<b>鴿子：重點(diǎn)在于理解鴿子如何辨別方向。</b><div>（3a-unit 1 Three little pigeons 拓展）<b><br></b></div> <b>Game: Carrier Pigeons</b><br>M: What does Zoe's daddy do? What is his job? Is he a driver?<br>E: No, Zoe's daddy is a postman.<br>M: What is a postman's job?<br>E: A postman's job is to deliver and collect letters.<br>M: How does Zoe's daddy deliver letters? By bike? By plane? By train?<br>E: No, by car.<br>M: Yes. But long time ago, there were no cars, no trains, no planes. How did people deliver letters?<br>E: Riding horses.<br>M: Right, people can ride horses to deliver letters. You know, people can also use pigeons to deliver letters!<br>E: Really?<br>M: Yes. Pigeons are clever/smart/intelligent. They can find way from one place to another.<br>M: This is a postbox. Open the postbox. Look, there are some letters to deliver. Let's pretend to be carrier pigeons to deliver letters.<br>M: Let's sit on the sofa.<div>M & E: 'Two carrier pigeons sitting on the sofa, two carrier pigeons sitting on the sofa. One flew away.''One carrier pigeon sitting on the sofa, one carrier pigeon sitting on the sofa. Another flew away.'<br>M: Little pigeon, fly to the postbox.<br></div> M: This letter is for Tiger. I'll deliver this letter to Tiger. You choose one.<br>E: This one.<br>M: This letter is for Cat. Let's go.<br>M & E: 'Two carrier pigeons flying in the air, two carrier pigeons flying in the air'<br>M: See, Tiger is on the bed. Hello Tiger, here is a letter for you. Let's go and find Cat together…<br>E: Cat, here is your letter.<br>M(Cat): Thank you.<br>M: Let’s fly back.<br>M & E: 'No carrier pigeons sitting on the sofa, no carrier pigeons sitting on the sofa. One flew back'<br>M: Fly to the sofa.<br>M & E: 'One carrier pigeon sitting on the sofa, one carrier pigeon sitting on the sofa. Another flew back. Two carrier pigeons sitting on the sofa, two carrier pigeons sitting on the sofa. '<br>M: Little carrier pigeon, do you want to deliver more letters?<div>游戲的后續(xù)就是Eric提議的房子著火了去滅火，爸爸媽媽要用字卡當(dāng)水滴，Eric讀對(duì)一張字卡就會(huì)給我們加一滴水，這樣就可以滅火了，哈哈，機(jī)智如我們。<br></div> 一起觀看了鳥類如何回家的視頻，討論了太陽(yáng)、地標(biāo)和鴿子beak里面的小磁針，耳朵里的鐵磁物質(zhì)如何幫助他們辨別方向。爸爸感興趣的是鴿子為什么可以認(rèn)出鏡子里的自己和人類面孔，甚至可以辨別兩張圖片的不同。<div><br></div><div>Pigeons, also known as 'rock doves,' 'rock pigeons,' and 'common pigeons,' are widespread birds commonly viewed as pests.<br><br><b>?? Outstanding navigational abilities.</b><br></div> <b>??</b> <b>How birds find their home?</b> <ul><li><b>Sun/moon/stars</b>: Birds are able to use the sun in order to have a sense of the time of the day and even nocturnal birds use the setting sun to guide themselves. Since nocturnal birds do not have the option of the sun as a reference through the night, they instead use the stars to guide themselves.</li><li><b>Landmarks:</b> Birds also use familiar landmarks to help navigate themselves – such as mountain peaks, valleys, rivers and roads. Scientists have continued their research into the field of migration and migratory patterns in birds to try and also look at the role of a bird’s sense of smell in their navigation systems.</li><li><b>Magnetite</b>: Certain birds also have a trace amount of the mineral 'magnetite' in their beaks. Magnetite works like a bird's compass, aligning itself with Earth's magnetic field to help them gauge the direction of Earth's magnetic poles.</li></ul> <b>-----------------------鴿子其他相知識(shí)------------------------</b><div><b>(1) Deion of the Pigeon<br></b></div> Wild, non-domesticated pigeons are bluish-gray in color with two black bars on each wing and iridescent green and purple necks. Other color variations of “pigeons” are actually domesticated birds that have escaped and become feral. Their eyes are usually bright orange, but may also be red or gold colored. they have a whitish patch, known as a cere, on the ridge that connects their beak to their face. <b>(2) Life cycle of pigeon</b><br><div><ul><li>Breeds all year round with peak breeding periods in spring and summer</li><li>All columbiformes are monogamous (mate for life)</li><li>Wild birds breed on coastal cliffs and some inland cliffs</li><li>Feral birds breed on or in buildings, usually in urban areas</li><li>Flimsy nest built on rocky shelf (wild) or accessible ledge on a building or in the roof void of a building (feral)</li><li>Two white eggs that are incubated by both parents for 17-19 days</li><li>The squab (chick) has yellow down and a pink bill</li><li>Squabs are fed on ‘<b>crop milk’</b> by both parents</li><li>Fledging period is approximately 30 days depending on time of year</li><li>Pigeons can breed at 6 months of age</li></ul></div> <b>Crop milk </b>is a secretion from the lining of the crop of parent birds that is regurgitated to young birds. It is found among all pigeons and doves where it is referred to as pigeon milk. An analog to crop milk is also secreted from the esophagus of flamingos and some penguins. 鴿乳產(chǎn)生的地方，又長(zhǎng)見識(shí)了。<div><br></div><div><b>(3) Diet of the Pigeon</b><br><b>Pigeons are herbivores (plant-eaters).</b> Some common food items include grains and seeds, vegetables, fruits, berries, insects, snails, earthworms and more. In cities they will consume virtually anything edible. Human garbage provides a wide variety of foods and they take advantage of whatever they find.<br></div> <b>(4) Habitat of the Pigeon</b><br>Naturally, these birds thrive in cliff side settings, particularly sea cliffs. Introduced and feral individuals can live in cliff settings, but have found a perfect niche in urban and city living.<br> These birds naturally live in southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. In Europe they are found in both the western and southern areas, and in Asia they are found in western and southern areas.<br><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>(5) More facts about pigeons</b></div> <ul><li>Size of pigeon depends on the species. Large pigeons can reach 19 inches in length and 8.8 pounds of weight. Small pigeons can reach 5 inches in length and up to 0.8 ounces of weight.</li><li>Pigeons can have dull or colorful plumage, depending on the habitat and type of diet. The most common type of pigeon (that lives in the cities) has grayish plumage. On average, pigeon has 10 000 feathers on the body.</li><li>Pigeons have strong muscles used for flying. They can fly at the altitude of 6000 feet.</li><li>Pigeons can move their wings ten times per second and maintain heartbeats at the rate of 600 times per minute, during the period of 16 hours.</li><li>Pigeons can fly at the speed of 50 to 60 miles per hour. Fastest known pigeon managed to reach speed on 92 miles per hour.</li><li>Pigeons were used as mail carriers during the First and Second World War. They saved numerous lives by delivering information on the enemy's fire.<br></li><li>Pigeons are highly intelligent animals. <b>They are able to recognize themselves in the mirror, to find same people on two different pictures and to recognize all letters of the English alphabet.</b></li><li>Pigeons have exceptional eyesight and ability to identify objects on a distance of 26 miles.<br></li><li>Pigeons have very sensitive sense of hearing. They are able to detect distant storms, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.<br></li><li>Pigeons are social animals that live in the groups (flocks) composed of 20 to 30 animals.</li></ul>