Each student uses their beak to forage for seeds.
I explain that each student simulates a bird’s beak.
Students represent birds with variability in beak size
and shape within a single species (for example,
within one species of Darwin’s finches).
First, students gain experience using their beak. I
have each group assemble four stations, one for every
seed type: thistle, safflower, black oil sunflower, and
peanuts. Each station contains one cup of a single
type of seed placed on a paper plate. Students then
practice foraging at each of the stations for 1 minute
(with the timer timing them). During this practice
period, students use their beaks to collect as many
seeds as they can from one of the foraging stations,
and place the seeds in their paper cups (their
stomachs). While foraging, students can only use
their beaks to collect food (they cannot use their other
hand to assist). They may only collect one seed at a
time (they cannot grab clumps of seeds). If seeds
stick to their beaks, students can tap their beak on the
side of the tray to remove extra seeds. At the end of 1
minute, students count the number of seeds collected