A bird must have the lightest body structure possible while maintaining enough sturdiness to keep everything together. Examine the interior of an aircraft wing or the internal bone structure of a bird to see how you might form a skeleton.

Models must demonstrate that birds have no teeth and reflect on the size of their internal organs. The lack of teeth and restriction of organs evolved in birds to allow them the least weight possible.

Aiding in insulation and enabling flight is the feather. The exterior of your skeleton must show how birds rely on their feathers.

Create an aerodynamically fit model that resembles a bird which can sustain flight for extended periods of time



Keeping in mind what was learned about bird flight, including the necessity for a bird to have a light body structure, students will work in teams to make birds. The replica is not complete unless it exhibits a skeleton and outer covering.

Students will be given a large selection of materials to choose from. As they build their replica of a real bird, students should keep in mind that body structure aides or inhibits movement/flight. Replicas need to reflect the concept that birds have hollow bones, no teeth, and do have feathers.



straws
pipe cleaners
feathers
springs
wooden and steel rods
playdough
balsa
cloth
paper
glue
tape
paper clips

How do birds do it? You can figure it out by building different bird models, with different features that may or may not help it fly.