Wings for teachers - Lesson Four

North Island brown kiwi, Apteryx mantelli
(adult male)

Students will describe what an ecosystem is, and investigate why birds and other flying animals are important to ecosystems.

Students will recognise that there are different birds that live in different ecosystems.

Paper and paint/crayons/felts for mural.

Discuss with class what an ecosystem is and the different ecosystems of New Zealand - along with some of the more common species of birds that live in New Zealand ecosystems (for example, mountains, forests, wetlands, coastal, sea).
Discuss with class the ecosystems that flightless birds live in and their adaptations to their environment. Try to determine the reasons for their colouring, for example, camouflage, to attract a mate, as a warning signal, and so on. Can the class recognise the predominant species of flightless birds in New Zealand? For example, the kiwi, käkapö, and takahë. Why do you think these birds became flightless?
Students will then create a class mural of common New Zealand birds in a particular ecosystem, placing the birds in the areas they live in.