Audubon Adventures
Activity 
(3 class periods)
Preparation
Exploring Bird Migration
Teacher-led Classroom Activity
Science/Computer Skills/Research Skills/Social Studies
How can technology help us understand bird migration?
Objective:
Students use an interactive digital platform to investigate migratory birds by species and location.
Students will need:
- Audubon Adventures student magazine, “Birds on the Move” (print or online)
- Online access to the Bird Migration Explorer
- “A Bird, a Map, a Migration Story” and “Birds Here, Birds There” activity sheets (at least one for each student or pair of students)
Suggested time:
Three 25- to 40-minute class periods
Planning Ahead:
- Review the “Background for Teachers” essay for this topic.
- Read the rationale behind the Bird Migration Explorer at explorer.audubon.org/about.
- Review “How to Use the Bird Migration Explorer.”
- Review information about how scientists and others gather information about where and when birds migrate, here: migratoryconnectivityproject.org/technology/. This will help you guide discussions that focus on science and technology, answer students’ questions, and possibly identify ways for students to further explore the topic.
Try out the Explorer’s various features to get a good sense of how it functions. Go through the demonstration described for class period 2. Select a bird to feature in step 3 of the procedure for that class period—ideally a bird whose range includes your location or one you know your class will be particularly interested in. Then do the activities described on the two downloadable activity sheets so that you will be able to guide students as they work on them.