Can a Bird Build-a-Beak? Using Inquiry to Address Student Misconceptions about Animal Adaptation

Authors

Katherine Larson, East High School, Des MoinesFollow
Mandy Kemp, Stehlik Intermediate School

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The fifth grade activity presented here is a modified version of a common cookbook approach to teaching animal adaptations. The original activity gave step-by-step directions that provided few opportunities for students to be engaged in deep thinking. In presenting our version of the activity, we make clear the critical role of the teacher in promoting higher order thinking and engagement. This animal adaptation activity helps students understand how the structure of various bird beaks determines the type of food it can successfully acquire and eat. This activity addresses two common misconceptions: that animals choose their adaptations and that animals adapt within their lifetime. This makes clear to students that “No, birds cannot build-a-beak!” The activity presented here promotes National Science Education Content Standards A and C, as well as Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Publication Date

Spring 2007

Journal Title

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Volume

34

Issue

2

First Page

8

Last Page

12

Copyright

© Copyright 2007 by the Iowa Academy of Science

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Larson, Katherine and Kemp, Mandy (2007) "Can a Bird Build-a-Beak? Using Inquiry to Address Student Misconceptions about Animal Adaptation," Iowa Science Teachers Journal: Vol. 34: No. 2, Article 4.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/istj/vol34/iss2/4