Field Investigation: Birds and Their Adaptations

Students observe the internal and external structures of birds and learn how these adaptations help with their survival, growth, behavior and reproduction.  Then the students will observe, identify and research a bird found in the outdoor classroom to provide evidence for its adaptations.  
 
Click on the orange links to access free educational materials: 
 
Lesson Plans  |   ALSDE Standards Taught
 
Activity Page #1: Birds & Their Adaptations (or as Word Doc)
 
Activity Page #2: Hummingbirds & Their Adaptations (or as Word Doc) 
with Answer Page #2
 
Outdoor Activity Materials:  activity pages, clipboards, pencils, copies of field identification guides
















 
Step 1: Engage through Discussion
     
Engage the students and capture their interests with an Interactive PowerPoint and Q&A (or as PDF) that allows you to click through the questions and answers separately, so that you have time to discuss possible answers with your students BEFORE showing them the answer on the slide.  You can gauge your students' understanding of the topic as they answer the questions. 
Tip #1: Print and use the Q&A Info Sheet (or as Word Doc) to anticipate the next question in the Interactive Q&A and to guide the conversation with the students. 
Tip #2: To use the PowerPoint (PPT) for an interactive discussion, you must click "Slide Show" & "From Beginning" to display the questions and answers separately.
 
Use these tools to continue the discussion:
 
 
 
 
Step 2: Explore with Literature
     
As you read these books, you can further explore the topic and discuss your students' experiences and knowledge around the topic:

Feathers: Not Just For Flying by Melissa Stewart ISBN: 978-1-58089-431-9
 
Birdology by Monica Russos ISBN: 978-1-61374-949-4  

A Backyard Birding Adventure: What's in Your Yard by Kermit Cummings ISBN: 978-1612542362

The Burgess Bird Book for Children (Dover Children's Classics) by Thorton W. Burgess ISBN: 978-0486428406
Front Cover


 
 
Step 3: Explain with Educational Videos
   
Use these educational videos to help explain the topic in more detail:
 
Birds: Educational Video for Kids by Happy Learning (4:26 min.)
@ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vL_2rF8JHU 		 Bird Evolution and Adaptations by Discovery Channel (3:15 min.)
@ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5kzxOtvCjc
 
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Step 4: Elaborate with a Field Investigation in the Outdoor Classroom
 
Students apply what they have learned as they investigate the topic in your outdoor classroom and record their real-world observations on their activity page:
 
Version #1:
Birds and Their Adaptations		 Version #2:
Hummingbirds and their Adaptations
   
Activity Tip  
Version #1 - Birds and Their Adaptations
Activity Page: PDF (as is)  /  Word Doc (editable)  

Procedure
Indoor Discussion:
  1. Have the students use the AWF's Wonders of Wildlife webpages to research the Eastern Bluebird, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, or Red-bellied Woodpecker
  2. Next, they draw a picture of the bird and describe its characteristics on the activity page.
  3. Then they describe the bird's physical features and answer questions about how these adaptations help the bird survive.
Outdoor Discovery:
  1. Next, they explore the outdoor classroom to look for their selected bird species and where they found it.
  2. They also observe other bird species and provide a description for any additional bird species that they see.
Indoor Discussion:
  1. Discuss the names and physical features of the birds that were observed in the outdoor classroom.
  2. Discuss how those physical features help the birds survive.
  3. Discuss the internal and external structures of animals that function to support survival, growth, and reproduction.
Optional Extension:  
Version #2 - Hummingbirds and their Adaptations
Activity Page: PDF (as is)  /  Word Doc (editable)
 
Procedure
Outdoor Discovery:
  1. Have the students explore the outdoor classroom to search for the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
  2. On their activity page, they should indicate if they saw any hummingbirds and where they were located.
Indoor Discussion:
  1. Students use the AWF's Wonders of Wildlife webpage to research the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
  2. Next, they draw a picture of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and describe its characteristics on the activity page.
  3. Then they describe the bird's physical features and answer questions about how these adaptations help the bird survive.
  4. Discuss the internal and external structures of animals that function to support survival, growth, and reproduction.
 
Wildlife Identification Resources:
 
 
Step 5: Evaluate with an Assessment Activity
   
Review and assess the students’ observations and answers on their observation pages:
Evaluate the students' understanding of the topic with the following assessment tool:
 
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Questions? Contact us at oc@alabamawildlife.org. 
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