Feather Down Activity
How warm are our feathered friends?
Try this feather down activity and see for yourself.
What You'll Need:
- Down jacket or comforter
- Regular jacket or comforter
It's hard to believe feathers keep a bird so warm even when rain falls
and snow flies. You can find out how it works by wrapping yourself in down. What is down? In simple terms, down is a layer
of feathers.
On a bird, down is the term for its fluffy little feathers, rather than its long, spiny quills. In coats and bedspreads, down is a stuffing of small feathers, whether fluffy or not.
 Can you stay as warm as this little fellow? |
No matter what the definition, the way down works remains the same. Layers of natural feathers hold warmth in. So wrap up warmly in a down jacket or bedspread (ask permission before you use the bedspread) and head out into a frosty winter day.
Stand in the cold for a few minutes. Now go inside and change into a regular jacket or wrap up in an ordinary cotton blanket. Spend a few moments in the same cold. Which wrap kept you warmer? Nine times out of ten, down will win.
Goin' South
In the winter, most birds migrate to warmer temperatures -- in the United States, that means they go hundreds or even thousands of miles toward the south, where down coats aren't needed.
Do you eat like a bird? Continue reading to the next page to find out!
For more crafts and activities, try:
