Strictly For The Birds

Overview and Benefits

Project Design

Unit Plan Index

Instructional Strategies

Strictly For The Birds

At a Glance

Grade Level: Grade 7

Subjects: Natural Science, Language

Topics: Birds, the environment

Time Needed: 4 weeks - 2 lessons per week

Things You Need

National Curriculum Statements

Critical Outcomes
Work effectively with others;
Organise and manage oneself;
Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information;
Communicate effectively;
Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related problems

Learning Area outcomes:
Plans investigations;
Conducts investigations and collects data;
Evaluates data and communicates findings;
Recalls meaningful information;
Categorises information;
Interprets information;
Applies knowledge;
Understands science as a human endeavour;
Understands sustainable use of the earth's resources

Resources ›

Unit Summary
In this unit learners will not only gain an understanding of birds, but also improve their language skills and, finally, make a personal decision about the importance of birds to their lives.

Curriculum Framing Questions

	Critical Question: Do birds affect people's lives?
	Unit Questions: Is wildlife important? Do birds affect people's lives?

Instructional Procedures
Task 1
Brainstorming session: What do you know and think about birds? Learners will learn from each other. They will practise their skills of communication and will acquire knowledge about birds that they will need to verify. There is a template for this brainstorm activity.

Task 2
The rubric for assessing this presentation is available to view.

Task 3
Learners will create a Website using Microsoft Frontpage called Garden Birds. View the sample website.
Learners will have collected their data already according to the times and dates stipulated. They will then enter it according to the instructions into this website. The rubric for assessing the website is available.

Task 4
Planning Session: For publication - Strictly about Birds There is a room plan for learners to become assigned to groups. Learners will be put into groups and be assigned different roles - editor, sub-editor, reporters, cartoonist, researchers etc. There is a storyboard to assist learners create the publication.

Task 5
Learners are asked to create a Newsletter - Strictly about Birds - using Microsoft Publisher. A sample can be viewed and the rubric to evaluation this publication can be seen.

Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge of the characteristics of Birds. Organisation and management skills. Collection and handling of data. Presentation of data, collaboration and co-operation of working in groups.

ELSEN - Learners with special educational needs
Supply Special needs learner with a timeline to help guide them through the unit step by step. For Provide advanced learners with extension assignments:
Study the dynamics of Flight and how the structures of birds contributed to man's understanding of it.
Birds are often called "glorified reptiles", explore this statement and come to your own conclusion.
Deduce the level of diversification of birds in relation to other animals.

Assessment
Rubrics to assist assessment of each of the project steps are available.

Credits
Lucille Dunne of Herzlia School as part of the Intel Teach to the Future programme.

Resources
Information about birds is provided by this support document.

Useful websites used were:
Microsoft ® Encarta ® Reference Library 2002.
www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds*
www.ornithology.com/lectures/Introduction.html*
birding.about.com/library/weekly/aa051797.htm*
www.nhm.org/birds/guide/pg001.html*
Newman's Birds of Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman

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