Bird Study Unit Lesson 2: Bird Bodies

Bird Study Unit Lesson 2: Bird Bodies

Objectives:  

• Students will be able to label a bird’s body parts.
• Students will explain the function of bird feathers, feet and beak.

Materials:

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• Pictures of birds using feathers, feet and beaks (enough for one per partnership)
• Sentence Strips (one per partnership)
  • Lesson 2 Sentence Frames
• Markers for writing on sentence strips
• Bird Anatomy Read Aloud
• Bird Anatomy Handouts
  • Lesson 2 Bird Anatomy Bald Eagle
  • Lesson 2 Bird Anatomy Bald Eagle Test
  • Lesson 2 Bird Anatomy Great Blue Heron
  • Lesson 2 Bird Anatomy Great Blue Heron Test
  • Lesson 2 Bird Anatomy Mallard
  • Lesson 2 Bird Anatomy Mallard Test
  • Lesson 2 Bird Anatomy Northern Cardinal
  • Lesson 2 Bird Anatomy Northern Cardinal Test
• Eagle With a Broken Beak Story
• Bird Study Journals (Draw and label bird parts)
  • Lesson 2 Writing Response
• Optional: Student Texts
• Early Reader Level K: Bird Bodies
• Early Reader Level 1: Bird Parts
• Fluency Passage Level 2:  Mystery Tracks
  • Lesson 2 Easy Reader Kindergarten print 2 sided
  • Lesson 2 Easy Reader 1st Grade print 2 sided
  • Lesson 2 Fluency Reader Mystery Tracks

Learning Plan: Part 1

Engage:

Watch this video clip of a bird and tell the students to watch closely.   After the video, have students close their eyes and picture the bird’s body in their minds.  What body parts to birds have? What did the birds use to get their food?   Tell the students that today they will learn about how birds use their feathers, feet and beaks to survive.  

Explore:

Divide students up into partners.  Give each partnership a picture to look at (feathers, feet, or beaks).  Challenge the students to study the pictures and decide how the birds are using these body parts.  On a sentence strip, have each partnership finish the sentence, “Birds use _______ to _________”. Assist as needed. Hand Out Sentence Strips: Lesson 2 Sentence Frames Have each group share their sentence and picture with the class.  Post in the classroom if possible.  

Explain:

• Tell the students they did well being ornithologists today!  Ornithologists will often look at bird videos and pictures to learn more about birds.  
• Share the read aloud about bird anatomy.

Basics About Bird Parts

Below are listed some of the most important bird parts and their functions:

1. Head: The head is a key feature in a bird and the markings on the crown can help identify the species.
2. Beak: The beak also helps in identification and the curvature assists the bird with picking food.
3. Chest: Also known as the breast, this joins the throat of the bird to the abdominal area above the legs.
4. Wings: While humans have hands, birds have wings as their upper limbs. The length and shape of the wing allow the bird to fly.
5. Tail: The tail can also help in identification and releases a certain oil that position the feathers for preening.
6. Feet: The size of the talons on the feet decides what the bird can do with them. Some can catch their prey with them while others can merely hop.

Share some Bird Anatomy Handouts - Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Northern Cardinal.

Elaborate:

Ask students what would happen if a bird was missing any of these parts?  Explain that the bird needs all of these body parts to live and that they might not live if any of these parts are damaged.   Share the news story about the eagle with a broken beak (optional): http://www.nbcnews.com/id/25000280/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/eagle-wounded-poacher-gets-new-beak/#.XQlXyqJKi00  

Evaluate:

Have students draw and label a bird body in their journal.  You may also choose to have students write sentences about how the birds use these body parts. Pass Out Writing Response Journal Page Lesson 2 Writing Response

Language Arts Extension:

Practice reading student texts and discuss content.        *Note: These three readers will fit with lessons 2-5. Early Reader Level K: Bird Bodies Lesson 2 Easy Reader Kindergarten print 2 sided Early Reader Level 1: Bird Parts Lesson 2 Easy Reader 1st Grade print 2 sided Fluency Practice Level 2: Mystery Tracks