This week, as part of our bird study, we have been looking at adaptations of different bird groups. In particular, we have noticed the differences in the waterfowl that we are now taking a close look at for the Duck Stamp Contest and the local songbirds and birds of prey we observe around the school grounds.
One of the differences among birds of different subgroups is how they get around. While we are familiar with the flapping, soaring, flying of our backyard birds and hawks, other birds have features that are more suited to other modes of transportation. Some birds, like ostriches, emu and roadrunners, are largely running birds with powerful legs to give them speed on the ground. Other birds have webbed feet that allow them to swim by paddling through water.
Even our frequent flyers have other ways of moving about by hopping or strutting when not in flight. And we can't forget those penguins whose streamlined bodies are very well adapted for underwater swimming, though less graceful in their on land waddling.
In the outdoor classroom, each House Table team participated in a relay race of bird movements. Each student had a bird movement to emulate - flapping, soaring, hopping, running and waddling, as they also tried to be the fastest team to finish. We ran this relay several times to give kids the opportunity to try out different ways of moving. In our post-race discussion, many kids expressed their thoughts about which of those motions was the most tiring.
We also discussed other ways birds get around that we hadn't put into the relay. Kids identified swimming, "roller coastering" (the swooping flight pattern of many songbirds), strutting (the kids did an amazing job acting out the coordinated leg and head motions involved), and the hovering motion of hummingbirds which also allows them to be the only birds that can fly backwards!
This enjoyable learning experience gave us the chance to step into birds' "wings" and feel what it might be like to get around in other ways. Enjoy the pictures below from the relay!
