Museum Kits

Students build a bird feeder to attract birds. Students observe and record the visiting bird types, as well as documenting their eating behaviors.

Unifying Concepts and Processes: 4.1.2, 8.1.2

Science as Inquiry: 4.2.1, 8.2.1

Life Science: 4.4.1

Part 1 - Birdfeeder OBIS Activity Contents:

Birdfeeder OBIS Activity

National Audubon Society First Field Guide Birds

10 Waterfowl Identification in the Central Flyway

National Geographic Society Field Guide to the Birds of North America

3 Golden Guide Birds

3 Peterson First Guide to Birds of North America

Who's Who in Great Plains Songbirds

UNSM Museum Notes #95 "Windows of Death: A Look at Bird Strikes"

15 How Birds Get a Living reference sheet (see Bird Adaptations)

America's Bald Eagle poster

Endangered Means There is Still Time poster

2 Help Support Nebraska's Nongame Wildlife poster

Sandhill Cranes' Spring Migration to Central Platte River Valley poster

Support Nebraska's Nongame Wildlife Fund poster

Students observe bird size, shape, characteristics and field marks. Students draw and record observations, using field guides to identify birds.

Unifying Concepts and Processes: 4.1.2

Science as Inquiry: 4.2.1, 8.2.1

Life Science: 4.4.1, 8.4.5

Part 2 - UNSM Using a Field Guide Contents:

Bird Identification UNSM Activity

Field guides:

Students observe and record bird food color preference behavior.

Unifying Concepts and Processes: 4.1.2, 8.1.2

Science as Inquiry: 4.2.1, 8.2.1

Life Science: 4.4.1, 8.4.3, 8.4.5

Part 1 - Jay Play Contents:

Jay Play OBIS Activity

Students provide a feeding station to observe and identify eating behaviors.

Unifying Concepts and Processes: 4.1.2, 8.1.2

Science as Inquiry: 4.2.1, 8.2.1

Life Science: 4.4.1, 8.4.3

Part 2 - For the Birds Contents:

For the Birds OBIS Activity

Students identify birds by their sounds and create their own methods of representing birdcalls and songs.

Life Science: 4.4.1, 8.4.5

Part 3 - Bird Sounds Contents:

Bird Sounds OBIS Activity

Bird Sounds audio tape

Describing Bird Sounds (template)

Peterson Field Guides Eastern/Central Birding by Ear

Birds of the Backyard Winter into Spring video

Students build bird nests using a wide range of materials. Students create a variety of nests in various shapes and sizes, appropriate for different types of birds.

Part 1 - Bird Nests OBIS Activity Nebraska Science Standards:

Unifying Concepts and Processes: 4.1.2, 4.1.4, 8.1.2, 8.1.4

Life Science: 8.4.4, 8.4.5

Science and Technology: 4.6.3

Part 1 - Bird Nests OBIS Activity Contents:

Bird Nests OBIS Activity

Students examine nests and record observations about the type of bird using the nests and the environments in which they could be found.

Part 2 - UNSM In a Nest Nebraska Science Standards:

Unifying Concepts and Processes: 4.1.2, 8.1.2

Science as Inquiry: 4.2.1, 8.2.1

Life Science: 4.4.2, 8.4.5

Part 2 - UNSM In a Nest Contents:

In a Nest UNSM Activity

National Audubon Society First Field Guide Birds

Golden Guide Birds

Peterson First Guide to Birds of North America

Who's Who in Great Plains Songbirds

Eyewitness Books Bird

Hanging bird nest

Bowl shaped bird nest

Students discover the Sandhill Cranes' migration path through the central flyway by using scientific data and mapping skills.

Nebraska Science Standards:

Unifying Concepts and Processes: 4.1.2, 8.1.2

Life Science: 4.4.2, 4.4.3, 8.4.3, 8.4.4

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: 8.7.2

Contents:

Migration Path UNSM Activity

20 Migration data sets (5 sheets)

20 Small maps of North America

Stickers (blue, green, red)

Sandhill Crane-World Migrant video

Sandhill Cranes Wings Over the Platte

UNSM Notes #93: The Cranes of Nebraska

Large map of the World

Sandhill Cranes Spring Migration poster

Wonders of Migration "Background Information"

Students investigate wingbeats of a variety of bird types and discover the reasons for these differences.

Part 1 - NWF Flappers Nebraska Science Standards:

Unifying Concepts and Processes: 4.1.2, 8.1.2

Life Science: 4.4.1, 8.4.5

Part 1 - NWF Flappers Contents:

Flapper NWF Activity

Birds, Birds, Birds - NatureScope

Students will use tools to demonstrate the adaptations of bird beaks.

Part 2 - NWF Fill the Bill Nebraska Science Standards:

Unifying Concepts and Processes: 4.1.2, 4.1.4, 8.1.2, 8.1.4

Science as Inquiry: 4.2.1, 8.2.1

Life Science: 4.4.1, 4.4.3, 8.4.5

Part 2 - NWF Fill the Bill Contents:

Fill the Bill NWF Activity

Birds, Birds, Birds - NatureScope

Students create bird feet and explain why their adaptations allow for survival.

Part 3 - NWF Feet are Neat Nebraska Science Standards:

Unifying Concepts and Processes: 4.1.2, 4.1.4, 8.1.2, 8.1.4

Life Science: 4.4.1, 4.4.3, 8.4.5

Part 3 - NWF Feet are Neat Contents:

Feet are Neat NWF Activity

Birds, Birds, Birds - NatureScope