Citizen Science: Celebrate Urban Birds

SUBJECTS

TEACHER

Life Sciences

Megan Nico

GRADE
rd

Grade

DATE
April 7, 2015

Language Arts
Arts Integration
Technology Integration
OVERVIEW
Students will participate in a series of lessons in the life sciences, language arts, and the arts, which will integrate
the use of technology in the classroom. By participating in these lessons, students will learn about inherited traits
of a variety of living organisms (specifically, select bird species), how to identify important information in
nonfiction and expository texts, record their findings in a graphic organizer, practice observational skills and data
collection by identifying birds by their traits and recording the information, collaborate with peers by comparing
data collected with the whole class, how to compare/contrast the information they learn from research and data
collection, how to create a visual representation of their findings, and how to utilize technology to support their
learning.
TEACHER GUIDE
OBJECTIVES

(1) Life Sciences: Variation of Traits

Students will be able to identify that common traits exist between parents and offspring of living
organisms.

Students will be able to identify that offspring have traits that are inherited from their parents.

Students will be able to identify a variety of physical characteristics of birds.

(2) Language Arts: Research a Bird

Students will be able to identify specific characteristics and inherited traits of a particular bird
species, by referring to nonfiction books and expository texts to find the information.

Students will be able to utilize a graphic organizer to summarize the information they read about
birds in nonfiction books and expository texts, and then report their findings.

(3) Life Sciences: Data Collection: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Celebrate Urban Birds

Students will be able to practice observational skills and data collection by identifying birds by their
traits and recording the information on a data sheet.

Students will be able to collaborate with peers by comparing data collected individually with data
collected by the rest of the class.

Students will be able to how to compare/contrast the information they learn from research and data
collection.

Students will be able to identify the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Celebrate Urban Birds website as a
helpful online learning and research tool, which can be utilized to share data they collect during their
own research with the data collected by others.

(4) Arts-Integrated Lesson: Bird Mobiles

Students will be able to create original visual art pieces through drawing, coloring, and cutting.

Students will be able to identify visual art as one way of representing important concepts or ideas.

Students will be able to identify similarities and differences between their own individual work and the
work of their peers.

TEACHER GUIDE
STANDARDS

(1) Next Generation Science Standards:

3.Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits

LS3.B: Variation of Traits

Different organisms vary in how they look and function because they have different inherited
information. (3-LS3-1)

Patterns
Similarities and differences in patterns can be used to sort and classify natural phenomena. (3-LS31)

(2) Common Core State Standards:

English Language Arts Standards Language Grade 3

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning
word and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of
strategies.

English Language Arts Standards Reading: Informational Text Grade 3

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific
words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.5: Use text features and search tools (e.g., key words, sidebars,
hyperlinks) to locate information relevant to a given topic efficiently.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7: Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs)
and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and
how key events occur).

(3) Michigan Department of Education: Standards (Arts: Arts Standards)

Michigan Department of Education: Standards

Arts: Arts Standards (PDF)

ART.VA.II.3.5: Create artwork that aesthetically and creatively conveys an idea.

ART.VA.III.3.5: Discuss how personal experiences influence the creation of art.

ART.VA.V.3.4: Illustrate connections between the visual arts and other curriculum through student
artwork.

(4) ISTE Standards

ISTE Standards: Standards for Teachers

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity

b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools
and resources

2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments

a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to
promote student learning and creativity
d. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with
content and technology standards, and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching

3. Model digital age work and learning

a. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new
technologies and situations
d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze,
evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

TEACHER GUIDE
ACTIVITY

(1) Life Sciences: Variation of Traits

Provide students with background information about inherited traits. Utilize the RESCu online learning
resources provided below.

RESCu: Rice University Professional Development in Science (Online Learning Program): 3.10B
Inherited Traits
Teacher Background: Inherited Traits
Student Vocabulary Cards

Pass out vocabulary cards for students to draw pictures, write definitions, and practice using the
words in a sentence.

Vocabulary words: inherited, trait, characteristic, offspring.

Discuss vocabulary words as a class.

Informal assessment of student understanding (vocabulary):

Provide examples of each of the vocabulary words, then ask the students to use their vocabulary
cards to show which word best describes the example provided.
Example: Some birds have long beaks, whereas other birds have short beaks.
Correct student response for this example: trait

Using a computer and projector (or a SMART board), pull up the Animal Classification page. Utilize
the information pages and the online learning tool to engage students in a fun and motivational
activity.
Sheppard Softwares: Kids Corner: Animals >> Animal Classification

Instruct students to think about a variety of traits they have observed before about birds. Utilize a
projector to write a list of traits based on the responses from students. Use think-aloud technique to
introduce some new traits that students have not mentioned yet.

(2) Language Arts: Research a Bird

Based on the number of students in the class, assign students to groups of 2-3 and assign them a
specific bird species to research (list provided below).

Bird species listed on the tally sheet for the Celebrate Urban Birds lesson:
(1) American crow, (2) European starling, (3) American robin, house finch, (4) Baltimore oriole (in
the East), (5) house sparrow, (6) barn swallow, (7) killdeer, (8) black-crowned night heron, (9)
mallard, (10) brown-headed cow bird, (11) mourning dove, (12) Bullocks oriole (in the West), (13)
peregrine falcon, (14) cedar waxwing, (15) rock pigeon.
Note: eliminate either the Baltimore oriole or the Bullocks oriole, depending on location.

Utilize a variety of grade-level, nonfiction books about birds in the area. Make sure the books provide
a variety of information about the bird(s), especially: unique traits that are helpful in identifying the
bird(s), habitat, source of food, and differences between males and females.

Instruct students to research their bird and fill out the graphic organizer(s) provided; and then
explain they will be using this information again later, as a part of a presentation.
5-Column Chart: can be used to organize the categories and information learned about the bird
being researched (5 columns could include: traits, food, habitat, differences between males and
females, and interesting facts)
6 Photos: can be used by students to draw different traits unique to the bird they researched (such
as wing colors, beak shape and color, etc.)
Map of USA: students can use this map to color in the states in which their bird lives

(3) Life Sciences: Data Collection: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Celebrate Urban Birds

Utilize resources provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (pre-determine a space outside to do the
observation)

Log in to online account and show students how the whole class and myself will be working together
to collect data just like real scientists!

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Celebrate Urban Birds: Getting Started: Get Your Kit

Pass out the handouts included in the Starter Kit

Use PowerPoint provided by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which lists each of the birds we will be
researching and collecting data about, to review some of the major traits each of the birds has and
that we should look for during our observations

Instruct students to look at the Tally Sheet and explain that this sheet will be used during the
observation part of the experiment. Explain to students that we will be observing birds in their
natural habitat for 10 whole minutes! And let them know that they will need to pay close attention
and really watch for the birds, so they can check them off on their list when they view one. Remind
students to think about the traits they researched to help them identify the birds they see!

After data collection, use a projector to display a blank Tally Sheet and ask students to discuss with
their table groups and decide how many of each bird they saw during their observations. Tell them
we will decide as a class, just how many of each of the birds we saw.

TEACHER GUIDE
(4) Arts-Integrated Lesson: Bird Mobiles

Bird Mobiles - By Sarah Locke, Ithaca NY (provided by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Celebrate
Urban Birds)

Utilize previously created lesson plan to inform instruction. Teach students how to create mobiles to
represent the birds they researched.

Instruct each student to create their own bird. Once finished, help each table group to create a
mobile with each of the students birds attached.

Hang the bird mobiles above the table groups (or in a good place in the classroom where students
can easily observe them)

Instruct students to participate in a gallery walk and observe the similarities and differences in the
artwork of their peers compared to their own original artwork.

Instruct students to reflect on the ways in which the information they observed is represented in their
bird mobiles.

REQUIREMENTS

RESOURCES

Computer & Projector

Next Generation Science Standards

Common Core State Standards

RESCu: Rice University Professional Development in

Science
Student Vocabulary Cards
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Celebrate Urban Birds:
Welcome Letter
Silhouette Poster with Cool Facts
Celebrate Urban Birds Identification Poster
Data Sheet (also Spanish Data Sheet available)
Tally Sheet

Michigan Department of Education: Standards

ISTE Standards for Teachers
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Celebrate Urban Birds
(Information, Resources, and Online Database)
RESCu: Rice University Professional Development in
Science Inherited Traits (Online Learning Program)
Sheppard Softwares Kids Corner: Animals Animal
Classification
EdHelper.com: Graphic Organizers
National Geographic: Education: Graphic Organizers

PowerPoint Presentation to identify the 16 Celebrate Urban

Birds focal species
Bilingual Celebrate Urban Birds Brochure
Youth Certificate of Appreciation
Adult Certificate of Appreciation
Little Green Places Poster
Media Release Form (also Spanish Media Releases Form
available)
Tips for collecting data with groups
EdHelper.com: Graphic Organizers
Organizer Map of USA
Organizer 6 Photos
National Geographic: Education: Graphic Organizers
Five-Column Chart
Variety of Nonfiction Books about Birds
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Celebrate Urban Birds:
Arts-Integrated Lesson Plan: Bird Mobiles - By Sarah Locke,
Ithaca NY (refer to lesson for additional materials)