Birds' Epic Winter Journey
Explore the incredible distances birds travel to escape winter. Children will visualize and compare the migration routes of different birds, from a local robin to the amazing Arctic Tern, understanding the scale of these epic journeys.
The lesson goal is learners will understand why birds migrate for winter and compare the incredible distances different species travel. They will also learn to visualize these vast journeys by using physical tools and scaling to grasp the true scale of bird migration.
What You Need
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Learning Guide
Step-by-step guidance. No preparation required.
- 1
Breakfast Table Journeys5 Min
- Discuss journeys using a breakfast item. Ask: 'Where did this toast (or cereal) come from before it got to our table?' and 'What journeys do we take?'
- Move on when Student engages in discussion about journeys and considers if animals travel.
- 2
Explore & Plan Our Flight Path8 Min
- Ask: 'How far do you think birds fly south for winter?' Encourage initial guesses.
- Brainstorm materials: 'What could we use to show a really long distance right here in our room?'
- Introduce: 'A robin flies about 200 miles. How long do you think that looks?'
- Move on when Student offers ideas for measuring/visualizing distance and makes a prediction for the robin's flight.
- 3
The Meaning of Migration6 Min
- Define migration. Ask: 'Why do you think animals make such a big trip?'
- Introduce: 'A duck flies about 1,500 miles. How does that compare to the robin?'
- Move on when Student can explain what migration is in their own words and understands the purpose behind it, and compares the duck's distance to the robin's.
Photo by Çiğdem Bilgin on Pexels - 4
Mapping the Miles9 Min
- Choose a scale: 'How many miles will one inch (or cm) of string represent?'
- Measure and mark the robin's 200 miles on your paper or string.
- Measure and mark the duck's 1,500 miles, comparing it to the robin's length.
- Reveal the Arctic Tern's 44,000 miles and calculate its scaled length.
- Mark the Arctic Tern's distance, even if it goes beyond your current paper.
- Move on when Student has physically represented and compared the migration distances of the robin, duck, and Arctic Tern.
- 5
Reflecting on Remarkable Journeys2 Min
- Ask: 'What surprised you most about these bird journeys?' and 'What makes the Arctic Tern so special?'
- Move on when Student shares one key takeaway about bird migration or the distances involved.
Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels
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