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
18 July 2026
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
MISSION PROGRESS
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Before you investigate... watch the mystery
MISSION HOOK
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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
Create the Feeding Ground
Spread the beans across a tray.
Place an empty plate nearby. This will be your bird’s nest.
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
2
Choose Your First Beak
Select one of your bird beaks.
Will it be the tweezers?
The spoon?
The clothespin?
Make a prediction before you start.
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
3
The 30-Second Feeding Frenzy
Set the timer for 30 seconds.
Use your beak to collect as many beans as possible.
Move them to the plate before time runs out.
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
4
Count Your Catch
How many beans did your bird collect?
Record your result.
Return all beans to the tray before the next test.
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
5
Test Another Beak
Choose a different beak.
Keep the beans, timer and feeding area the same.
Scientists call this a fair test.
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
6
Complete Your Investigation
Test all remaining beaks.
Record each result.
Which beak collected the most food?
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
7
Compare the Results
Which beak was most successful?
Which was least successful?
Did the results match your prediction?
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
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 stop after their first discovery.
They ask new questions, collect more evidence and test their ideas in different ways.
Where could you take this investigation next?
What happens if you change the food?
What happens if the food is spread further apart?
Dr Puddledrip’s Science Tip
Read the Science
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.
Scientist's Challenge
Designed for HPGE, gifted learners and children who enjoy an extra 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.
The Next Question...
You've solved today's mystery. Now discover where curiosity can take you next.
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! 👇
Keep Exploring This Mystery
One experiment leads to even more amazing discoveries inside the Learning Universe.
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
Ready for Your Next Discovery?
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?
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