What is wind power's risk to birds?

Grades
6789101112
Time Required
1-2 class periods
Topic
Students will learn how bird behavior and ecology are related to avian impacts from wind turbines and how scientists study these impacts.

Description

Students will learn about the controversy surrounding bird mortality and wind turbines. They will research bird patterns and behaviors to gain a better understanding about wind's risks to birds. Students will conduct a simple avian risk assessment at a potential wind farm site.

Next Generation Science Standards

Disciplinary Core Ideas

  • ETS1.A Defining and Delimiting an Engineering Problem
  • LS2.C Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience

Cross Cutting Concepts

  • Cause and Effect
  • Stability and Change

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson students will be able to

  • Know about some avian behaviors such as feeding, migrating, and nesting
  • Be able to collect, evaluate, and use data from a variety of sources
  • Understand how birds can be impacted by turbines

Materials

  • Student reading passages and student worksheets*
  • Calculators

*included with this activity

Additonal Teaching Resources