Animal Adaptations Activity- Bird Beak Lab

This is a hands on activity that helps students understand how the body parts of animals are adaptations that help them survive in their particular habitat.

Seven stations are designed that each have a mini poster with the picture of a bird and its food, various kitchen gadgets that simulate birds' beaks, and "food". Students test the different gadget beaks to see which one works best at picking up the designated food item for each bird. The gadgets and food can easily be found in your kitchen or at the dollar store.

As students go from station to station, they fill in their Bird Beak Data Sheet. The lesson will take from 45-60 minutes depending on the nature of your discussion at the end as the students share their results.

Standards covered: Students will identify factors that affect the survival or extinction of organisms such as adaptation, variation of behaviors (hibernation), and external features (camouflage and

protection). a.Identify external features of organisms that allow them to survive or reproduce better than organisms that do not have these features (for example: camouflage, use of hibernation, protection, etc.).