Grade: 3 

Key Concepts: Birds have 

many unique physical 

adaptations. 

Objectives: 

Students will be able to: 

- describe physical 

adaptations unique to 

birds 

- describe the purpose of 

the adaptations that help 

birds survive 

Possible Locations: 

- Discovery Room 

- anywhere on Refuge 

Materials Provided by the 

Refuge: 

- photo of a duck 

- bird part cards 

- 1 jacket 

- 2 wings 

- photos of down feathers 

and contour feathers 

- actual down feathers and 

contour feathers 

- 2 cardboard tubes 

- 2 balloons 

- 1 bill 

- 2 flippers 

- 10 binder clips 

Build a Bird 

Overview: In this activity, students will discover the general characteristics of 

birds by “building” a duck using common everyday materials. 

Science Content Standards Correlations: pg 9 

Activity Adapted From: Build a Bird, National Conservation Training Center 

Time Frame for Conducting this Activity (20 minutes) 

Introduction (5 minutes) 

• birds are uniquely adapted 

• what an adaptation is 

Build a Bird (15 minutes) 

• discover the different bird adaptations 

• use common everyday materials to transform a student into a bird 

How this Activity Relates to the Refuge’s Resources 

What are the Refuge’s resources? 

• significant wildlife habitat 

• endangered species 

• migratory birds 

• resident wildlife 

What makes it necessary to manage the resources? 

• Wildlife may eat or become entangled in trash such as balloons, 

fishing line and Styrofoam peanuts. 

• Loss of wetland habitats for wildlife due to development, such as 

landfills, buildings, agriculture land, roads, etc makes it more 

difficult for wildlife to find food, water, shelter and space. 

What can students do to help? 

Refuge staff acquire and preserve wetland habitat, but we need your help! 

• be responsible for your own trash 

• reduce, reuse and recycle, decreasing the need for landfills 

• never dump anything down storm drains – pollution can 

contaminate and destroy wildlife habitat 

• adopt a wetland or an endangered species 

• only take your dog to place they are permitted and keep it on a 

leash 

• keep your cat inside your house; they catch birds 

• teach others what you have learned about habitats and endangered 

species 
How to Lead This Activity by Following the 

“Do, Read, Ask” Teaching Format 

Introduction (5 minutes) 

Do 

Have students sit down in front of you. 

Read 

“Today we’re going to discover physical 

adaptations that birds have by building a bird 

out of common everyday materials.” 

Ask 

? What’s one thing that birds can do that 

most other animals can’t do? 

(Fly) 

Read 

“Birds have developed unique adaptations that 

allow them to fly, survive at high altitudes and 

allow them to eat without hands.” 

Ask 

? Before we go any further, can anyone tell 

me what an adaptation is? 

(If a species has an adaptation that means it 

changed physically or behaviorally to improve 

its conditions in its environment. Individuals 

can also adapt behaviorally, but not physically.) 

Build a Bird (15 minutes) 

Read 

“OK, now I need one volunteer to become our 

bird and six other volunteers to help construct 

our bird.” 

Do 

Pick a volunteer and have them come to the 

front of the group with you. 

Distribute the flash cards to the six other 

students. 

Read 

“Let’s start with our bird’s feathers, two kinds 

of feathers are found on all birds.” 

Ask 

? Those of you with flash cards take a look 

and see if you have one of the types. What are 

they? 

(Down feathers and contour feathers.) 

Read 

“We’re going to start with our down feathers. 

Close your eyes and imagine that you are a bird 

in flight. How does it feel to be soaring above 

the earth? Is it warm or cold? (cold) Our bird 

doesn’t have to worry though, because birds 

have adapted to these cold temperatures by 

growing down feathers.” 

Do 

Give your bird the jacket to put on. 

Read 

“Will my volunteer with the down feathers card 

read it for us please? (Down feathers are fluffy, 

under-feathers used for insulation.)

“Actually, a lot of birds line their nests with 

down feathers to keep their eggs warm, which is 

a behavioral adaptation.” 

Ask 

? Next we have the contour feathers; if down 

feathers keep birds warm, what do you think 

contour feathers are for? 

(Contour feathers are used for flight.) 

Do 

Pin the wings on your bird’s arms. 

Read 

“Will my volunteer with the contour feathers 

card read it for the group please? (Contour 

feathers are strong outer feathers used for 

flight. These feathers are also used as clothes 

and coloration.) 

“These feathers are a bird’s clothes because they 

protect and keep their down feathers dry. 
“Let’s take a look at actual feathers to see the 

difference.” 

Do 

Hold up the photo of the two types of feathers, 

if you have real ones pass them around. 

Ask 

? What are some differences between these 

two types of feathers? 

(Down feathers: softer, don’t “zip” together, not 

as stiff, fluffy 

Contour feathers: stronger, more wind resistant, 

“zip” together with hooks and barbs, more 

distinct colors) 

Do 

Collect the feathers and the photo of the feathers 

before moving on. 

Ask 

? Next, think about how much you weigh. 

Then think about how much a Bald Eagle 

weighs with its seven to eight foot wing span. 

Any guesses? 

(Bald Eagles weigh eight to 14 pounds.) 

? With that large of a wing span, how do you 

think they manage to keep their weight so 

low? 

(Hollow bones) 

Do 

Pin the cardboard tubes on your bird’s pants or 

arms. 

Read 

“Will my volunteer with the hollow bones card 

please read it? (Hollow bones help a bird keep 

its weight low so it can fly.) 

“Most of a bird’s weight is found in its breast 

and wings, where their flight muscles are.” 

Do 

Pick students who haven’t done anything yet. 

Read 

“OK, I need two more volunteers that haven’t 

had a chance to help yet. One who is really 

strong and one who is good at counting to come 

up to the front. 

“OK you’re going to try to flap your “wings” 20 

times in 10 seconds. You’re going to count how 

many times they flap their “wings.” The rest of 

the group is going to count to 10 with me. 

“OK, group we’re not going to count too fast, so 

follow my pace. 

“Ready? Start flapping! 

“One (Mississippi), two (Mississippi), three

(Mississippi)...10 (Mississippi) 

“OK counter, how many did they get? 

“How about you flyer, are you breathing a bit 

quicker than when you started? (yes) Was that 

harder for you than walking? (yes) 

“Air sacs are an adaptation birds have to help 

them fly.” 

Do 

Pin balloons on your bird’s jacket. 

Read 

“Will my volunteer with the air sac flash card 

read it for us please? (A lot of oxygen is needed 

to give birds energy to fly. Air sacs extend from 

the lungs, between and into hollow bones. They 

help maximize the absorption of oxygen.) 

“These air sacs enable the bird to take in enough 

oxygen to have sufficient energy to fly. These 

are crucial especially during those long 

migration flights.” 

Ask 

? The next adaptation helps birds eat. What 

do humans use to feed themselves? 

(Humans use forks, straws, chopsticks, fingers, 

lips, teeth, etc.) 
? Do you use different things to help you eat 

different foods? 

(Yes. Examples: salad – fork, French fries – 

fingers, Chinese food – chopsticks) 

Read 

“Different types of birds have different types of 

bills so they can eat specific types of food, kind 

of like our various tools.” 

Do 

Put the bill on your bird. 

Read 

“Will my volunteer with the bill card please 

read it for the group? (Bills are used for picking 

up food, nest construction, courtship, preening 

(cleaning and straitening their feathers) and 

defense.)

“Our bird is a duck, so its bill is used for 

scooping up plants, seeds, invertebrates 

(animals without backbones) then straining the 

water out.” 

Ask 

? Does a bald eagle have the same kind of bill 

that a duck has? (No) What kind of bill do 

they have and what do they use it for? 

(Raptors use their sharp-hooked bill for tearing 

meat and their talons for grasping mice or other 

rodents, small birds and fish.) 

? What about songbirds? What kind of bill 

do they have and what do they use it for? 

(Songbirds use their slim and sharp bills for 

catching insects and eating seeds.)

Read 

“We have one more part to our bird left, I’m 

thinking our bird doesn’t want to fly all the 

time, it might like some feet.” 

Do 

Pin the feet on your bird’s pants. 

Read 

“Will my volunteer with the feet card please 

read it for the group? (Feet are for walking and 

stability. In some cases, feet are important for 

helping birds find or catch prey.)

“Birds feet are uniquely adapted for the habitat 

they live in and their diet. For example raptors 

have talons to help them grasp prey and 

woodpeckers have feet for climbing so they can 

look for insects on trees. 

“Our bird is complete! Let’s do a quick review 

of our bird: 

 - down feathers for insulation 

 - contour feathers for flying 

 - hollow bones for low weight 

 - air sacs to help get enough oxygen 

 - beaks for eating 

 - feet for stability and walking 

“Good job! I need my volunteers with the cards 

to bring them to the front while I dismantle our 

bird. 

“Any questions before we finish?” 

Do 

If you’re the last group to use this activity 

gather all the materials and bring them into the 

visitor center or to the Refuge staff member that 

was helping your group. Thank you!