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Animals In Winter

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students read story Animals in Winter, and explore similarities and differences in how humans and other animals prepare for survival in winter. Students create class book that compares and illustrates different ways humans and animals...
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Ecology: Why Are Rice Fields Suitable Habitats for Birds?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover the uses for rice by reading about the habitats of certain birds.  In this agriculture lesson, 5th graders research birds from the Gulf Coast and California and their reasons for living in rice fields....
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Birds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students list marine birds in their area and report on the threats made to these species.  In this marine life lesson plan students compare bird count data and argue either for or against its accuracy. 
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Data Analysis: bird habitats in rice farms

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders make a graph and write an essay to interpret the data of birds that take advantage of habitats near rice farms. In this data lesson plan, 5th graders calculate the information given to them and interpret it in an essay form.
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Marine & Aquatic Habitats Activities - Estuaries Are for the Birds!

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students recognize that birds act as indicators of pollution because of their sensitivity to environmental change, and role play the manner in which marine debris can be hazardous to waterfowl.
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Heading South

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners look at the migration of different birds. In this migration lesson, students discuss why an animal migrates and problems that can occur during migration. They look at several downloadable maps that show the specific routes of...
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Get Ready, Get Set, Hibernate

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students match each body part or idea from a work bank about methods of animal adaptations for winter survival. They observe as the first one, food is covered with the whole class before completing the rest of the diagram. They discuss...
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Animal Migratory patterns

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use field research and traditional research to identify migrating species of birds as well as their migratory patterns. Students generate a list of questions regarding migration and a plan to research the questions. A field...
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Life-Cycle Sleuth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students analyze an animal's life cycle and behaviors, and examine what animals need to stay alive and reproduce. They develop theories and hypotheses about the reasons for migrations, using the Journey North online project.
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Blue Planet: Frozen Seas

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars study the animals from the Arctic and how they have adapted.  For this ocean lesson students create a poster about their given animal and present it to the class. 
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Who Gives a Hoot?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students look at owl migration and its impact on the environment and the food chain after reading an article from The New York Times. Students then apply this information to and research different food chain situations for other species...
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What is a Raptor?

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore, analyze and discover the characteristics of raptors and generate a word bank for owls and raptors. They identify attributes shared by raptors and practice various key vocabulary words to master and utilize in sentence...
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Amazing Bird Adaptions--Why Am I A Bird?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify and classify birds found in Illinois. Using the internet, they discover how birds have adapted over time and how the adaptations have increased their life span. They compare and contrast the various adaptations...
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Migration

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore migration using the Internet and several pre-chosen websites. In this animal migration instructional activity students divide into groups and complete a lab activity. 
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Bird Banter

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Pupils listen to examples of common bird songs of birds found in Illinois. As a class, they discover the importance between the differences in songs and calls. They practice making their own bird calls and songs to end the lesson plan.
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Hawks Migrate

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Pupils examine the types of hawks found in Illinois and compile a list of them. Using different species of hawks, they compare and contrast their characteristics. They work together to create their own hawk model for the classroom.
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Migrating Across Borders

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research and map the migratory patterns of the golden-winged warbler. They develop a strategy to protect this species and, in teams representing different countries, negotiate treaties with each other to protect the bird.
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Wetlands and Saltmarshes

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify the different functions of a wetland system and why the system is important to the St. Mary's River ecosystem and the environment. They play a migration game and write a journal about the salt marsh periwinkle and how...
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Studying Birds in the Field

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
This is a well-designed science activity which helps students learn the behavior of different species of birds. Working with partners and in small team, students learn to scientifically observe birds.
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Wetland Safari!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students identify how humans, fish, plants, birds, insects and other wildlife benefit from wetland environments. They observe a wetland and its inhabitants, draw a migration map that represents how birds use wetlands in traveling long...
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Hopskotch Migration

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students understand the use of the wetlands by migrating birds and identify causes for disappearance of the wetlands.
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Hopscotch Migration

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students examine the use of wetlands by migrating birds. They discuss reasons for the disappearance of wetlands. They discover how humans have affected wetlands as well.
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"For the Birds" [part I]

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students identify birds that appear in Chinese and Japanese art, learning about their physical characteristics, classifying them according to scientific principles, and exploring their habitats and migration patterns. This is part one...
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Week 8 - Sea Life

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Using a magnifier, mini marine biologists examine the barbules of a bird feather. They swirl the it into a mixture of oil and water and then re-examine the feather. After the activity, discuss how the oily feathers pose a problem to...