Source Institutions
Source Institutions
Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this outdoor beach activity, learners use a variety of "beaks" (such as trowels, spoons or sticks) to hunt for organisms that shore birds might eat. Each learner receives a “beak” and a “stomach.” After searching for food, the “birds” gather to examine the contents of their stomachs. The activity closes with the learners trying to discover how real shorebirds find their food. This activity not only gets learners thinking about adaptations for survival but provides a chance to observe bird behavior.
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 45 to 60 minutes
- $5 - $10 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity, Field Trip, Lesson/Lesson Plan, Simulation
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- "beaks" (e.g. trowels, spoons, and popsicle sticks)
- "stomachs" (half a milk carton or other suitable container)
- magnifiers
- large index cards
- pencils
- tide table (for saltwater sites)
- "Use of the Tide Table" Technique Card (page 5 of PDF)
- guide to local shore birds (optional)
- binoculars (optional)
Subjects
-
Earth and Space Science
-
Earth Structure
- Oceans and Water
-
Earth, Moon and Sun
- Tides
-
Earth Structure
-
Life Sciences
-
Diversity of Life
- Animals
-
Ecology
- Ecosystems
- Populations
-
Diversity of Life
-
Mathematics
-
Data Analysis and Probability
- Data Collection
-
Data Analysis and Probability
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Asking Questions
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
-
The Scientific Process
Informal Categories
- Animals
- Nature and Environment
- Outdoor Activity
- Physical Activity
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- be mobile
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, The Regents of the University of California, 1982