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Bird's-Eye View

What would it be like to be able to soar overhead and have a nearly 360-degree view of the world? Children will learn about a bird's vision and then illustrate themselves observing the world with a birds-eye view.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

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  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Many birds have eyes on either side of their head, giving them something called monocular vision. This differs from humans who have both eyes in front and use binocular vision. Having monocular vision means you can see all around you but not with great depth. It helps birds assess many images and all directions at the same time. This allows them to avoid obstacles while flying and elude predators that might be coming for them.

  • Step 2

    Have students think about the phrase "bird's-eye view." How might being able to see something from above provide different information from seeing it from the same level? Does looking at a situation from different perspectives help us understand situations better?

  • Step 3

    Ask students to paint a picture of themselves viewing the world as a bird might see it. They might portray themselves flying like a bird or in a hot air balloon or glider.

  • Step 4

    Have students present their art and describe the sights they saw as they soared like a bird.

Standards

SCI: Ask questions based on observations to find more information about the natural and/or designed world(s). 

SCI: Design pictorial or graphic representations/models that are useful in communicating ideas. 

Adaptations

Ask children to illustrate a scene of birds flying in the sky and the sights they might see below them.

Have children make up a "bird dance." Ask them to move around the way a bird might. They can flap their "wings" and bob their heads or make other movements to imitate a bird.