Winter
Ruby-throated Hummers
How Can They Survive in the States?
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to Lesson)
| Grades: 3+ |
Overview:
In
Journey North, unusual sightings are common — a Monarch spotted
in England or a hummingbird sighted too "early" in the season,
for instance. This lesson asks students to think like scientists who
ask questions about observers and their data, gather new information,
and try to explain events that break from an expected pattern. Here
we focus on reports ruby-throated hummingbirds that spent the winter
in the States, rather than in their Central American wintering grounds.
Learning Outcomes:
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Observe a hummingbird distribution map. Understand that the ruby-throated hummingbirds spotted this winter were north of their normal winter range.
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Understand that scientists ask questions about observations, climate, and other types of data to make sense of unusual findings.
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Pose theories about how ruby-throated hummingbirds might survive the winter in the United States.
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Discover factors that some bird researchers think enable some ruby-throated hummingbirds to overwinter in the United states.
Teaching
Note: Digging Deeper
Use the following list of questions and resource links to help
your students make sense of unexpected findings and sightings throughout
Journey North's spring season.
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Making Sense of Unusual Findings: Questions to Ask >>
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