Cummings 8
Lesson Plan/Unit Topic: Birds
By:
Lorraine Cummings
Submitted to:
Dr. John Dindo
through The University of West Alabama
for Beaches, Birds & Barrier Islands
Summer 2003
Lesson Plan 1: Introduction to Birds
Descriptions:
v 24 twelfth grade Zoology students from Russellville High School in Russellville, AL
v Content to be covered is a complete unit on Class Aves: Birds in a 96-minute class period
v ALSCS (Alabama State Course of Study) in Zoology: 10, 11, 22, 24, 25, 27
v AHSGE (Alabama High School State Graduation Exam): III-1& 3
Objective:
After a brief PowerPoint presentation of common songbirds common to Northwest Alabama and an introductory lecture on birds, students will be able to distinguish between common birds and will know general characteristics of birds.
Blooms Taxonomy:
1. The student will be able to identify common song birds of Northwest Alabama.
2. The student will be able to recognize bird songs of the Northwest region of Alabama.
3. The student will write a comparative essay on the finding of the article “Was Archaeopteryx a Dinosaur or bird?”.
4. The student will compare and contrast the characteristics of birds to reptiles.
Activities:
Teacher
v Describe the objectives of the lesson to the student
v Present PowerPoint presentation to students
v Lecture (I & I of notes): Introduce birds
Student
v Listen to the introduction of the lesson
v Participate in power point presentation by making notes of different birds & songs to know
v Take notes from lecture
v Homework: Read article “Was Archaeopteryx a Dinosaur or bird?” Write a one page summary based on information in text and article.
Resources:
v Gill, F. (1994). Ornithology (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company
v Harris, C. (1996). Zoology 2nd ed.). New York: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc.
v Prentice Hall Biology text
v Prentice Hall Resource Pro CD-ROM for all ancillary materials
v Beaches, Birds & Barrier Islands resource materials
Evaluation:
Students will complete a visual & birdsong identification test toward the end of the unit. Lecture material will be included in a test at the end of the unit.
Lesson Plan 2: Feathers & Wing Types
Descriptions:
v 24 twelfth grade Zoology students from Russellville High School in Russellville, AL
v Content to be covered: Feathers & Wing Types in a 96-minute class period
v ALSCS: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 27
v AHSGE: I-1, III-3
Objective:
After a brief lecture on feathers & wing types, students will participate in a forensic laboratory investigation of feathers.
Activities:
Teacher
v Describe the objectives of the lesson to the student & review previous concepts
v Lecture (III & IV of notes): Feathers & Wing Types
v Monitor students in laboratory investigation
Student
v Listen to the introduction of the lesson
v Take notes from lecture
v Participate in a laboratory investigation of feathers
v Homework: review birdsongs & pictures
Resources:
v Gill, F. (1994). Ornithology (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company
v Harris, C. (1996). Zoology 2nd ed.). New York: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc.
v Prentice Hall Biology text
v Prentice Hall Resource Pro CD-ROM for all ancillary materials
v Beaches, Birds & Barrier Islands resource materials
v Appropriate lab materials, (see lab handout)
Evaluation:
Students will complete laboratory evaluation. Lecture material will be included in a test at the end of the unit.
Lesson Plan 3: Bird Systems & Field Trip
Descriptions:
v 24 twelfth grade Zoology students from Russellville High School in Russellville, AL
v Content to be covered: Bird Systems in a 96-minute class period
v ALSCS: 4, 5, 7, 27
v AHSGE: III-3, V-1
Objective:
After a brief lecture on bird systems, students will participate in a bird identification field trip.
Activities:
Teacher
v Describe the objectives of the lesson to the student & review previous concepts
v Lecture (V & VI of notes): Body & Systems
v Monitor students during field excursion to identify birds
Student
v Listen to the introduction of the lesson
v Take notes from lecture
v Participate in identification field trip
v Homework: review birdsongs & pictures
Resources:
v Gill, F. (1994). Ornithology (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company
v Harris, C. (1996). Zoology 2nd ed.). New York: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc.
v Prentice Hall Biology text
v Bird identification books
v Binoculars
Evaluation:
Students will complete a visual & birdsong identification test toward the end of the unit. Lecture material will be included in a test at the end of the unit.
Lesson Plan 4: Courtship & Nesting
Descriptions:
v 24 twelfth grade Zoology students from Russellville High School in Russellville, AL
v Content to be covered: Courtship & Nesting in a 96-minute class period
v ALSCS: 4, 7, 25, 32
v AHSGE: I-1, III-3, VI-1
Objective:
After a brief lecture on courtship & nesting, students participate in a video quiz while watching a 30-minute Eyewitness video on birds.
Activities:
Teacher
v Describe the objectives of the lesson to the student & review previous concepts
v Lecture (VII & VIII of notes): Courtship & Nesting
v Monitor students during video & video quiz
Student
v Listen to the introduction of the lesson
v Take notes from lecture
v Participate in video & quiz
v Homework: bird coloring pages
Resources:
v Gill, F. (1994). Ornithology (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company
v Harris, C. (1996). Zoology 2nd ed.). New York: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc.
v Prentice Hall Biology text
v Beaches, Birds & Barrier Islands resource materials
Evaluation:
Students will complete a visual & birdsong identification test toward the end of the unit. Lecture material will be included in a test at the end of the unit.
Lesson Plan 5: Migration & Shorebirds
Descriptions:
v 24 twelfth grade Zoology students from Russellville High School in Russellville, AL
v Content to be covered: Migration & Shorebirds in a 96-minute class period
v ALSCS: 4, 7, 26, 27
v AHSGE: I-1, III-3, VI-1
Objective:
After a brief lecture on migration drawing of the 6 major flyways of migratory birds North America, students will participate in identifying shorebirds.
Activities:
Teacher
v Describe the objectives of the lesson to the student & review previous concepts
v Lecture (IX of notes): Migration & Shorebirds
v Monitor students during drawings & identification activity
Student
v Listen to the introduction of the lesson
v Take notes from lecture
v Draw flyways of migratory birds of North America
v Shorebird identification activity
v Homework: finish bird coloring pages
Resources:
v Gill, F. (1994). Ornithology (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company
v Harris, C. (1996). Zoology 2nd ed.). New York: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc.
v Prentice Hall Biology text
v Beaches, Birds & Barrier Islands resource materials
Evaluation:
Students will complete a visual & birdsong identification test toward the end of the unit. Lecture material will be included in a test at the end of the unit.
Lesson Plan 6: Field Trip & Review
Descriptions:
v 24 twelfth grade Zoology students from Russellville High School in Russellville, AL
v Content to be covered: Field Trip & Review in a 96-minute class period
v ALSCS: 4, 5, 7, 27
v AHSGE: I-1, III-3, V-1
Objective:
After a brief review of previous content, students will participate in a bird identification field trip.
Activities:
Teacher
v Describe the objectives of the lesson to the student & review previous concepts
v Lecture (IX of notes): Migration
v Monitor students during drawings
Student
v Listen to the introduction of the lesson
v Take notes from review
v Participate in identification field trip
v Homework: study for test
Resources:
v Gill, F. (1994). Ornithology (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company
v Harris, C. (1996). Zoology 2nd ed.). New York: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc.
v Prentice Hall Biology text
v Beaches, Birds & Barrier Islands resource materials
Evaluation:
Students will complete a visual & birdsong identification test toward the end of the unit. Lecture material will be included in a test at the end of the unit.
Lesson Plan 7: Lecture Test
Descriptions:
v 24 twelfth grade Zoology students from Russellville High School in Russellville, AL
v Content to be covered: Birds in a 96-minute class period
v ALSCS: 4, 5, 7, 27
v AHSGE: I-1, III-3, V-1
Objective:
Students will take a lecture test on previously discussed materials.
Activities:
Teacher
v Describe the objectives of the lesson to the student & review previous concepts
v Monitor students during test
Student
v Listen to the introduction of the lesson
v Take lecture test
Resources:
v Gill, F. (1994). Ornithology (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company
v Harris, C. (1996). Zoology 2nd ed.). New York: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc.
v Prentice Hall Biology text
v Beaches, Birds & Barrier Islands resource materials
Evaluation:
Students will complete a lecture test on content related to birds discussed previously.