Birds' Bills
Summary
Students will compare and contrast different kinds of birds' bills and categorize pictures. After drawing the bills in each category, they will then compare the bill types with common household items.
CollapseLearning Goals
This activity is designed for students to :
1)compare and contrast birds' bills with common objects
2)observe how some features of birds allow them to live in specific environments.
1)compare and contrast birds' bills with common objects
2)observe how some features of birds allow them to live in specific environments.
Context for Use
Grades K, 1, 2
Classroom setting; small group work or whole class
30-40 minutes
Materials Needed:
1) pictures of birds with a variety of types of bills (probing, hooked, seed cracking, insect catching, straw-like, strainer-like, etc.-- at least two examples of each). The number needed depends on whether the activity is done as a whole group or in small groups where each group needs pictures of each type.
2)tweezers, nut pick, nutcracker, straw, strainer, skewer
3)book on birds such as Counting Is for the Birds by Frank Mazzola, Jr., Scholastic books
3)white paper and pencils or journals if used in class
This lesson would be a part of a unit on birds and presented early in the unit when learning about bird characteristics.
Classroom setting; small group work or whole class
30-40 minutes
Materials Needed:
1) pictures of birds with a variety of types of bills (probing, hooked, seed cracking, insect catching, straw-like, strainer-like, etc.-- at least two examples of each). The number needed depends on whether the activity is done as a whole group or in small groups where each group needs pictures of each type.
2)tweezers, nut pick, nutcracker, straw, strainer, skewer
3)book on birds such as Counting Is for the Birds by Frank Mazzola, Jr., Scholastic books
3)white paper and pencils or journals if used in class
This lesson would be a part of a unit on birds and presented early in the unit when learning about bird characteristics.
Description and Teaching Materials
1.Begin by asking students what they know about birds. (size, color, feathers, etc.)
2.Ask students to draw on the board what birds' bills look like.
3.Read the book Counting Is for the Birds and discuss the various bills and their characteristics.
4.Divide the students into groups (or continue as a whole group). Give each group the bird pictures. Ask them to sort them into groups of like bills. Encourage discussion among the group members as to why each bird fits in that group.
5.After agreeing on the groups, each student draws pictures of each kind of bill in their journal or on white paper.
6.Next, give each group the household objects-tweezers, nut pick, nutcracker, straw, strainer, skewer-and have them match the object with the bills that are similar to that object.
7.As a whole class, discuss how each kind of bill helps the bird get food and what kind of food they eat. Other discussion topics could include where the birds live to find this food, what other uses birds have for their bills (nest building, etc.), and what other birds have these kinds of bills.
2.Ask students to draw on the board what birds' bills look like.
3.Read the book Counting Is for the Birds and discuss the various bills and their characteristics.
4.Divide the students into groups (or continue as a whole group). Give each group the bird pictures. Ask them to sort them into groups of like bills. Encourage discussion among the group members as to why each bird fits in that group.
5.After agreeing on the groups, each student draws pictures of each kind of bill in their journal or on white paper.
6.Next, give each group the household objects-tweezers, nut pick, nutcracker, straw, strainer, skewer-and have them match the object with the bills that are similar to that object.
7.As a whole class, discuss how each kind of bill helps the bird get food and what kind of food they eat. Other discussion topics could include where the birds live to find this food, what other uses birds have for their bills (nest building, etc.), and what other birds have these kinds of bills.
Teaching Notes and Tips
You can determine the number of categories by the number of different kinds of bill pictures you give the students. That will also determine which household objects you need to have available to each group of students. A good source of pictures is bird calendars and Birds and Bloom and Wild Bird magazines.
Assessment
Assessment can be done through discussion, pictures students draw in their journal/paper, or using a worksheet on which students cut and paste pictures of birds with similar bill types.
Standards
SCIENCE
1.I.B.1 Observe, compare and contrast common objects
2.IV.C.1Observe and describe features of animals that allow them to live in specific environments.
READING
1.I.D.1, 3, 6 Listen to texts (informational); use details and make personal connections; understand the role of illustrations to convey meaning
1.I.B.1 Observe, compare and contrast common objects
2.IV.C.1Observe and describe features of animals that allow them to live in specific environments.
READING
1.I.D.1, 3, 6 Listen to texts (informational); use details and make personal connections; understand the role of illustrations to convey meaning