Activities

Olympic Games Challenge
Birds vs. Humans

Birds have many special adaptations to help them live their lives. Some birds can fly long distances; some can dive deep into the ocean while others can run really fast.

How would you match up with birds in an Olympic Games challenge? Compare your best to the best that birds have to offer in the following categories:

1. WINGSPAN
A White Pelican has a wingspan of 8-9, a Bald Eagle has a wingspan of 6-7’!
• I have a wingspan* of ____feet ____inches.
*Stretch your arms as wide apart as possible and have someone measure distance between the tip of your longest finger on each hand.

2. WINGBEATS
In 10 seconds, a hummingbird beats its wings 700 times!
• I can flap my wings (arms) _________ times in 10 seconds.

3. CONCENTRATION
An owl can stare for hours while hunting for prey!
• I can stare for _______minutes without blinking.

4. HOLDING BREATH
A cormorant dives deep in search of fish. It can hold its breath for about 15 minutes (900 seconds).
• I can hold my breath for _______seconds.

5. EATING
While incubating its egg, a male emperor penguins goes over 130 days without eating!
• I can go _______without eating.

6. WEIGHT
At over 40 pounds, the Trumpeter Swan is North America's heaviest bird! The Australian Ostrich weighs in at over 250 pounds!
• I weigh _______pounds.

7. HEIGHT
The Australian Ostrich is almost 9’ tall!
• I am _______tall.

8. SPEED
A Greater Roadrunner can run at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour!
I can run ______ miles/hour. (use the following chart to determine your speed)

Olympic Games Challenge: 20-yard dash conversion chart
Use this chart to check calculations for human running speeds for 20 yards (60’)

Finish time (secs)	Miles/hour
3.0	13.6
3.2	12.8
3.4	12.0
3.6	11.4
3.8	10.8
4.0	10.2
4.2	9.7
4.4	9.3
4.6	8.9
4.8	8.5
5.0	8.2
5.2	7.9
5.4	7.6
5.6	7.3
5.8	7.1
6.0	6.8
6.2	6.6
6.4	6.4
6.6	6.2
6.8	6.0
7.0	5.8
7.2	5.7
7.4	5.5
7.6	5.4
7.8	5.2
8.0	5.1
8.2	5.0
8.4	4.8
8.6	4.8
8.8	4.6