In science, a recent investigation I undertook with my class was into bird beak adaption.
Why are they different sizes? Shapes? Strengths?
To find out, I put different materials in tubs: ribbons, straws, sugar and buttons (representing the birds’ food). I gave each group a ‘beak’: pliers, spoons or chopsticks.
The children went around and tested each ‘beak’ on the material. It was a simple but effective experiment and the pupils could clearly see why different birds had different beaks.
Finally, we concluded by talking about survival of the fittest i.e. the longer the beak, the deeper in a hole a bird could reach; meaning more access to food.