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Why do woodpeckers peck wood?

Why do woodpeckers peck wood?

Lesson narration:
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Slide Image

animal


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a living thing that needs to eat other living things
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beak


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the part of a bird that it uses to eat
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wing


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a body part used for flying
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forest


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a place with lots of trees
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footprint


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a mark left behind when a foot presses into soft ground
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food


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something that animals eat
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needs


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things an animal or plant must have in order to live
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survive


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to stay alive
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behavior


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what an animal does
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different


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not the same
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similar


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somewhat the same
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pattern


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something that happens again and again and again in a way that can be predicted
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Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Other
portrait of boy by Hogan Imaging
quail head by Nico Giuliani
video of quail scratching for seeds by Don Desjardin
video walking through forest by Zenvision TV
woodpecker on tree branch by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Mircea C
baby raccoon head on top of Pat's body by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Seregraff
raccoon by pool of water by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: eddtoro
treehouse by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: AfriramPOE
video walking through forest by Zenvision TV
hand by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: aloneman13d
quail head by Nico Giuliani
video of quail scratching for seeds by Don Desjardin
video of woodpecker pecking wood and demonstration by Benjamin Slade
video walking through forest by Zenvision TV
video walking through forest by Zenvision TV
boy standing (1) by Hogan Imaging
boy standing (2) by Sergey Novikov
close-up video of quail in wilderness by Phooj Vaj
girl standing by Sergey Novikov
raccoon walking in pool of water and staff demonstration by darlaz2b
seeds in palm of hand by Jcomeau ictx
video of woodpecker pecking wood and demonstration by Benjamin Slade
quail scratching for seeds by Don Desjardin
video of foraging raccoons and staff demonstration by Mossy Oak
video of quail flapping wings and Pat demonstrating by Texas Parks and Wildlife
video of quail scratching for seeds by Don Desjardin
video of woodpecker pecking wood and demonstration by Benjamin Slade
video of foraging raccoons and staff demonstration by Mossy Oak
video of quail scratching for seeds and Pat demonstrating by Don Desjardin
video close-up of foraging raccoons by Mossy Oak
video of foraging raccoons and staff demonstration by Mossy Oak
video of quail pecking for seeds and Pat demonstrating by Barbara Weaver
baby raccoon by Sonsedska Yuliia
pond snails in palm of hand by Water Garden Plants
video of quail sprinting and Pat demonstrating by Texas Parks and Wildlife
California quial by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: cynoclub
video of woodpecker pecking wood by Benjamin Slade
video of woodpecker pecking wood by Benjamin Slade
wood-boring insects by Charlotte Simmonds
video of woodpecker pecking wood by Benjamin Slade
squirrel eating acorn by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Mircea C
squirrel eating acorn by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Mircea C
squirrel eating acorn by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Mircea C
squirrel eating acorn by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Mircea C
Lesson narration:

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this lesson, students observe animal behaviors and work to discover a pattern: all animals seek food in order to survive. The activity, Eat Like an Animal, includes physical movement in which students act out animal behaviors, pretending to be quail scratching in the dirt, raccoons wading in the water, and woodpeckers pecking a log.

Preview activity

Exploration

8 mins

Wrap-Up

7 mins

Extend this lesson