Advanced Animal Adaptations Project - Interdisciplinary Unit on Birds

Looking for a challenging interdisciplinary unit? Developed for high ability students in fourth or fifth grade, this advanced project uses science, reading, research, and critical thinking to explore the nature of animal adaptation and its role in survival of birds.

Open the previews to get a closer look.

Essential Question: How do birds' adaptations prepare them for survival

Interdisciplinary Activities:

• Opener – Students generate examples and non-examples of adaptation. They determine categories and organize examples in them. Finally, students create a list of generalizations about adaptation.
• Beak Lab – In this hands-on science lab, students use a simulated pond environment and bird beaks to determine which bird – and organism – would survive best here. Kids consider how adaptations are advantageous for survival.
• Bird Jigsaw Reading Activity – For this jigsaw activity, each child reads closely to become an expert in one type of animal adaptation. They read, answer questions, and create posters.
• Research Project – First, each group of three students is assigned to one family of birds. Each member of the group chooses one bird from that family – tropical, temperate, and arctic. Then, using mind maps or research sheets, each child reads, researches, and records facts. After publishing their research reports, groups use tables and Venn diagrams to compare bird adaptations in that family.

Possible Timeline (45-60 minutes per class period)

This unit will take approximately three weeks.

• Opener – one or two class periods
• Science: Beak Lab – one class period
• Reading: Jigsaw Project – two class periods
• Research – six to ten class periods

Enjoy teaching animal adaptations!

Brenda Kovich

I'm committed to continual improvement. This bundle was updated on February 6, 2024.