Apples
Robins / Bird Migration
Spring is in the air! And March and April are peak activity months for American Robins as they migrate home and build their nests. Each of these activities meets a variety of state and national standards for technology and core subject areas.
Grades K-2
As a class, look at and discuss pictures of robins – eating, bathing, flying, nesting, etc. Discuss common factors of mammals versus birds. Then have students use Visual Mapping software to create an idea web that shows differences between robins and themselves.
EasyTech units: Visual Mapping Basics
Grades 3-5
Have students use the Web to research robin appearances and songs so they can easily identify them. Also have them study online robin migration maps and note what they can expect of robin migratory activity in their area. Then have students use Word Processing software to create a document with two columns. In the left column, they should list expected robin behavior (in terms of migration, mating, feeding, nesting, etc.) for their area during these months, based on their research. In the right column, they should document actual observations: over the next couple of weeks have students look for, observe, and document any robin activity.
EasyTech units: Web Browsing Basics, Word Processing Basics
Aha!Science units: Life Science: Introduction to Life Science, Environments, Plant and Animal Biology
Grades 6-8
Have students use the Web to research how climate change, coupled with population growth/spread, has affected the migration habits of robins and other migratory birds. Then have students work in small groups to research and brainstorm ideas for how people can counteract those forces to help protect migratory birds. Each group should use Word Processing Software or Graphics software to create a poster, promoting one of those ideas through text and imagery.
EasyTech units: Web Browsing, Word Processing Software, Multimedia and Databases
