Last updated: March 23, 2021
Lesson Plan
Project Birdwing
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Literacy and Language Arts,Science,Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 4.RI.1, 4.RI.7, 4.W.2, 4.W.7, 4.W.8
- Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Creating: Bring together parts (elements, compounds) of knowledge to form a whole and build relationships for NEW situations. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
• Why are some bird wings different than others?
• How do these differences change their flight?
• How does their habitat relate to these differences?
• How does their food source relate to these differences?
Objective
Through Project Birdwing, students will experience practical application of adaptation and flight by exploring some key species of birds found in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. This virtual field trip has been designed around New York State’s Amplify science curriculum and aims to give students experience “in the field” with vocabulary they have been familiarizing themselves with throughout the school year.
Background
Project Birdwing is a three part (pre-site, on-site, and post-site) virtual field trip, where students will explore themes of adaptation, habitat, and ecology through the lens of four species of birds, local to the greater New York City area, and their different wing types. Gateway provides presentations for both the pre and post lesson plans to familiarize and recap students with the information presented by our educational rangers in the on-site portion of the field trip.
Pre-site (Presented by Teacher): Short presentation introducing students to National Park Service and Gateway National Recreation Area. Students will also be guided on an activity to make their very own Project Birdwing bird models.
On-site (Presented by Ranger): Presentation on National Park Service and wing adaptation in local bird species. Rangers will guide your students through Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and spot some common birds! Students will also learn about the local ecology and why birds have adapted their different wings.
Post-site (Presented by teacher): A short presentation reviewing key themes and vocabulary is provided to help your students retain the information presented in the on-site presentation. We also include an activity for your students to make their own field guide pages to help them identify birds while they’re in the wild or just walking through the city!
Preparation
Pre-site:
- Bird-model template
- Scissors for each student
- Glue sticks for group
- Intro PowerPoint
On-site:
- Video Conference Software
- Pre made bird models
Post-site:
- Poster board/Paper
- Template
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
- Review PowerPoint
Materials
Video discussing this lesson
Video describing how to make a field guide for birds
Power Point to be used before the site visit/virtual program
Download Pre-Site Presentation
Power Point to be used after the site visit/virtual program
Download Post-site Presentation
Pre-Site Lesson Plan
Post-Site Lesson Plan
Download Post-Site Lesson Plan
Download Pattern to cut out - Glide
Download Pattern to cut out -Quick Takeoff
Download Pattern to cut out - Soar
Download Pattern to cut out - Speed
Procedure
- Have your students watch the bird model crafting video
- Have students craft their own bird models
- Participate in the virtual field trip lead by our educational ranger
- Have students create their own field guide page for their favorite bird
Vocabulary
- Aerodynamic: of or having a shape which reduces the drag from air moving past.
- Adaptation: a change or the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment.
- Habitat: the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism
- National: relating to a nation; common to or characteristic of a whole nation.
- Wildlife Refuge: system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife, and plants through national agencies like the National Park Service
- Migration: seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.