help animals survice in their environment. 

45 minutes

Bird photos

 2 or three of the following: Tweezers; Chopsticks; Spoon

1 Small strainer

1 Tongs (flat and pointed)

1 pliers

5 containers

Beads,

seeds

plastic insects

soft sponge or something that can be torn to represent meat

narrow vase or container- like a bud vase  or plastic ketchup bottle

(Can also flowers, logs,etc to make it look more realistic)

W: Students examine birds and their beaks to help understand that all animals have specific adaptations for a speciific environment.

H: Students will visit stations exploring different tools to mimic bird beaks and choose the best tool for obtaining food.

E: Students will have the opportunity to

R: Students will complete a student sheet  and share their information with others.

E: Students will have the chance to go back and retry stations to redo their choices before they complete the final worksheet.

T: All students will have the opportunity to try visit all stations to complete their work; students will work in small groups and help each other at the stations.

O: Teacher will explain the objectives of the lesson. Students will then circulate between stations to explore the various "beaks" and "food".

Preparation:

Before the lesson, set up 5 stations  as follows:

Station 1:  rubber worms in dirt or kitty litter  tools: chopsticks, tongs, spoon

Station 2:  insects  or rice on a log  tools: tweezers, straw , spoon

Station 3: Water in a container with small bits of paper floating in it  tools: small strainer; spoon, tongs

Station 4:  Seeds and large beads on a log  tools: pliers, spoon, chopsticks

Station 5: narrow vase with water  tools: spoon, straw or dropper, tweezers

 

Lesson:

1. Divide your class into 5 teams and give each team  Student Worksheet 1. Assign each team to one station to begin.
2. Explain that they should try to pick up the food with each of the untensils and decide which works best. Each student should have a chance to try each utensil.  Allow enough time at each station for each student in the group to try all of the utensils. Students should  record  their responses  on their worksheet in the appropriate blocks. 
3. Have studetns rotate through each sttion.
4. When class regroups, have each team explain why they thought a particular tool worked best for each food. 
5. Next, hand-out Worksheet 2- Bird Beak Matching sheet.  Ask students to look at the bird beaks and compare the beaks to the different tools that were used at the stations. Label each beak with the tool they think best matches.  Discuss as a class and allow students to change their labels if needed
6. Now, have students match the bird with their foods . Go over with class.  
7. Wrap-up.  Hold up additional photos of birds and have students describe the bird beaks and predict what the birds might eat based on their beak shape.   Make sure students can explain their reasoning.

Extension:  Provide students with a photo or picture of a bird and ask them to predict what the bird might eat. Then have them research the bird and present basic information to the class  to include bird name, food, habitat, nesting habits and an interesting fact they discovered about the bird.

 

Teacher will monitor students progress with stations  and worksheets. Teacher will re-explain if needed and/or  allow students to return to stations for further exploration if needed.

www.pgc.state.pa  (PA Game Commission)

 

www. audubon.org  (National Audubon Society)

Birds and Beaks from PA songbirds. PA Songbirds is a curriculum supplement sponsored by the PA Game Commission, Audubon PA and DCNR, Bureau of State Parks.

Adaptations Birds beaks bills

Adapted from Bird Beak Buffet from Naturescope and Birds and Beaks from PA Songbirds by Denise Hansen, Gina Mason Nikki Spindleer and Theresa Alberici

September 30, 2010