Negative human impact on wildlife: Birds
Summary
This scenario with clues lets kids not only identify a bird by looking at it but also to follow the collected information to figure out what is killing the House Finch.
Collapse
Learning Goals
To show human impact on wildlife
To link bird bills to food source
To work on prediction skills and cause/effect
To use the internet for science research
To link bird bills to food source
To work on prediction skills and cause/effect
To use the internet for science research
Context for Use
7-12th
Small Groups
30-40 minutes
Small Groups
30-40 minutes
Description and Teaching Materials
Give each group a lab sheet and have them answer questions 1-3
Show a picture of a house finch beak and have them answer question 4
Then read the following scenario-When I was walking to my car this morning, I found a dead bird with a beak like in the above picture. It was a small bird, had some red coloring on the chest and was brown on its back. I would like to figure out what may have killed this bird. I am looking for your help. What do you think killed this bird?
Then, have them answer question 5
Then read-This bird had swollen eyes and was very skinny. When looking around, I saw a few other of this type of bird, but they weren't acting right. They wouldn't fly away and also had swollen eyes.
Then have them answer question 6 and 7
Once every group has 6 and 7 answered, let them know that you took this bird to an expert and they did tell you it was a house finch and died due to being sick. Have them try to figure out what the bird died from and why.
Have students answer questions 8, 9, and 10 Lab Sheet what killed my poor bird (Microsoft Word 26kB Aug25 09)
Show a picture of a house finch beak and have them answer question 4
Then read the following scenario-When I was walking to my car this morning, I found a dead bird with a beak like in the above picture. It was a small bird, had some red coloring on the chest and was brown on its back. I would like to figure out what may have killed this bird. I am looking for your help. What do you think killed this bird?
Then, have them answer question 5
Then read-This bird had swollen eyes and was very skinny. When looking around, I saw a few other of this type of bird, but they weren't acting right. They wouldn't fly away and also had swollen eyes.
Then have them answer question 6 and 7
Once every group has 6 and 7 answered, let them know that you took this bird to an expert and they did tell you it was a house finch and died due to being sick. Have them try to figure out what the bird died from and why.
Have students answer questions 8, 9, and 10 Lab Sheet what killed my poor bird (Microsoft Word 26kB Aug25 09)
Teaching Notes and Tips
Set up other scenarios-including one with loons dying of lead poisoning (due to fishing lures), and one with bald eagles dying of lead poisoning (due to eating gut piles of deer hunters). Have each group do a different scenario and present their findings to the class
Also, students should figure out maybe that salmonellosis did this or another disease-most are caused for dirty bird feeders.
Also, students should figure out maybe that salmonellosis did this or another disease-most are caused for dirty bird feeders.
Assessment
grade their lab sheets not on correctness but rather putting forth thought and effort
Standards
4.1.2 Describe the social, economic, and ecological risk and benefits of changing a natural ecosystem as a result of human activity