STEM Challenge - Project: Birdman - Design a Bird Beak for a Feeding Frenzy

Engage your students with this week-long STEM challenge.

The Challenge:

Have you ever noticed that different species of birds have different shaped beaks? You

would expect birds that live in the same habitat to eat the same food sources.

However, to avoid competition with each other, birds have had to adapt over time to

fill different niches within the habitat. One of those adaptations is the shape of the

birds beak, which is used to gather and eat food. You will be given a limited amount of

supplies to construct bird beaks which are best suited to gather and capture food

within the niche. The problem is that you don't know what the niches or food will look

like. Each of your beaks will be highly specialized to gather the most food possible in a

given timeframe. Your beaks will need to overcome the following feeding behaviors:

tearing, cracking, sipping, drilling, picking, probing, striking, straining, and scooping.

Do your research about the feeding behaviors to have the best chance of success

during the challenge. Along the way you will also uncover how Charles Darwin's theory

of evolution by natural selection is related to bird beaks. Get to work. The survival of

your species depends on it!

What's Included

• The 21st-century problem includes a video challenge which outlines the activity in a fun and easy to understand way.

• The slideshow presentation (PPT and Keynote) allows the teacher to facilitate the pacing throughout the project.

• The teacher lesson plans include TEKS and NGSS standards alignment, and step-by-step directions on what the teacher and students should be doing along the way.

• The student notebook will guide the student through the activity. The questions will challenge students to learn new information, reflect on learned information, and provide the students a framework for the entire project.

• Each lesson is written using the Launch process. Students are going to be brainstorming with their peers and reflecting on failures and opportunities. At the end of each project, we’ve asked the students to share their ideas with the world. This holds students accountable. They will put forth the best effort knowing other students could critique the project.

What Supplies Do I Need?

Each product contains a list of suggested supplies for the project. We were very cautious about choosing inexpensive items. This project has a suggested supply list that includes: Plastic silverware, Toothpicks, Rubber bands, Cardboard, Chopsticks, Straws, Pencils, Scissors, Pipe cleaners, Plastic bottle tops, Paper, Beans, Rice, Sponge, Marbles, Nerds (candy), Pistachios with shells

The supply list is dynamic and can be adjusted to your situation.

NGSS and TEKS Standards

Aside from the engineering components of this project, students will be learning about Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution through natural selection.

NGSS: MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4, MS-LS4-4, MS-LS4-6

TEKS: 8.11C

Other STEM Challenges

Project: Rocket Launch - Create Rocket That is Ready for Launch

Project: Birdman - Design a Bird Beak for a Feeding Frenzy

Project: Electric - Design a System to Harness Wave Energy

Project: Hurricane Defender - Build a Hurricane Proof House

Project: Inhabit Mars - Build a Landing Device for Mars

Project: Lunar Base - Design a Lunar Colony

Project: Move - Design a Pulley System To Move a Heavy Load

Project: Save the Oceans - Design a Device to Clean the Oceans

Project: Skydive - Design a Parachute For Your New Business

Project: Thrills - Design A Fast and Furious Roller Coaster

Project: Wind and Sky - Create a 21st Century Turbine

Project: Explore Mars - Create a Space Probe for a MARS Mission

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