This unit is designed to introduce students to the study of a specific group of vertebrates (birds).  This includes their attributes, needs, and behaviors.

  Science:  S2a; S5a; S5c; S5f; S6a; S7a;
  English Language Arts: E1c; E3b; Second Grade Writing Standard: Informational 
     Writing (use diagrams, charts or illustrations as appropriate to the text)
  Mathematics: 
  Applied Learning: A2c; A3a; A3b; A4b
  Other:  Chariho Technology Standards 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 2.1, 3.7, 3.9, 4.1b

How does a bird's life relate to its habitat?
How are a bird's attributes useful in its survival?

Task 1: Characteristics of Birds
a.  The students will be given picture cards of various birds and various reference books about birds.  They will use the books to identify the birds on the cards  and allowed free exploration to classify the birds according to physical features/traits.  This will lead into the development of a KWL chart or a graphic organizer created with Kidspiration.  This chart will be posted in the classroom and referred to and added to throughout the unit.
V/S; V/L; L/M; Inter
Standards Addressed:  E3b; S2a;  S5a;

b.  Using the large monitor, the teacher will demonstrate exploring the Encyclopedia of Nature CD-Rom program.  Throughout the unit, working in pairs, the students will use Encyclopedia of Nature to learn about various bird attributes.
V/S; V/L; Inter; Na
Standards Addressed:  Chariho Technology Standards 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 2.1, 3.7

c.  The students will listen to the song, What Does A Bird Have That I Have Not?.  A poster of the lyrics will be posted in the room for students to refer to through out the unit.
M/R; Na; Intra
Standards Addressed:  S2a; S2c; 

d.  The class will participate in a group discussion about the various parts of a bird.  They will then match a body part on a poster with its label.  Each student will then complete a handout which requires them to unscramble the attribute prior to labeling a diagram.
Inter; V/L; V/S
Standards Addressed:  S2a

Extension Activity:  The students will listen to a tape of bird sounds.  They will try to identify the different birds.   They may also listen to Birds Have a Language or  How Does a Bird Sing?
M/R; Na; Intra

Task 2: Characteristics/Functions of Beaks
Using a variation of Fill the Bill from Ranger Rick's Nature Scope: Birds, Birds, Birds, the students will rotate through six stations.  They will use tools representing birds' beaks at each station. The students will discover how the beak fits the food the best.  Using only the tools provided, the students will rotate through:

Station 1:  Small paper cups filled with water.  Student will use a straw for "sipping"
Station 2:  Pan with candy "fish" swimming in the water.  Students will use a spoon to catch the fish to eat.
Station 3:  Students will use tweezers to dig through oatmeal "dirt" in order to catch the gummy worm.
Station 4:  Students will use nutcrackers in order to open nuts
Station 5:  Using pliers, popcorn, and a hot air popcorn popper, the students will try to catch "flying insects." 
Station 6:  Students will use picks to remove the sunflower seeds from pinecones (previous placed there by the teacher)

Following the stations, the students will then match a picture of a bird whose beak fits the food provided at each station.  The students will participate in a group discussion based on the matches they made.
B/K; Inter
Standards Addressed:  S5c; S5f; S6a; E3b

b.  The teacher will explain Who Wants to Be A Millionaire - Birds in order for the students to be able to play it on their own.  The students will be able to play the game during their Computer Time. 
B/K; Intra; V/L
Standards Addressed: S2a

Task 3: Characteristics/Functions of Feet
a.  The students will read Beaks and Feet by Sarah O'Neil.  They will participate in a group discusssion related to each trait of birds.   They will then create a chart that classifies the birds according to types of feet. 
V/L; Inter; L/M
Standards Addressed:  S5c;  S2a

b.  The students will "read" and discuss a teacher-made Inspiration map about Animal Feet.  They  will then explore six of the feet available in the Replitracks kit (3 bird feet and 3 mammal and reptile feet).  The specific bird feet available are the Mallard, Barred Owl, and the Bald Eagle.  They will use their observations and the Inspiration map about Animal Feet in a group setting to compare and contrast the bird feet with the mammal and reptile feet. 
B/K; Inter; V/L
Standards Addressed:  E1c; S7a

Extension Activity:  The students will create a bird by using a favorite beak and a favorite foot.  The students will use this illustration as part of pre-writing by labeling the part chosen with the type of beak (or foot) and what it is used for.  They will then use the "diagram" to write a paragraph that justifies their choices. 
V/S; V/L; Intra
Standard Addressed:  A2c; Second Grade Writing Standard: Informational Writing (use diagrams, charts or illustrations as appropriate to the text).

Task 4:  Avian Habitats
The students will participate in a class discussion on different birds in their natural habitats.  Examples would be a penguin, a flamingo, and a robin, etc.  The discussion will focus on its survival techniques, such as food, temperature, and living space.  After the discussion, the students will choose the bird that they will research.
Inter; V/L; V/S
Standards Addressed:  S2a; S2c

Task 5:  The students will use available resources to research their bird.  These resources may include informational books, encyclopedias, software, or the Internet.  The students will use a graphic organizer to aid them in the collection and sorting of information.  They will be collecting information about their bird's food, living space, temperature of its habitat.
Intra; V/L; 
Standards Addressed:  A3a; A3b; A4b; S2a; S2c; S5c; S7b

Task 6: 
Using the bird pictures, the students will draw a draft of the habitat that is appropriate for their bird.  They will include environmental factors such as food, living space, and temperature.   After reading Have You Seen Birds? by Joanne Oppenheim, the students will create a clay "drawing" of their bird in its habitat.
V/S; Intra
Standards Addressed:  S7a

These activities will require approximately ten 45-50 minute blocks of time for two weeks.

The students will work in groups to construct a diorama which will illustrate birds adapting in their natural habitat.  A written component will be developed to supporting and summarizing the habitat of a bird. This will include information about where they live, what they eat, a description (physical and behavioral), and prey and/or predators.  Each group will develop a slide for a classroom PowerPoint or Flip Album presentation.
Standards Addressed:  S8c; S2a; S7a; Second Grade Writing Standard 2; CT 3.8; CT 3.9

The students will present thier portion of the class PowerPoint (Flip Album) to the class.  This PowerPoint (or Flip Album) will be posted on the Ashaway School's Web site.  Each class will send an e-mail to a professor from a local university or college requesting that the professor view their page and provide the class with feedback.  Bird PowerPoint
Standards Addressed:  A2a; A2b; Chariho Technology Standards 3.9, 4.1b

Individual or small Group M.I. Project Contract:  Students will formulate a research question with regard to this unit topic.  He/She will work alone or in a small group to develop a class presentation of what they have learned about their topic.  Their research must be presented through three or more methods. (i.e. charts; graphs; oral reports; multi-media; dramatic role play, etc.).

Materials:

Replitracks Sampler by Museum Products
Picture cards of various birds
Various informational books about birds

Videos:

Bill Nye, the Science Guy:  Birds

Books:

Beaks and Feet by Sarah O'Neil
Birds, a Golden Guide Book
Eastern Birds, A Guide to Field Identification of North American Species by Golden Books
Have You Seen Birds? by Joanne Oppenheimer
About Birds - A Guide for Children by Cathryn Sill
Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing Animal Habitats by Jim Arnosky
National Geographic, My First Pocket Guide:  Garden Birds by Terence Lindsey
Smithsonian Kids' Field Guides:  Birds of North America East  by Jo S. Kittinger

Software: 
 

Encyclopedia of Nature by DK Multimedia
Who Wants to Be A Millionaire - Birds

Web Sites: 
 

     Enchanted Learning, All About Birds:  This site gives students a great deal of information about birds, including body parts, locomotion, and feathers.  Written for students.  http://www.ZoomSchool.com/subjects/birds/Allaboutbirds.html

    Peterson Online Bird Identification:  This site offers information about some North American birds.  http://www.petersononline.com/birds/month/

    John James Audubon's Birds of America:  This site offers information about North American birds as well as wonderful illustrations.  There is a section on State Birds (no information about the Rhode Island Red as it is considered a domestic bird rather than a wild native bird) and Extinct Birds.  Some pages include audio files of bird calls.  http://employeeweb.myxa.com/rrb/Audubon/

Audio:
 

  What Does a Bird Have That I Have Not?  This song is in mp3 format.
    The Birds Have a Language  This song is in mp3 format.
    How Does a Bird Sing?  This song is in mp3 format.