Special Feature Lesson:

 Lets Navigate

Overview:
Students are challenged to write directions from their home to another location they choose. They must indicate landmarks and other guides that would help the reader navigate the way.

Curriculum Focus:
• language arts


Materials:
• None required


Activity::

Review the information in More About that explains how waterfowl navigate during migration. Discuss the importance of landmarks. Have students share examples of any landmarks in your area that might be visible to a bird passing overhead. Begin a discussion about how students find their way around town, such as from home to school or to the local park. What do they rely on to find their way to these places? Students will likely mention that they have memorized street names and other landmarks such as buildings. Tell students you would like them to write directions from their home to a location they choose. They should write the directions for someone who is not familiar with your town. To make the activity more challenging, tell students they are limited to mentioning only two street names. The rest of the directions should point out landmarks or distances traveled. If necessary, allow students the chance to travel their chosen routes and write the directions in a day or two. Allow time for students to read their directions aloud to the class. You may wish to have each student keep the destination a secret and challenge the class to guess where the directions lead.

Extension idea:
Waterfowl also navigate by tracking the position of the sun and stars as they fly. Have students track the sunšs position over the course of one school day. Students will work in pairs in a sunny location. Begin in the morning. One partner stands in the sun. The other partner marks the place the person is standing and traces his or her shadow. Each hour, have students return to their spots in the sun and trace one partner's shadow. Discuss how the size and position of the shadows change over time and what this indicates about the sunšs position. Remind students that Earth is actually doing the moving!