GRADE FIVE SCIENCE

Hello Boys and Girls, Have you had a good week? Have you enjoyed all the Independence activites that were being conducted? May this new week be a very fruitful one for you.

Last week we discovered that the feathers have many different functions. Can you name at least five of them? Name them and explain a bit about them to someone in your household or someone nearby. This week we will look at the beaks and feet of birds. Have you ever looked carefully at the beaks and feet of birds that you know? How are they similar? How are they different? What do they tell you about the bird? Look at the beaks and feet of the birds in the pictures below.

The beaks of birds can be short and thick; long, thin and slightly curved; sharp, curved and pointed; spear-shaped; strong and chisel-like. Can you name birds with beaks of that description? The beaks of birds often tell us about the type of food they eat or how they eat their food.

A bird’s beak or bill has the primary function of gathering and eating food. A bird’s beak is designed to help it eat the foods it needs including tearing, crushing, picking, probing and breaking the shells of food items. Birds also use their beaks to preen or clean and oil their feathers. Preening keeps their feathers healthy and in the right position. Birds use their beaks like humans use their hands when they are building their nests and feeding their young. By looking at a bird’s beak we get clues about the bird’s lifestyle, where it lives and what it eats. Look at the chart below to find out more about types of birds’ beaks and what they eat.

Birds’ Feet Bird’s feet come in different sizes and shapes. A bird’s foot is designed to help it navigate in its environment and find the food that it needs.

Examine the feet of the birds in the picture below. What do you find?

Check to find out if the facts below are right about the use of the different types of feet of birds: ● three toes in front, one behind perching ● two toes in front, two behind climbing ● powerful, curved talons grasping prey ● webbed feet swimming ● long and thin wading ● thick and stout walking Until next week, goodbye, Boys and Girls