wings - flying
feathers - insulation, camouflage, attracting a mate, flight
hollow bones - lighter for flying
no teeth - teeth are too heavy
lay eggs - females couldn't fly if they carried their babies inside.
beaks/bills - eating the types of food they prefer
no ear flaps - would cause wind resistance
social behaviors (dancing, singing, etc.) - to attract a mate, defend territory, etc.
flying - mode of transportation
Children help with a concept-mapping activity to discover what makes birds unique.
Background
Birds are unique for a variety of reasons. Not only do they have physical characteristics that are different from most other animals, they also have unique behaviors.
Materials
chalk
blackboard
Draw a concept map on the board to brainstorm what makes a bird a bird (see illustration as an example). Write "birds" in the center circle. Then with the children's contributions fill in the attached balloons. Have a student copy the final map so that it can be referred to at other times during the unit discussions.
Discussion
Why do you think birds have these particular characteristics?
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