Learning outcomes

Students will describe the physical structure of feathers and relate the various functions of the feathers to their make-up.

Resources

Plasticine or clay, feathers.

Directions

1. Discuss with students what birds look like. What types of feathers do they have? What are they used for? Why can some birds not fly?
2. Collect different sorts of feathers and press them into clay or plasticine. Pull the feather off and clean it, it will have left its imprint in the clay.
3. See if your students can determine which feather goes with what cast.

Useful links

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/

http://wings.avkids.com/Book/Animals/advanced/birds-01.html

http://www.aviary.org/curric/teachers/t_feather.htm