Year 1 Science: Birds: feathers and beaks
Part of the Year 1 Science animal groups chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Birds: feathers and beaks
A bird has feathers on its body. It has a beak instead of teeth. Birds have two wings and two legs. Birds lay eggs with hard shells.
A robin is a bird. A penguin is a bird too, even though it cannot fly. It has feathers and a beak, and it lays eggs.
Key ideas
- Birds have feathers.
- Birds have a beak, not teeth.
- Birds have two wings and two legs.
- Birds lay eggs with hard shells.
Key words. The five groups are fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. A clue is a feature we can see, like fins or feathers.
Method. Look for the clues, then match the animal to one group.
- Look at its body. Birds have feathers.It has feathers.
- Look at its mouth. Birds have a beak instead of teeth.It has a beak.
- Look at its legs. Birds have two legs.It has two legs.
- Match the clues to a group. Compare the clues with the five groups.This robin = bird
- Write the answer. Bird
Check. The clues fit the bird group. ✓
Watch out. A bird does not have to fly. Look for the feathers and the beak.
Method. Count the legs one at a time.
- Look at the picture. Find every one, including the ones at the back.Find each leg: there are two.
- Count each one once. Say one number for each one, in order.1, 2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 2 again. ✓
Watch out. Touch each one as you count it, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
Method. Check Sam’s idea against the clues for birds.
- Read what Sam says. He says a penguin is not a bird, because it cannot fly.Penguin = not bird?
- Check the bird clues. A bird has feathers and a beak. A penguin has both.Feathers and a beak
- Decide who is right. Being able to fly is not one of the clues for birds.No, Sam is not right. A penguin is a bird.
Check. A penguin has feathers and a beak, so it is a bird. ✓
Watch out. A bird does not have to fly. Look at the feathers and the beak.
Watch out
Watch out: a bat can fly too, but it is not a bird. A bat has fur, not feathers, and it is a mammal. Look at the covering on the body, not only at flying.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Talk about the beaks you see. A robin has a thin beak. A duck has a flat beak. Ask: “What does this beak help the bird to do?” Let your child check a tally by counting it again.
Exercise 4D Birds
Key words. The five groups are fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. A clue is a feature we can see, like fins or feathers.
Method. Look for the clues, then match the animal to one group.
- Look at its body. Birds have feathers.It has feathers.
- Look at its mouth. Birds have a beak, not teeth.It has a beak.
- Look at its legs. Birds have two legs.It has two legs.
- Match the clues to a group. Compare the clues with the five groups.This robin = bird
- Write the answer. Bird
Check. The clues fit the bird group. ✓
Watch out. A bird does not have to fly. Look for the feathers and the beak.
Method. Think about what we know about animals.
- Read the question. Find the part that matters.What covers a bird’s body?
- Think of the fact. We found this fact on this page.Birds have feathers on their bodies. Mammals have fur or hair.
- Write the answer. feathers
Check. Say the fact out loud in your own words. ✓
Watch out. Look at the words of the question again, then think about the fact.
Method. Think about what we know about animals.
- Read the question. Find the part that matters.What does a bird have instead of teeth?
- Think of the fact. We found this fact on this page.A bird has a beak, not teeth.
- Write the answer. beak
Check. Say the fact out loud in your own words. ✓
Watch out. Look at the words of the question again, then think about the fact.
Method. Count the legs one at a time.
- Look at the picture. Find every one, including the ones at the back.Find each leg: there are two.
- Count each one once. Say one number for each one, in order.1, 2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 2 again. ✓
Watch out. Touch each one as you count it, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
Method. Think about what we know about animals.
- Read the question. Find the part that matters.Do birds lay eggs with hard shells?
- Think of the fact. We found this fact on this page.Birds lay eggs with hard shells.
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Say the fact out loud in your own words. ✓
Watch out. Look at the words of the question again, then think about the fact.
Method. Check the claim against a fact you know about animals.
- Read the claim. Decide what it says.A penguin is a bird.
- Remember the fact. The facts on this page tell us the answer.A penguin has feathers and a beak, so it is a bird.
- Write the answer. True
Check. If the fact is right, the answer is right. ✓
Watch out. A penguin cannot fly, but it is still a bird.
Method. Check each animal against the bird clues: feathers and a beak.
- Look at the penguin. It has feathers and a beak.A: bird
- Look at the bat. It has fur, not feathers, so it is a mammal.B: not a bird
- Look at the robin. It has feathers and a beak.C: bird
- Look at the snake. It has dry scales and no feathers.D: not a bird
- Write the answer. A and C
Check. Two animals have feathers and a beak. ✓
Watch out. A bat can fly, but it has no feathers. It is not a bird.
Method. Look at each animal, and find the one with the clues.
- Look at the animals. Find the animal with these clues.It has feathers and a beak, and it can fly.
- Find its letter. Each animal has a letter under it.The robin is B
- Write the answer. B
Check. The clues fit the bird group. ✓
Watch out. A bird does not have to fly. Look for the feathers and the beak.
Method. Think about the covering of a bat.
- Look at the bat. It can fly, but flying is not the clue for a bird.It flies.
- Look at its covering. A bat has fur, not feathers.It has fur.
- Write the answer. Fur is a clue for a mammal, not a bird.A bat has fur, not feathers. It is a mammal.
Check. Fur and feathers are different clues. ✓
Watch out. Look at the covering on the body, not only whether an animal can fly.
Method. Count the birds, one tally mark at a time, then look for the biggest tally.
- Count the tally marks. Each mark is one bird.Count each bird you saw.
- Compare the tallies. The biggest tally is the bird you saw most.Find the biggest number.
- Write what you noticed. Say which bird you saw most.Answers will vary. The answer should match your tally.
Check. Count the tally again to check it. ✓
Watch out. Count the birds you saw, not the ones you think you might see.