Full Lesson Plan >> Crop Crop!Middle school students will learn about the digestive systems of Bald Eagles and compare/contrast them with human digestive systems. This lesson focuses on the crop, a muscular pouch that allows eagles to store food before digesting it. Students will research the digestive system of a Bald Eagle, record the organs and their functions, and use a model to explain it. This lesson plan will take two class periods or one class period and homework.
Additional Resources
- Video: Little eaglets have crops fit to burst! https://youtu.be/mJDVV2Rs2cM
- Video: D32’s seriously huge feet and crop: https://youtu.be/SdJxJEd-K5E?t=226
- Video: Floppy fish delivery and feeding: https://youtu.be/CIAenhNXTvE?t=274
- The Digestive System of an Eagle: https://digestivesystemsxavier.weebly.com/bald-eagle—haliaeetus-leucocephalus.html
- Digestive systems: Ospreys and Eagles – https://ospreyandeagle.wordpress.com/nutrition/digestive-anatomy/
Teachers are welcome to apply for an educational account to observe incubation, hatching, and eaglets with other classes from around the country. The chat is moderated by Raptor Resource Project volunteers. Link: https://www.raptorresource.org/classroom/. If you don’t have a Raptor Resource Project classroom account, register here: https://www.raptorresource.org/register/. To watch the eagles or other birds without an account, follow this link: https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/ and click on any cam to watch it.
Life Science and Middle School