Materials
Variety of feathers from one type of bird, such as body, wing, tail and down feathers (these canbe obtained easily from pet shops or bird owners, but be sure to get clean feathers)Magnifying glasses
Balance or scale and gram weights (for older children)Note: Down feathers are very fragile and "ball up" if handled roughly. The easiest way to transport them from the bird to the class is to lay them gently on a piece of felt, then peel them off as they are needed for the activities.
Instructions
1. Look at the feathers without magnification. Observe and discuss similarities and differences in size, shape, color and texture. Following are some observations, in addition to color, that children may make. Wing feathers are slightly curved. The quill on a tail or wing feather is long and thick to anchor it securely to the bird's body. These feathers are used to steer the bird in flight and have to endure a great deal of pressure from the air. The quills on body feathers are small. These feathers protect the bird from weather and sun. They don't push against the air to help the bird fly, so they do not have to be attached as securely as wing and tail feathers. Down feathers are fluffy and sticky with very little quill. These are usually hidden under the other feathers and help keep the bird warm.
2. Allow children to touch the feathers. Which are softest?3. Drop different feathers from equal heights and observe how they fall. Some spin, some float. All feathers do not fall at the same speed.
4. Use magnifying glasses to observe the feathers. Children can describe or draw what they see.
5. Older children may want to determine how many feathers it takes to weigh a gram. Estimate the number of feathers it will take. Use a balance and a one gram weight to check predictions. Do feathers weigh very much?More to doArt: Use feathers as paintbrushes to paint pictures about birds or nature. * Explain that feathers from large birds were used as pens long ago. Use large feathers and paint or ink to practice writing and drawing. * Use decorative feathers purchased from a craft store to glue onto an outline drawing of a bird.More science: Compare and contrast feathers from different breeds of birds for size, color, texture, etc. * Look at pictures of birds (or look at a real bird) and discuss which feathers are clearly visible when a bird is at rest. Feathers tend to blend together on a bird and downy feathers are rarely visible. * Observe a pet bird, a bird outside the classroom or a bird at the zoo preening or grooming itself. Birds take good care of their feathers so they stay healthy and are always ready to fly.
