
What is a Bird?
Levels 1 and 2

NZC Achievement Objectives

Te Mātauranga o Aotearoa
The Organism: Discuss ideas about living things, so as to classify them according to observable differences.
Te Rauropi: Ka whakawhitiwhiti whakaaro mō ngā mea oreore, ka whakarōpū i runga i ngā rerekētanga.

Learning Intentions

Integration Ideas
Learning Intentions are from the Ministry of Education
Integration ideas are from the Ministry of Education
Level 1
Observe and identify types of common animals.
Students can observe different birds and name some of their key features.
Students can share their ideas about how birds could be grouped in different ways.
Level 2
Students can discuss differences and similarities in various living things that have been broadly grouped according to their external characteristics.
Students can explore and understand the functions of the main parts of birds.
The Arts (Dance): Move in response to environmental stimuli.
Mathematics and Statistics (Number and Algebra): Develop a number sense through exploring numbers of wings, feet, segments, antennae.
Mathematics and Statistics (Geometry and Measurement): Identify symmetries in the natural world.
Mathematics and Statistics (Statistics): Interpret the difference between the smallest and largest values, and explain the meaning of clusters or holes in a data display of animals in their local environment.

Related Topics
Resources

How many kinds of animals can you think of? Join Matthew as he investigates the unique features of different creatures around the planet and how they can be organised into a group called the animal kingdom!
Level
1-2
Type
Video
The Animal Kingdom
Everyday Science NZ
How many kinds of animals can you think of? Join Matthew as he investigates the unique features of different creatures around the planet and how they can be organised into a group called the animal kingdom!

Let’s delve into the realm of the Atua Tāne Mahuta and find out who’s living in
your yard. Let’s find out what they eat and what their tracks look like.
Level
1-4
Type
Outdoor Activity
Backyard Tracker
Whenua Iti Outdoors
Let’s delve into the realm of the Atua Tāne Mahuta and find out who’s living in
your yard. Let’s find out what they eat and what their tracks look like.

Two Pukeko chicks, Beaky and Bluey, get the chance to star in a TV commercial about energy efficiency. Their mother Ko is trained to turn off a light switch, but this is just the start. She explains the benefits of renewable energy. She also has many tips for saving energy, including energy efficient light bulbs.
Level
1
Type
Book
Beaky & Bluey See the Light
Genesis School-Gen
Two Pukeko chicks, Beaky and Bluey, get the chance to star in a TV commercial about energy efficiency. Their mother Ko is trained to turn off a light switch, but this is just the start. She explains the benefits of renewable energy. She also has many tips for saving energy, including energy efficient light bulbs.

Ready for an eggs-citing show? It’s the “Birds” episode. Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhcKZOO5OWk
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Birds
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Ready for an eggs-citing show? It’s the “Birds” episode. Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhcKZOO5OWk

This book focuses on the common birds of towns and gardens, local bush, waterways, and coasts, including both introduced and native New Zealand birds. These birds show how their various physical features, adaptations, and lifestyles enable them to survive in environments in which people's influence figures strongly.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity Book
Birds: Structure, Function, and Adaptation
Ministry of Education NZ
This book focuses on the common birds of towns and gardens, local bush, waterways, and coasts, including both introduced and native New Zealand birds. These birds show how their various physical features, adaptations, and lifestyles enable them to survive in environments in which people's influence figures strongly.

Climate disruption (or climate change) is causing huge problems for our penguins, and the effects are set to get even worse over time. What changes are your whānau (family) or kura (school/centre) making to help?
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Build your own Penguin Palace
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Climate disruption (or climate change) is causing huge problems for our penguins, and the effects are set to get even worse over time. What changes are your whānau (family) or kura (school/centre) making to help?

New Zealand is an island nation surrounded by expansive oceans. It is fitting that we have a rich and diverse coastal fauna.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity Book
Canterbury's Marine & Coastal Animals
Environment Canterbury
New Zealand is an island nation surrounded by expansive oceans. It is fitting that we have a rich and diverse coastal fauna.

Did you know that you can make some unique New Zealand animals from cardboard? Reuse some old boxes at your house and give this activity a go!
Level
1-4
Type
Art Activity
Cardboard Native Animals!
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Did you know that you can make some unique New Zealand animals from cardboard? Reuse some old boxes at your house and give this activity a go!

Chip & Chirpy are two fantails who begin to fly up to the sun. The sun says it’s too far and suggests they learn a song instead. Chip & Chirpy learn facts about the sun and then a tree comes to life and tells them about solar energy. Two children walk by with a little dog and they all sing the song together.
Level
1
Type
Book
Chip & Chirpy Meet the Sun
Genesis School-Gen
Chip & Chirpy are two fantails who begin to fly up to the sun. The sun says it’s too far and suggests they learn a song instead. Chip & Chirpy learn facts about the sun and then a tree comes to life and tells them about solar energy. Two children walk by with a little dog and they all sing the song together.

Room 3 has its own bird “takeaway table”, stocked with delicious bird food. The table is visited by over 13 different bird species. Room 3 reports on the study that made this happen.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2013 Level 2: ‘The Takeaway Table’
Ministry of Education NZ
Room 3 has its own bird “takeaway table”, stocked with delicious bird food. The table is visited by over 13 different bird species. Room 3 reports on the study that made this happen.

In 1880, when Alice McKenzie was 7 years old, she saw a large, blue bird. She thought the bird was a takahē. What if it wasn’t?
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2013 Level 2: ‘What Alice Saw’
Ministry of Education NZ
In 1880, when Alice McKenzie was 7 years old, she saw a large, blue bird. She thought the bird was a takahē. What if it wasn’t?

Nathan Burkepile is a scientist who wants to know what kind of pond ducks like best. Volunteers (citizen scientists) from around the country collect data for Nathan to analyse. Nathan works with the citizen scientists to make sure that the data they collect is reliable.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2015 Level 2: ‘Operation Duck Pond’
Ministry of Education NZ
Nathan Burkepile is a scientist who wants to know what kind of pond ducks like best. Volunteers (citizen scientists) from around the country collect data for Nathan to analyse. Nathan works with the citizen scientists to make sure that the data they collect is reliable.

For years, introduced predators have been killing birds along the Kepler Track in Fiordland. Students in the Kids Restore the Kepler project are working with the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Conservation Trust to reduce the number of predators living in the area. Their mission: to bring birdsong back to the Kepler.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2017 Level 2: ‘Bringing Back the Birdsong’
Ministry of Education NZ
For years, introduced predators have been killing birds along the Kepler Track in Fiordland. Students in the Kids Restore the Kepler project are working with the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Conservation Trust to reduce the number of predators living in the area. Their mission: to bring birdsong back to the Kepler.

Squawkzilla is a giant parrot that lived in New Zealand 19 million years ago. Its bones were dug up in 2008, but it was not correctly identified for another ten years. This article tells the story of Squawkzilla’s discovery. It demonstrates how scientists work and how it is possible to make educated guesses about what life used to look like millions of years ago. It shows that scientific “discoveries” often take time and require careful observation and teamwork.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2020 Level 2: ‘Squawkzilla’
Ministry of Education NZ
Squawkzilla is a giant parrot that lived in New Zealand 19 million years ago. Its bones were dug up in 2008, but it was not correctly identified for another ten years. This article tells the story of Squawkzilla’s discovery. It demonstrates how scientists work and how it is possible to make educated guesses about what life used to look like millions of years ago. It shows that scientific “discoveries” often take time and require careful observation and teamwork.

This resource provides ideas and learning experiences to enhance the native and endemic biodiversity in your green space.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Enhancing biodiversity in your green space
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
This resource provides ideas and learning experiences to enhance the native and endemic biodiversity in your green space.

A series of posters to support learning about Auckland's unique animal life, and to encourage outdoor exploration.
Level
1-4
Type
Poster
Fabulous facts about Auckland's wildlife
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
A series of posters to support learning about Auckland's unique animal life, and to encourage outdoor exploration.

Flight: Control in the Air covers the principles of flight and the structures and adaptations that make flight possible.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity Book
Flight: Control in the Air
Ministry of Education NZ
Flight: Control in the Air covers the principles of flight and the structures and adaptations that make flight possible.