MISSION VERIFIED
Classroom tested. Teacher designed. Safe at home.
Designed by Darin Carr (BScDip Ed)
Practising NESA accredited
Australian Science Teacher
★ 30+ years of classroom experience
MISSON PROGRESS
6
young scientists have completed this mission.
I'VE COMPLETED THIS MISSION
Click to let us know you have completed this mission
LATEST TEACHER FEEDBACK
"The kids loved it. I also liked how it helped structure their thinking and predicting".
Year 6 Science Specialist
Mr Tam
Before you investigate... watch the mystery
MISSION HOOK
Professor Picklebottom and the team are travelling and collecting amazing science mysteries.
✔ Coming in Term 1 2027
KEEP EXPLORING
Curiosity Files
BIG Questions & Discovery
Illustrated Facts
Explore • Discover
Road Trip Science
Discover science everywhere
The Teacher's Cauldron
Think. Experiment. Inspire
Books
Read • Explore
Videos
Watch & Learn
LAB Resources
Premium learning resources
Mission Equipment
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
• Dried beans
• Plate
• Tweezers
• Clothespin
• Spoon
• Small scoop
• Timer
Let’s Investigate
Follow the missions steps below to solve the mystery.
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
1
Create the Feeding Ground
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
1
Create the Feeding Ground
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Essy
Bird Beak Challenge
Essy was exploring a natural history museum when she noticed something strange.
Some birds had long, thin beaks.
Others had short, powerful beaks.
Some looked like giant spoons.
“Why would birds need so many different beak shapes?” wondered Essy.
Could a pelican survive with a hummingbird’s beak?
Could a finch crack seeds with a spoon-shaped beak?
To investigate, Essy created a bird feeding challenge.
Can you discover which beak design collects the most food?
Ages
5-12 yrs
Duration
min
10
Difficulty
Easy
Stage
Stage 1-3
Cite this resource
Created by Darin Carr (BSc, DipEd)
NESA Accredited Teacher · Chemistry & Physics Specialist · 30+ years in-class teaching
Resource Version: 1.0
First Published:
Last Updated:
2 June 2026
3 July 2026
The Crazy Scientist LAB Learning System™
Every experiment follows The Crazy Scientist Lab Learning System™ — a simple way to help kids think like real scientists.
We
-
LINK to what they already know,
-
ACTIVATE curiosity through hands-on discovery
-
BUILD understanding that actually sticks.
Have you ever wondered why birds have so many different-shaped beaks?
Some birds crack hard seeds.
Some catch slippery fish.
Others sip nectar from flowers.
If all birds need food, why don't they all have the same beak?
Today, you'll investigate how the shape of a beak can make some jobs much easier than others.
Think back to your 30-second feeding frenzy with each beak.
Which beak collected the most beans? Were you surprised
What made that beak better at the job than the others?
Which beak was the hardest to use — and why do you think that is?
The best tool depends on the job — that's what adaptations are all about.
A surgeon uses tweezers, not a spoon. A chef uses tongs, not chopsticks. Why does the tool have to match the task?
A duck has a flat, wide beak. What kind of food do you think it eats?
If the environment changed and seeds disappeared — what would happen to seed-cracking birds over time?
"Want the full teacher guide? The Crazy Scientist Lab includes classroom delivery tips, how to manage the WOW moment, differentiation for Stage 2 & 3, — ready to teach tomorrow."
Think Like a Scientist
Scientists don't just do ONE experiment; they change one part of the experiment (independent variable) and then see how it affects another part of the experiment
(dependent variable)
Change ONE variable and test again.
What happens if you change the food?
What happens if the food is spread further apart?
Dr Puddledrip’s Science Tip
🧪 Try it! Change ONE thing and test again. What did you discover?
Want to go deeper? Tap a section below to explore. ▼
The Science Behind It
Different Birds, Different Beaks
Birds eat different foods.
Some eat seeds.
Some catch insects.
Others catch fish or drink nectar from flowers.
That’s why birds have different beak shapes.
Built For The Job
A finch has a strong beak for cracking seeds.
A hummingbird has a long beak for reaching nectar.
A pelican has a scoop-shaped beak for catching fish.
Different beaks help birds collect different types of food.
Scientists call features that help animals survive adaptations.
What Did Your Results Show?
Which beak collected the most beans?
Did one beak work better than the others?
Would the same beak still be best if the food changed?
Scientists investigate questions like these when they study animal adaptations.
Keep Exploring
If you enjoyed this experiment, try these next:
Bone Detectives
Camouflage Challenge
Blubber Glove Challenge
Teachers & Homeschoolers: Print-ready HD versions of this Science Behind It poster and companion G&T Challenge Card are available inside The Crazy Scientist LAB.
Extension: HPGE / Gifted Learners
Think Like a Wildlife Scientist
Scientists rarely ask:
“Which beak is best?”
Instead, they ask:
“Best for what?”
A beak that is perfect for picking up beans might not work well for seeds, insects or fish.
Real scientists test animals in different environments to discover how adaptations help them survive.
Wildlife Research Challenge
Choose ONE variable to investigate:
Food Type
Beans
Rice
Pasta
Marbles
Teachers & Homeschoolers: Print-ready HD versions of this Science Behind It poster and companion G&T Challenge Card are available inside The Crazy Scientist LAB.
Vocabulary
Adaptation
A feature that helps a living thing survive in its environment.
Observation
Carefully notice details and record what you see.
Variable
The one thing you change during an investigation.
Know a parent or teacher who'd love this? Send it on! 👇
READY TO TEACH THIS
TOMORROW?
Running the experiment is easy; however, teaching it well is another challenge.
Teachers often ask:
How do I adapt this for Stages 1,2 or 3?
What misconceptions will they have?
What syllabus outcomes does it cover?
What do I do with fast finishers?
How do I structure this for a full class?
What do I say when they ask WHY?
BUILD AROUND THE LAB LEARNING SYSTEM™
Every resource is designed using our teaching framework.
Inside The Crazy Scientist LAB
Everything you need to confidently teach science tomorrow.
Opening early 2027. Join the Founding Member Waitlist
Try Another Crazy Experiment
Keep the science going with these fun experiments
Hands-On Science Workshops
Interactive STEM experiences aligned to the NSW syllabus.
