Bird Survival Through Adaptations

Entire Lesson Progression including all the details are here: https://goo.gl/JxLfzR
Day 1 - Draw a Catesby Bird

Lesson details are found here goo.gl/J20db6 

Who likes birds? What are some local birds? Where do you find them? What are some characteristics of birds? What do they eat? Has anyone drawn pictures of birds? The purpose of this lesson is to determine how birds adapt to their environment. What qualities or characteristics of birds allow them to survive in a habitat?

Day 2 – Bird Beak Form and Function 
Lesson details are here:   https://goo.gl/vBp7OA

Characteristics of Birds
Show some pictures of the students’ Alien birds from the previous day. Pair students and have them compare and contrast their Alien birds. List some characteristics that are common and different. Develop a comparison table. Have students copy this table into their science notebooks.

Day 3 – Bird Beak Form and Function  
Lesson details are found here:  https://goo.gl/KeC3J7

Characteristics of Birds
Go through Beaks and introduce students to the habitats and environments of different birds. Focus on the characteristics of the beaks and why they might help the bird live in a particular habitat or environment. 

Day 4 - Bird Adaptations and Environment 
Lesson details are found here: https://goo.gl/g7QBTJ

Landscape
Discuss Landscapes.  Deconstruct the different “grounds” of a landscape and how to create details that make it look realistic. Discuss a list of characteristics for each different landscape.

Background - This is the farthest area in the drawing or diorama.

• The sky and horizon line (where the sky meets the ground) are included as part of the background.
• The basic environment is established here with mountains, volcanoes, open prairies, etc.
• Objects appear very small here.
• There are little to no details on objects in the background.
• Because the distance, the saturation (or intensity) of a color appears to be much lighter than in the foreground.

Middle Ground - This is the middle area of the drawing or diorama

• Objects in this area overlap the background and are overlapped by the objects in the foreground.
• The objects appear to be larger than the background, but smaller than the foreground.  
• There are some details in the object.
• The saturation of color is at a medium level.

Foreground - This is the very front of the drawing or diorama.

• All objects in the foreground overlap everything behind it.  
• Objects appear to be larger because of the proximity to the viewer.  
• Details such as tree bark, feathers on birds, and leaf veins are visible.
• The colors in the foreground are usually very bright and vivid.

Day 5 - Migratory Adaptations 
Lesson details are found here:  https://goo.gl/inZvWe

Habitats 
Presentation on the definition of habitats, animal characteristics, bird adaptations, and symbiotic relationships between plants, animals, and habitat

Day 6 - ​Environmental Catastrophe and Adaptations 
Lesson details are found here: https://goo.gl/16HT2p

Introduction: Adaptations to the Environment
Run a simulation of rabbits and predators. Teacher can demonstrate the simulation or have students complete it themselves. Everyone will have to update Java and download the program. This will introduce the topic of natural selection and relate it to adaptations for the birds.

Day 7 -  ​Being a Scientist like Catesby 
Lesson details are found here: https://goo.gl/heg32s

What is a scientist?
Scientist presentation to introduce the students to the world of being a scientist. What are some actions that scientists do? List them in your science notebooks. What have the students done over the past week that mimics what a scientist does?

Day 1: Task 7 is extra. It can be used on any day if time allows or other activities progress quickly. Page 7 has the characteristics of 4 birds.
Day 2: Teacher can photocopy pages 10 and 11 to pass out to students. Labels for Stations are at the end of the Unit packet.
Day 3: Pages 13-14 can be printed and handed out to students to place in their science notebooks. Pages 15-17 can be used instead of the online website. Guided Notes are on page 18.
Day 4: Writing the characteristics of the birds and habitats are the most important part of this activity. Groups can be assigned a scribe who can record what others discuss.
Day 5: Guided Notes are on page 25. Teachers determine the extent of argumentative writing with depth and style.
Day 6: There are other natural selection simulations. You will have to download the applet from the site prior to demonstrating. Students can also do these types of simulations themselves using their 1 to 1 technologies. Groups can proceed to different catastrophes or stay with just one. You can print pages 28-29 to give to students.
Day 7: The questions for the DBQ are suggestions. Each teacher may focus on different aspects of the primary source letters (e.g., writing style, grammar, and language use). 

Embedded in each days lesson progression...