Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Incense Container With Design of Plovers
This container is used to hold small chips of incense used in tea gatherings. It is made out of an actual shell, which forms the lid. The base is lacquered wood. The lid is decorated with flying plovers (a small shore bird that runs in...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Adaptations for Aeronautical Engineering
This activity first asks the students to study the patterns of bird flight and understand that four main forces affect the flight abilities of a bird. They will study the shape, feather structure, and resulting differences in the pattern...
Canadian Wildlife Federation
Hinterland Who's Who: Canvasback
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...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Bird in Flight
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]
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: A Proud Flight [Pdf]
"A Proud Flight" is a one page, Greek myth about Icarus and Daedelus. The father and son were imprisoned, and in order to escape, Daedelus made wings using bird feathers covered with wax. He warned Icarus not to get too near the sun or...
Other
National Aviary: Curriculum: Bird or Dinosaur? The Feather: Three Jobs
Activity leads you through an investigation of three key functions of feathers: insulation, flight, and display.
University of California
Ucmp: Are Birds Really Dinosaurs?
A great essay that illustrates how science is done as well as the relationship between dinosaurs and modern birds. Includes a picture to illustrate this concept, and contains many links to related sites.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Cornell Lab of Ornithology: California Condor
This detailed site contains a wealth of factual information about the largest flying bird in North America. Topics include: cool facts, description, range, habitat, food, behavior, reproduction and conservation status. In addition, the...
University of California
Ucmp: Aves More on Morphology
A good discussion of the major adaptations of the skeleton of birds in order to adapt to flight.
Other
Pacifier Online: Bird Flight Basics
This site provides a simplified explanation of the physics of flight. Site provides information about lift, drag, weight, thrust, Bernoulli's Principle, and much more.
PBS
Pbs Teachers:patagonia: The Aeronautics of Condor Flight
Examine the size, range and habits of the Andean condor, construct a model condor and fly it.
Canadian Museum of Nature
Canadian Museum of Nature: American White Pelican
Did you know that the awkward looking pelican is very graceful in flight? Briefly described are its features, habitat and young. Seven excellent photographs showcase this bird in its environment.
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge: Nrich: A Flying Holiday
Some may think this problem is for the birds but you will need to use your problem solving skills to come up with a reasonable answer. Then check this one page website for the solution.
Natural History Museum
Nhm: The Endeavour Voyage Across the Pacific
This multi-media rich site explores the voyage made by James Cook on the Endeavour in 1768. This voyage, marked as one of the most influential in history, made major nautical, geographical, natural history, and medical discoveries along...
PBS
Nh Pbs: Nature Works: The Great Horned Owl
Explore the world of the great horned owl through this clear and concise site. This resource features information on the characteristics, habitat, food, reproduction and more of the great horned owl.
PBS
Pbs Teachers:flying Casanovas: Bowerbird Basics
Examine characteristics of bowerbirds and their bowers. Compare and contrast various styles of bowers created by bowerbirds
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Implementing Biomimicry and Sustainable Design
This unit provides students with an opportunity to study ecological relationships with an emphasis on the Sonoran Desert. Students appreciate the complexity and balance that supports the exchange of energy and matter within food webs....
Read Works
Read Works: Unearthing Pterosaurs
[Free Registration/Login Required] This passage from the American Museum of Natural History is about the discovery and study of bones from Pterosaurs, extinct flying reptiles that are not exactly dinosaurs or birds. A question set, a...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clippix Etc: Group of Flying Pelicans
Group of Flying Pelicans
Curated OER
Clip Art by Phillip Martin: Raven in Flight
Cartoon drawing of a raven taking off in flight.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Walking With Dinosaurs: Fact File: Quetzalcoatlus
A brief description of the quetzacoatlus, "the largest flying creature of all time," which lived during the Late Cretaceous period over 65 million years ago. Find fast facts about this animal's size and fossil location, as well as...
Animal Fact Guide
Animal Fact Guide: California Condor
This reference material explores the largest flying bird in California, the condor. Learn about its habitat, diet, physical characteristics, and much more!