Illinois Birds Unit 1

Provided by: IL Department of Natural Resources |Published on: May 1, 2025

Lesson Plans

345

Synopsis

This 4-lesson unit on Illinois birds features background knowledge, vocabulary, student activity pages, extension activities, and diagrams to fully immerse students in learning about different species of birds found across Illinois.
Students will learn about traits that set birds apart from other animal species and the places they call home.

Subjects: Science

Authors: IL Department of Natural Resources

Region: Illinois

Languages: English

Positives

Students will get an in-depth look at different topics pertaining to Illinois bird species, including their adaptations and habitats, giving students a rich knowledge of the birds that share their neighborhood.
The unit is flexible, and individual lessons may be done in one continuous learning segment or broken up into separate mini-lessons as time allows.

Prerequisites

Teachers may want to consider pre-teaching the vocabulary highlighted on pages 2, 6, 10, and 15 of the lesson plan to help scaffold and build background knowledge for learners before teaching that daily lesson.
Teachers may want to consider printing the "Be a Bird! Be a Bird!" activity on page 8 on cardstock and/or laminating the activity in order to use it with multiple groups of students.
Teachers should print enough student pages for their entire class before beginning each lesson.
In order to complete the station activity in Lesson 4, teachers should read through the material list and set up the eight stations around the classroom.
Some of the tools in Lesson 4, like the screwdriver and pliers, may be viewed as dangerous if not handled properly. Teachers should go over safety rules with students before implementing the lesson.
Teachers may want to use pre-printed Venn diagrams for students to complete the compare/contrast activity on two different types of birds in Lesson 3.

Differentiation & Implementation

The teacher can use the feather diagram featured in Lesson 1 as a whole-class anchor chart and/or print mini versions for personal anchor charts in students' science notebooks.
Teachers may use the video Why is Biodiversity so Important to connect to biodiversity and how climate change may affect the biodiversity of different species of birds in Illinois.
The lesson discusses how bird feathers are an adaptation from reptiles. The lesson Things With Wings Outdoor Activity will also discuss how flight is an adaptation and allow students to observe that adaptation in the real world.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format