Core Skills Analysis
Science
- Practiced observing and examining biological material through a hands-on investigation.
- Identified that owl pellets can contain remains of animals eaten by an owl.
- Used evidence from bones and other materials to investigate an owl’s diet and food chain.
- Developed skills in specimen handling, classification, and recording observations.
Mathematics
- Could organize discovered bones or remains into categories based on observable features.
- Could count and compare specimens to represent findings quantitatively.
- Could use tables, tallies, or simple graphs to communicate the investigation results.
Language Arts
- Practiced using precise observation vocabulary to describe the pellet and its contents.
- Could record evidence and conclusions in a scientific observation journal.
- Developed explanatory writing by connecting discovered remains to the owl’s feeding behavior.
Tips
Tips: Extend the investigation by having the student sort and tally the recovered materials, then create a labeled data table or bar graph. Invite them to sketch the pellet contents and write a short evidence-based explanation of what the findings suggest about the owl’s diet. Compare the shapes of different bones using a reference guide, while emphasizing careful handling, handwashing, and respect for wildlife. Finish with a discussion of how the owl fits into a food web.
Book Recommendations
- Owls by Gail Gibbons: An accessible nonfiction introduction to owl anatomy, behavior, habitats, and hunting.
- Owl Moon by Jane Yolen: A lyrical picture book that builds appreciation for observing owls and the natural world.
- The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson: A chapter book exploring owl behavior, nighttime environments, and changing perspectives.
Learning Standards
- Common Core Math 6.SP.B.4: Supports displaying and describing numerical data from counts of recovered materials.
- Common Core Math 6.SP.B.5: Supports summarizing investigation data with tables, graphs, and observations.
- Common Core ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2: Supports writing an informative explanation of the dissection findings.
- Common Core ELA-LITERACY.W.6.9: Supports using evidence from observations or reference materials to explain conclusions.
- Common Core ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1: Supports discussing observations, evidence, and conclusions in a collaborative investigation.
Try This Next
- Create a sorting worksheet with columns for bone type, quantity, size, and observations.
- Draw and label the recovered remains, then write a claim supported by two observations.
- Make a simple food-web diagram showing the owl, its prey, and the plants or organisms supporting the prey.
- Write five quiz questions about evidence, observation, classification, and owl feeding behavior.