Lesson Six: Migration Math
Download Lesson
Support Materials
–Introductory Slides
Skill level: Basic
Classes appropriate for:
Middle School Math
One of the greatest feats in avian biology is the process by which many migratory songbirds, weighing barely a third of an ounce, can manage to find and consume enough calories to sustain a round trip journey of over one thousand miles, from their breeding grounds to wintering grounds and back again. In addition to reinforcing basic math skills, this lesson is designed to give students a practical exercise in calculating the number of calories needed to sustain successful migration, and the amount of food needed to fuel the journey. The provided information on migratory flight distances comes from the Smithsonian Migratory Research Center’s fact sheet Neotropical Migratory Bird Basics.