This unit of work is part of Science | Putaiao @ Te Papa. Over two weeks, students will embark on a journey of discovery about how and why animals fly and the reasons why humans fly.

Below you’ll find some general information, including how the unit fits within the New Zealand Curriculum.

The section ‘Suggested learning experiences’ links you through to eleven lessons, which make up the body of the unit.

Suitability
Years 3 - 6
Achievement levels 2 - 4

Length of unit
Two weeks

Curriculum area
Science

Contextual strands
Making Sense of the Living World

Achievement aims

In their study of the living world, students will use their developing scientific knowledge, skills, and attitudes to:

Level 2
1 - use differences and similarities in external characteristics to distinguish broad groups of living things, for example, mammals, frogs, fish, birds, insects;

2 - investigate and understand the general functions of the main parts of animals and plants, for example, skin, ears, bones, tail, wings;

4 - investigate the responses of plants or animals, including people, to environmental changes in their habitats, for example, bird migration.

Level 3
1 - distinguish between living things within broad groups on the basis of differences established by investigating external characteristics, for example, moth, butterfly, bee, fly;

2 - investigate special features of common animals and plants and describe how these help them to stay alive;

4 - explain, using information from personal observation and library research, where and how a range of familiar New Zealand plants and animals live.

Level 4
2 - investigate and describe special features of animals or plants which help survival into the next generation.

Making Sense of Planet Earth and Beyond

Achievement aims

In their study of planet Earth and beyond, students will use their developing scientific knowledge, skills, and attitudes to:

Level 2
2 - understand that Earth is very old and that animals and plants in past times were very different (see lesson three).

Making Sense of the Physical World

Achievement aims

In their study of the physical world, students will use their developing scientific knowledge, skills, and attitudes to:

Level 3
1/2 - investigate and describe their ideas about some commonly experienced physical phenomena to develop their understanding of those phenomena (see lesson eight).

Integrating strands
Making Sense of the Nature of Science and its Relationship to Technology

Developing scientific skills and attitudes

Focussing and planning
Information gathering
Processing and interpreting
Reporting

Links to other curriculum areas

Technology
Technological Capability - level 2 (see lesson eight)
Technology and Society - level 4 (see lesson eight)

Social Studies
Place and Environment - level 2 (see lesson nine)
Time, Continuity, and Change - level 3 (see lesson eight)

The Arts
Drama (see lesson six)
The Visual Arts - levels 2 - 3 (see lesson ten)

English
Oral Language: Speaking - level 2 (see lesson six)
Visual Language: Presenting - levels 3 - 4 (see lessons six, eight, and nine)

Programme overview

This programme offers students an opportunity to explore the wonderful world of flight both in the natural environment and in the human world. Students will embark on a journey of discovery about how and why animals fly and the reasons why humans fly.

Learning outcomes

Students will:

• Investigate introduced and native species of birds living in New Zealand.
• Understand that there are different birds that live in different ecosystems.
• Understand birds are not the only creatures with wings.
• Understand the physical structure of feathers and relate the various functions of the feathers to their make-up.
• Know what an ecosystem is, and understand why birds and other flying animals are important to ecosystems.
• Understand why some animals migrate such long distances and where they go.
• Gain knowledge of some of the püräkau (legends and stories) about manu (birds) from Aotearoa.
• Understand the principles and dynamics of flight by discussing the Bernoulli effect.
• Gain knowledge of some inventors and their flying machines.
• Build on existing knowledge to understand more about animals that fly.
• Investigate different modes of transport that can fly and why we use these flying machines.
• Investigate some of the different ways in which feathers, and other bird parts, are used by people.

Post or pre-visit activities

Check out these websites for ideas about activities you can do with your class before or after your visit to Te Papa. They will aid in learning about this fantastic subject!

http://www.nzbirds.com/maorikite.html
Stories and activities based on manu tukutuku (Mäori birdman kites) and how kites fly.

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/forces.html
Activities and explanations about how aircraft fly.

http://www.tki.org.nz/r/wick_ed/themes/flight.php

http://www.lsc.org/lscyouth/programs/psd2003/index.html
Liberty Science Center Birds in Flight resource.