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How can you help a lost baby animal find its parents?
Plant & Animal Superpowers Unit | Lesson 1 of 7

How can you help a lost baby animal find its parents?

Plant & Animal Superpowers Unit | Lesson 1 of 7
Lesson narration:
Scroll for prep
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DISCUSS:
What do you see about the mother and baby that is the same?
What do you see that is different?
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DISCUSS:
How would you match these baby animals with their parents?
What did you notice that helped you match them?
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Check out this baby eagle and adult eagle.
DISCUSS: Which traits stay the SAME? Which traits CHANGE?

DISCUSS:

Some traits of baby birds change as they grow.

So, how could you match a baby bird with its parent?

Step
01/14
Find a partner.
Step
02/14
Let’s do a practice round together.
Discuss.
Step
03/14
Here’s what we noticed.
Step
04/14
Get your supplies.
Step
05/14
Challenge #1: Open your envelope that is labeled “A.”
Step
06/14
Here are three adult birds that also live in the forest. Talk with your
partner about which of these you think may be the parent of the
baby bird that Brenda found.
Step
07a/14
Circle the traits of the baby bird that helped you match it to an adult
bird.
Step
07b/14
Here’s what we noticed.
Step
08/14
Challenge #2: Open your envelope that is labeled “B.”
Step
09/14
Here are three adult birds that also live near the lake. Talk with your
partner about which of these adult birds you think may be the parent
of the baby bird.
Step
10a/14
Circle the traits of the baby bird that helped you match it to an adult bird.
Step
10b/14
Here’s what we noticed.
Step
11/14
Challenge #3: Open your envelope that is labeled “C.”
Step
12/14
Here are three adult birds that also live in the town. Talk with your
partner about which of these adult birds you think may be the parent
of the baby bird.
Step
13a/14
Circle the traits of the baby bird that helped you match it to an adult
bird.
Step
13b/14
Here’s what we noticed.
Step
14/14
Discuss:
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animal


1 of 7

a living thing that needs to eat other living things
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offspring


2 of 7

babies
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wildlife


3 of 7

animals and plants in nature
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trait


4 of 7

something you can observe about a living thing, such as the pointy beak of a bird
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observe


5 of 7

to pay close attention to something
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identify


6 of 7

to figure out what or who something is
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evidence


7 of 7

information that can be used to support or reject an idea
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Featured Reviews

“My students loved helping Brenda help the baby birds. They now know how to look for traits to help them observe their world.”
“We liked figuring out who each bird belonged to because it felt like we had a real job to do. We liked opening the enveloped to see which baby bird we'd have to identify. We loved learning the vocabulary word "trait" and getting to use it in action.”
“My students LOVED this lesson! They were all engaged and loved the idea of helping someone solve a problem. They made direction connections to our science standards we are covering right now. ”
“This activity really scaffolded critical thinking skills, discussion, and empathy for birds in the wild! We loved it. Well done!”
“The kids loved figuring out which baby bird matched the adult bird. They also loved seeing all the different animals and comparing the traits they observed. The lessons allowed for great partner conversation.”
Lesson narration:

Grade 1

Plant & Animal Structures And Survival

Parent & Offspring Traits

1-LS3-1

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students make observations of baby animals and their parents, gathering evidence that they look similar because they share many of the same traits. In the activity, Baby Bird Rescue, students help identify lost baby birds based on observations of their specific traits.
Preview activity

Exploration

16 mins

Wrap-Up

4 mins

Grade 1

Plant & Animal Structures And Survival

Parent & Offspring Traits

1-LS3-1

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