Design and Flight Lesson Plan
Ages: 7-12
General Theme: Animal Adaptations
Time: 2 class periods of 45-60 minutes each.
Materials:
Rocky Mountain Birds pages for Red Tailed Hawk, Swallows and Kingfishers
Fight and Design Research Observations worksheet
Computer and monitor to access and show YouTube videos
Paper airplane instructions from www.funpaperairplanes.com: Bulldog, Classic Dart, and Raptor
Flight and Design Conclusions worksheet
Objectives: To compare different bird shapes, and their feeding habits, with their flight patterns.
Conclusions: Birds' feeding habits determine their body shapes, which determine their flight style. So, a behavioral adaptation, can determine a physical adaptation.
Introductory Information
Physical Adaptation: A body feature which allows an animal to survive certain conditions.
Behavioral Adaptation: A behavior which allows an animal to survive certain conditions.
Question: How does a bird's feeding preference (its behavior) determine its body features (physical adaptations)?
Class period 1: Research and compare bird feeding habits, body shapes and flight patterns based on reading and video observation
Swallow flight
Kingfisher flight
5. After watching the video clips, allow students to add or change answers in their worksheet.
6. Discuss student observations, and check for understanding.
Class Period 2: Create paper airplanes, conduct test flights, compare the paper airplane designs to the bird flight patterns
Ages: 7-12
General Theme: Animal Adaptations
Time: 2 class periods of 45-60 minutes each.
Materials:
Rocky Mountain Birds pages for Red Tailed Hawk, Swallows and Kingfishers
Fight and Design Research Observations worksheet
Computer and monitor to access and show YouTube videos
Paper airplane instructions from www.funpaperairplanes.com: Bulldog, Classic Dart, and Raptor
Flight and Design Conclusions worksheet
Objectives: To compare different bird shapes, and their feeding habits, with their flight patterns.
Conclusions: Birds' feeding habits determine their body shapes, which determine their flight style. So, a behavioral adaptation, can determine a physical adaptation.
Introductory Information
Physical Adaptation: A body feature which allows an animal to survive certain conditions.
Behavioral Adaptation: A behavior which allows an animal to survive certain conditions.
Question: How does a bird's feeding preference (its behavior) determine its body features (physical adaptations)?
Class period 1: Research and compare bird feeding habits, body shapes and flight patterns based on reading and video observation
- Have students read Rocky Mountain Birds pages for Red Tailed Hawk, Swallows and Kingfisher.
- Based on their reading, complete this worksheet comparison.
- Students who finish early, can select another bird from the book and complete the same three questions for any bird in the book.
- If time allows, show the following bird videos:
Swallow flight
Kingfisher flight
5. After watching the video clips, allow students to add or change answers in their worksheet.
6. Discuss student observations, and check for understanding.
Class Period 2: Create paper airplanes, conduct test flights, compare the paper airplane designs to the bird flight patterns
- Find paper airplane designs on www.funpaperairplanes.com
- Print equal numbers of "Raptor," "Classic Dart," and "Bulldog" airplane instructions so that each student has one paper airplane to fly, or have pairs work together. Younger students will need help with this step. *Alternately, fold one sample of each airplane to use as a teacher facilitated demonstration.
- Once students complete their airplane, allow time (in a wide open space) for test flights and fun.
- Once all students are complete, have all the Raptors group together fly their planes. Next, have all the Classic Darts group together and fly their planes. Finally, all Bulldog airplanes fly.
- Group Discussion: Which airplane flew most like the hawk? What features of the plane are similar to that of the hawk? Which flew most like the Kingfisher? What features of the plane are similar to that of the Kingfisher? Which flew most like the swallow? What features are similar to the swallow?
- Alternately, have students record their answers to these questions on this worksheet.