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Save the Bird

Elementary, Middle

Description

Save the Birds teaches students what happens to a bird when its feathers are covered in oil after a spill. Through a hands-on simulation, students explore how birds are affected by oil and how wildlife rescuers help oiled birds. Students will dip feathers in oil to simulate the oil spill. They will then try to clean them with water and dish soap.

Students will:

  • explain how bird feathers are affected by natural oils and oil from oil spills
  • describe how humans remove oil from birds’ feathers and the effects that process has on birds’ ability to fly

General Assessment

What skills does this resource explicitly teach?

  • Critical Thinking Skills
  • Analyzing
  • Understanding

Strengths

  • The resource is based on an experiment to make students understand the consequences that affect fauna during an oil spill.
  •  An online resource is available to share other means used by scientists to help birds after an oil spill.

Weaknesses

  • Information and documentation on the subject are not available to the teacher.
  • The resource does not present a real case where an oil spill occurred and the birds were rescued.

Recommendation of how and where to use it

Save the Bird is an easy to implement resource geared for younger students. Whether part of a larger study on habitats or an introductory lesson for wildlife protection this resource is an excellent fit for science outcomes.

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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  • British Columbia
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    • Grade 3
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      • Science
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        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
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      • Science
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        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Manitoba
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        • Growth and Changes in Animals
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        • Habitat and Communities
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        • Diversity of Living Things
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        • Diversity of Life
  • Northwest Territories
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        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
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        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Nova Scotia
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        • Science 2: Animal Growth
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        • Science 4: Habitats
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        • Science 6: Diversity of Life
  • Nunavut
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        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
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        • Life Systems: Diversity of Living Things
  • Ontario
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        • Animal Growth and Changes:Investigating the Needs and Life Cycles of an Organism
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        • Habitats
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        • Diversity of Life
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
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        • Animal Growth and Changes
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      • Science
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        • Habitats and Communities
  • Yukon Territory
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    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (2)

  • Appreciating the Natural World
  • Wildlife Protection

Waste Management (1)

  • Liquid Waste