Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

Sign up now for tons of free lessons like this one!

Back > Share
Why do birds have beaks?
Plant & Animal Superpowers Unit | Lesson 2 of 7

Why do birds have beaks?

Plant & Animal Superpowers Unit | Lesson 2 of 7
Lesson narration:
Scroll for prep
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS: How are these beaks different?

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
🎉 That’s it for this lesson! How did it go?
Sign up now for more great lessons!
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Thinking Activity (Part 1)

A bird’s beak is like a tool that helps the bird eat. What kinds of tools would you use if you wanted to:

  • Crack a nut open?
  • Scoop cereal out of a bowl filled with cereal and milk?
  • Sip soda from a tall glass?
  • Catch a slippery fish?

Can you think of a bird beak that works like these tools?
If you’re stumped, advance to the next slide to see our ideas.

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Thinking Activity (Part 2)

At Mystery Science, we use nutcrackers for cracking nuts. A parrot’s beak is short and strong, and it works like a nut cracker.

A spoon is good for scooping up soggy cereal. It works like a duck’s broad bill.

A straw helps you sip soda from the bottom of a tall glass, just like the hummingbird’s beak lets that bird sip the sweet juice called nectar from the bottom of a flower.

A fork can stab a slippery fish, just like the pointy beak of an egret.

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

shape


1 of 13

how something looks, such as circle, square, or triangle
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

size


2 of 13

how big or small something is
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

structure


3 of 13

the specific form and shape of something
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

function


4 of 13

what something does
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

needs


5 of 13

something an animal or plant must have in order to live
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

food


6 of 13

something that animals eat
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

beak


7 of 13

the part of a bird that it uses to eat
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

mouth


8 of 13

the opening animals use to take in food and water
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

tongue


9 of 13

a part of the body, inside the mouth, used for taste
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

stomach


10 of 13

a part of the body where food goes after being eaten
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

survive


11 of 13

to stay alive
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

model


12 of 13

a pretend version of something that scientists use when the real thing is too big, small, or complicated to work with
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

experiment


13 of 13

a test used to discover new information about a question
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Lesson narration:

Grade 1

Plant & Animal Structures And Survival

Animal Structures & Survival

1-LS1-1

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this lesson, students carry out an investigation to determine the relationship between the shape of different bird beaks and the food each bird eats. In the activity, Find the Best Beak, students experiment with long pointy beaks that are great for picking up seeds and wide flat beaks that are good for scooping. They discover that different beaks are best for different kinds of food.

Preview activity

Exploration

15 mins

Wrap-Up

5 mins

Grade 1

Plant & Animal Structures And Survival

Animal Structures & Survival

1-LS1-1

Slow internet or video problems?