Owl Diner
Overview:
Students will explore the curious world of owls through experiences that teach and reinforce
the Virginia SOLs related to Living Systems via scientific inquiry. Students will discover the
life of the owls in their natural settings and have a better understanding of the habitat, diet, life
cycle and special features of various owls through the use of video streaming clips. Students will
practice dissecting an owl pellet and identifying bones through a virtual dissection page. Students
will dissect a real owl pellet; while the teacher models using a document camera.
Time Allotment:
Three 45-minute lessons
Media Components:
 Owl Pellet Instructional Video. KidWings. Jody Hildreth. 2001.
www.kidwings.com/owlpellets; downloaded on DVD. 2:06 minutes
 Computer with Internet access
 Data presenter
 Document Camera
 TV / DVD player
 Computer lab with Internet access
Website:
www.kidwings.com/owlpellets
Learning Objectives:
o Students will practice a virtual dissection and bone sorting activity.
o Students will dissect a real owl pellet.
o Students will use magnifying glasses to observe and identify what the owl ate.
o Students will reconstruct the bones on an index card and label.
o Students will make observations, identify, predict, compare and contrast, categorize
and research owls, their habitat, how they feed and defend themselves, what they eat,
and how they differ from other birds.
The particular Science SOL’s covered include:
o
o
o
o
o
SOL 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, and 5.1 Scientific investigation, reasoning, and logic
SOL 2.4, 3.4
Life Processes
SOL 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 Living systems
SOL 2.8, 3.8, 3.10, 4.8
Resources
SOL 5.6
Interrelationship
Materials:
 Black and white marble notebooks
 Assortment of owl pictures, glue sticks, clear contact paper
 Assortment of feathers
 DVD of owl dissection and TV
 Classroom Owl pellet Dissection kit; ordered from Genesis, Inc.
 Document camera and projector
Teacher Preparations:
 Burn a DVD of Owl Pellet Instructional Video. Preview to make sure it
will play on the TV.
 Preview and bookmark site for Virtual Owl Pellet Dissection.
www.kidwings.com/owlpellets
 Order classroom owl pellet dissection kit and have all materials ready for students.
 Prepare selections of owl pictures for journaling.
Introductory Activity:
1. Students will make an owl journal so they can respond to literature, research
writing/sharing and poetry writing activities. Students will decorate a black and
white marble notebook with owl pictures. The teacher will use clear contact paper to
cover the journals.
2. For the first journal entry – students will select a feather from a pile. They will need to
respond to the following questions in their journal.
 What is the color(s) of your feather?
 How does it feel?
Ask:
 Can you bend it?
 From what kind of bird do you think this feather came?
Learning Activities:
(Virtual Owl Pellet dissection)
**Need to script**
Culminating Activities:
(Dissect a real owl pellet, using instructional video on the TV and modeling with a
document camera as teacher dissects along with students.
**Need to script and show video segment frames**
Assessment:
 Increased mastery and assessment of specific VA SOL’s relating to the Living
System unit.
 Student participation and encouraged to self assess.
 Journal entries using rubric created collaboratively with students.
Community and Extended Connections:
 Students will visit The Virginia Wildlife Center and meet a live “owl ambassador”
from the refuge center.
 Plan a nature trail hike at the George Washington National Forest.
 Arrange a visit from the Virginia Game and Forestry Department to speak and
answer questions about conservation efforts and animal protection in our local area
Cross-Curricular Extensions:
Math: Students will measure 75 feet (this is an owl’s vision distance) and mark the
field. Using binoculars, students will experience how an owl can stand still and move
his eyes from side to side without moving his head. The binoculars give students a
better understanding of how the owl looks straightforward even when he moves his
head. It will also give the students a clear understanding of the owl’s eyes being
“fixed” in a socket.
Language Arts: The students will be provided with a variety of age appropriate
fiction, nonfiction and poetry materials about owls. The students will do
reading/research as well as having teacher-read materials. Previewing and prediction
strategies will provide modeling and vocabulary building. Students will respond to
literature through journaling, research writing/sharing and poetry writing activities.
Technology: Students will visit bookmarked websites. They will graph information
collected about owls.
About the Author:
Melody Reynolds is a second grade teacher at Hugh K. Cassell Elementary School in
Augusta County. She received her B.S. degree from Radford University in Therapeutic
Recreation. Most recently, she completed her education endorsement from Old
Dominion University. Melody enjoys spending time with her daughters, Jessica and Ali,
and cheering at soccer games. Any extra time is spent with her 5 horses.