Unit Plan
University of California

Ucmp: The Evolution of Flight in Birds

For Students 9th - 10th
Evidence from the fossil record is used to support bird evolution from small carnivorous dinosaurs. In the student module, feathers, behavior, and skeletal structure are examined in an interactive lesson designed to impart a complete...
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Birds

For Students 9th - 10th
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park provides a detailed look at birds. Content includes a focus on the Zoo's bird house exhibit, as well as bird houses, flight cages, bird facts, bird information for kids, an FAQ section, a photo...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Flying High: Bird Man

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Investigate and demonstrate principles of flight with the Flying Tim Bird. Draw a hypothetical model of the mechanism inside the toy bird that makes the wings flap, then experiment with and videotape its flight to explain how lift works...
Article
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: On the Wing: Birds, Skeeters, Jet Planes

For Students 9th - 10th
Evolution through natural selection governs the "design" of flying creatures. Engineers design flying machines. But flying is about physics, and physics is the ultimate arbiter of both processes, and that produces parallels in mechanical...
Lesson Plan
Crayola

Crayola: Flying Bird Fact Finds (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson plan, younger students wrap up a bird unit by making a bird mobile and then write facts on their display.
Activity
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Birds

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This site from Enchanted Learning can answer your questions about birds. What type of scientist studies birds? What is the fastest running bird? Which bird lays the largest birds' eggs? Come and find out the answer to these questions and...
Handout
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: How to Id Birds

For Students 9th - 10th
This thorough site describes how you can identify birds by examining their silhouette, field marks, posture, size, flight pattern, and habitat.
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Champion Birds

For Students 9th - 10th
The PBS video series "The Life of Birds" is accompanied with this site. There are articles about several aspects of birds and their behavior. This one chronicles the highest, fastest, and most extreme birds. There are lots of examples.
Interactive
Canadian Museum of Nature

Canadian Museum of Nature: How Do Birds Fly?

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Have you ever wondered about how birds are able to fly? View three 3D animations to see a bird take off, flap in flight and glide. This is an excellent resource to develop an understanding of the physical forces that make this one of the...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Why Do Birds Fly in a v Formation?

For Students 9th - 10th
In this science fair project, the student will make a wind tunnel to test how the formation of birds in flight affects flight efficiency. Make the bird models out of Legos and have fun with this project. The Science Buddies project ideas...
Article
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Flying South for the Winter?

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at long-distance migration reveals a surprising pattern. Migration did not originate in the tropics, home to bird diversity.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Biology: Bird Structure and Function

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] An overview of flight structures in birds.
Handout
San Diego Zoo Global

San Diego Zoo: Birds

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides detailed information about birds, as well as several pictures.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Life Science: Birds

For Students 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] There is an amazingly wide variety of birds. Birds are vertebrates. Almost all have forelimbs modified as wings, but not all birds can fly. Learn more about birds in...
Activity
DLTK

Kidzone: All About Birds

For Students 3rd - 8th
This is comprehensive site covers the characteristics of birds and looks at various birds through pictures and words. Several puzzles are included and the degree of difficultly can be changed.
Interactive
Other

Australian Museum: Birds in Backyards: Bird Finder

For Students 9th - 10th
Need to identify a bird you saw flying through the sky while you were in Australia? This is the place to go. Choose a the size, color, then a shape and finally add any distinguishing marks. Then read about the bird you saw.
Activity
Other

Council for Environmental Education: Flying Wild: The Birding Beat [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Activity that teaches students how to identify birds. Some useful characteristics to watch for include silhouette, habitat, plumage, sounds, and behavior.
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Projectile Motion With Angry Birds

For Students 9th - 10th
Analyze the path of a bird's flight as it attempts to obliterate pigs in the well-known game, Angry Birds. Comes with lab activities, a video, and a simulation. The latter requires software called Tracker, which is free to download.
Handout
Other

Ornithology: Bird Flight

For Students 9th - 10th
Excellent coverage of the adaptations and actions of birds in regard to flight. Contains specific information, diagrams, and pictures.
Handout
University of California

Ucmp: Vertebrate Flight

For Students 9th - 10th
A very solid Berkeley site on the structure and function of bird flight. Topics include skeletal and muscular adaptations for flight.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Why Can't Some Birds Fly?

For Students 9th - 10th
Gillian Gibb explores what makes birds give up the power of flight.
Website
Canadian Wildlife Federation

Hinterland Who's Who: Canvasback

For Students 9th - 10th
Get the facts about the Canvasback, a wild duck who only lives in North America. Besides finding a detailed physical description of one of the fastest flying ducks, you?ll also learn about some of this bird?s unique facts and...
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Bird in Flight

For Students 9th - 10th
Students are asked to explain the characteristics of the bird in flight and how adaptations would allow the bird to fly a particular way. [0:32]
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Nova: Flying Casanovas

For Students 9th - 10th
Here's another great website that is a companion to a PBS television series. This time the show was called "Flying Casanovas" and the topic is bowerbirds. A lot about courtship and behavior in these bird groups. There's even a matching...

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