Focus on Feathers JN for Kids pages * Focus on Feathers Teacher Background * What Scientists Think Handout * What I Observe, What I Wonder Photo: Larry Koob Overview: Students closely observe photos of a robin's wing, pose questions, and think about the "why" behind the adaptations they see. Teaching Ideas Before Observations Before students view the Focus on Feathers photos, ask them try to draw a feather or wing from memory. Have students make KWL charts about feathers or wings. During Observations Ask students to describe one of the photos to a partner. Have them imagine they are "painting a picture" with words for someone who has never seen wings or feathers. Hand out copies of this chart for students to complete: What I Observe, What I Wonder. (You can also do this as a class.) Making Connections Pose this question and discuss it as a class: How do you think each thing (adaptation) you observed helps robins fly? Read What Scientists Think. Use these facts to guide more observations. (Older students can read the page themselves.) Ask students to draw a robin's wing. This time they should label the parts and what they do. Home assignment: Ask students to observe wings on two different birds outdoors. They can draw what they see and/or come to class ready to answer this question: How are birds' wings and feathers the same? How are they different? Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2019 Journey North. All rights reserved.