| Grade Level | System Requirement | Product Number |
|---|---|---|
| Grades 3-9 | Apple 128K | A216 |
| Kids are sent out on a bird-watching field trip, with instructions to identify as many birds as possible. Armed with an on-line field guide, kids send out an “observer” who brings back a description of each bird’s characteristics. They then compare their data with the field guide, identify the bird, and add it to the Backyard Bird Life List.Sharpens students’ powers of observation.Includes an extensive database. | ||
INTRODUCTION
Backyard Birds is a discovery-learning simulation that capitalizes on the natural curiosity of students and encourages them to use their curiosity while developing appropriate scientific processes and learning scientific content.
Backyard Birds is part of MECC’s Science Inquiry Collection. Like all the packages in this collection, Backyard Birds features a strong process orientation while presenting material that is firmly anchored in the elementary and junior high school science curriculum.
In Backyard Birds, students are challenged to identify a variety of North American birds while on a class field trip. Students “observe” the target bird by collecting information about the bird’s physical characteristics as well as its field marks and habitat. Students record the results of their observations to narrow the list of possibilities. The information collected enables the students to identify the bird by comparing its features to those of other birds.
Life science concepts addressed by or related to Backyard Birds include:
- Animals can be grouped and identified according to their characteristics.
- Animals are adapted to their environments.
- Bird wings, feet, feathers, and beaks are specially adapted for their survival.
Science process skills developed by Backyard Birds include:
- observing;
- communicating;
- comparing;
- organizing;
- relating; and
- inferring.