BATTLE OF THE BEAKS
Objective: Understand that animals that are better adapted to take advantage of available
foods will fare better than those who are less adapted, and thus live to pass on their genes
to the next generation.
Materials:
Beak types: test tube holder, peg, tweezers, spoon
Food types: paper clips, pasta, beans, rubber bands, toothpicks
Cups, stopwatch
Part 1 Procedures:
1. Within your group of 4, select your beak type (t.t. holder, clothes peg, tweezer, spoon)
2. Each student also needs a cup, which represents the bird’s stomach. The cup must
remain upright at all times. You must hold the beak in one hand and the stomach
in the other. You can only place food in your stomach with your beak. You may
only grab one piece of food at a time. Cheaters will be eliminated!
3. A certain type of food will be placed within your feeding area. You will have 30
seconds to collect as much food as you can.
4. Once the teacher says stop, you need to empty out your stomach, count the
contents, and record it in table 1.
5. We will repeat the activity with multiple food types. Copy your group member’s
data down as well, and then answer the questions.
Table 1:
Beak type
Pasta
Beans
Rubber Bands
Toothpicks
Paper clip
Test tube
holder
Peg
Tweezers
Spoon
Part 1 Questions:
1. What did you notice about your feeding abilities? (What were you good at?)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. What would happen if there was a drought and all the rubber bands died off?
What would happen to the bird population?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
© 2015 Science Rocks
3. What did you notice about your behavior and the behavior of others?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Part 2 Procedures:
1. Most habitats have more than one kind of food available. This round you will
have different types of food to choose from.
2. Spread all of the materials into the feeding circle. You will have 1 minute to feed.
Once the teacher says stop, you need to empty out your stomach, count the
contents, and record it in table 2. Remember, only one piece of food at a time!
3. Copy your group member’s data down as well, and then answer the questions.
Table 2:
Beak type
Pasta
Beans
Rubber
Toothpicks
Paperclips
Bands
Test tube
holder
Peg
Tweezers
Spoon
Part 2 Questions:
1. What was your strategy for collecting food this round?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Was there another beak type that was competing for the same food source as you?
If so, who?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Which beak collected the most food? Which beak collected the least food? We
can assume the birds that collected the most food will survive and reproduce, and
the birds that collected the least amount of food will die. What will the next
generation of birds look like?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
© 2015 Science Rocks
4. What would happen if all the bird types we have been working with flew to an
island where no birds had been before, and the only type of food available was
toothpicks? Which bird beak type would me the most successful? Which bird
beak type would be the least successful? Explain your answer.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Class Data: (Part 2)
Beak Type
Pasta
Beans
Rubber
Toothpicks
Paperclips
Bands
Test tube
holder
Peg
Tweezers
Spoon
Class Bar Graph:
© 2015 Science Rocks
Teacher Notes:
 There are many different versions of this lab for free available on the internet. I
combined bits and pieces of different labs and made one that worked for me. This
lab has been left editable so you can change the food types or beak types based on
whatever you have on hand. Other food options: paperclips or rice. Other beak
options: scissors, spoon, or even chopsticks! Check the dollar store for materials.
 Remember, part 1 is tested with each individual food one at a time. For part two,
all the food is spread out at once. Competition is encouraged, but no cheating.
 Class data can be compiled on the smart board or whiteboard. Here is a sample
graph:

Thanks for downloading this free product! If you are satisfied with this lab, please
leave positive feedback!
Copyright ©2015 Science Rocks
All rights reserved by author.
Permission to copy for single classroom use only.
Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.
Not for public display.
Bird images courtesy clker.com
© 2015 Science Rocks