Which type of feeder helps the greatest number of birds and why?
Download and reference First Grade: Exploring Missouri teacher guide pages 160-167 and student guide pages 128-131 for full lesson plan.
Portal Resources
Downloads
List of Materials
- MDC Natual Events Calendar
- Bird feeder and handing apparatus
- Birdseed (½ cup for each feeder) Black oil sunflower seed
- MDC Feeding Backyard Birds Poster (Order through the MDC Teacher Portal) (link) Can upload the linked poster
- Peanut butter or sunflower butter
- 1 pinecone for each student
- Butter knife or popsicle stick
- 7B Feeder Buffet Observation Log (link) Needs to be pulled from 508-compliant teacher guide pg. 167
- Article: Sarah’s Guide to Birds from the September 2019 issue of Xplor, upload the linked document
- Article: How to Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder from January 2016 issue of Xplor, upload the linked document
- Mini Field Guide: You Discover Backyard Birds from the January 2016 issue of Xplor, upload the linked document
Estimated Time
3 hours
- Engage: 15 minutes
- Explore: 30 minutes
- Explain: 30 minutes
- Elaborate: 60 minutes x 8 days
- Evaluate: 15 minutes
- Extend: 15 minutes
Lesson Extensions
Cross-Curricular Extensions
Community/Citizen Science
Use free apps to contribute your data to the greater scientific community, including Project Feeder Watch and Seek. Links to these apps are provided on the MDC Teacher Portal.
English Language Arts
Read Ruby’s Birds by Mya Thompson, then go outside and birdwatch in the schoolyard.
Use field guides to identify natural observations. A recommended guide is Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Birds: Eastern Region by Donald Stokes.
Standards
Topic
Engineering
Birds
Missouri Learning Standard
Next Generation Science Standard
Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI)
Science and Engineering Practices (SEP)
Crosscutting Concepts (CCC)