From science to literature, I have a wonderful selection of owl unit study ideas to spark your next lesson. Also, grab more ideas on my Best Homeschool Unit Studies page.
Included is a simple how-to for dissecting owl pellets.
Owl pellets are the indigestible parts of creatures that owls eat such as the skull, claws, teeth, fur, and feathers that cannot safely pass through an owl’s digestive tract.
So instead, the gizzard of the owl presses everything into a tight pellet that the owl then regurgitates.
They look just like a little round clod of dirt at first glance.
As you begin to pull it apart you will find fur, bones, and more.
They are both gross and fascinating at the same time. If you have never examined one, I highly recommend doing so.
But beyond that grossly wonderful hands-on activity there is plenty more to choose from to create a small or larger lesson on this nocturnal bird of prey.
I have science, language arts, math, and even art and life skills bundled up to give you plenty of inspiration for an owl unit study.
There is so much to learn about owls that they really can be their own study.
They are found on nearly every continent and there are roughly 250 owl species.
All of them live above ground except for the burrowing owl that makes its nest underground in holes abandoned by other animals.
Books About Owls for Kids
13 Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read to About Owls
Add some of these books about owls to your home library or for your unit study.
Every child needs to have a pet. No one could argue with that. But what happens when your pet is an owl, and your owl is terrorizing the neighbourhood?
In Farley Mowat’s exciting children’s story, a young boy’s pet menagerie—which includes crows, magpies, gophers and a dog—grows out of control with the addition of two cantankerous pet owls. The story of how Wol and Weeps turn the whole town upside down s warm, funny, and bursting with adventure and suspense.
A baby owl and three kittens receive a bit of extra help in growing up on Maple Hill Farm.
Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird. But there is no answer.Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is. Distinguished author Jane Yolen has created a gentle, poetic story that lovingly depicts the special companionship of a young child and her father as well as humankind's close relationship to the natural world. Wonderfully complemented by John Schoenherr's soft, exquisite watercolor illustrations, this is a verbal and visual treasure, perfect for reading around and sharing at bedtime.
Plop, the baby barn owl, is like every barn owl there ever was, except for one thing—he is afraid of the dark! Mrs. Barn Owl sends him down from the nest-hole to find out more about the dark, and it's not long before Plop finds out that DARK IS SUPER! This comforting story filled with gentle humor and warm and soothing illustrations has been enjoyed for decades by parents and children who want to snuggle down with a good read.
Little Owl enjoys a lovely night in the forest visiting his friend the raccoon, listening to the frogs croak and the crickets chirp, and watching the fog that hovers overhead.
On silent wings a bird sweeps down in the moonlight... With their striking appearance and distinctive hoot, hoot, owls are one of the most recognizable birds in the world. But did you know there are more than 140 types of owls living in the world? Gail Gibbons' Owls celebrates the similarities and differences in the many species of owls, from large to small, living in diverse environments and making many different kinds of nests. The book covers basics of owl behavior, information on how they hunt, and the many factors that have led some types of owls to become endangered. The boldly colored illustrations feature clear labeling, and all new words are defined and reinforced with clear, simple language, appropriate for young readers. The book also features a page of intriguing owl trivia.
Easy-to-read text and illustrations trace the life of a barn owl from his birth until he leaves the nest and finds a mate of his own.
Everything you ever wanted to know about owls on the North American continent. Features the twenty-one species of owls and all their vital statistics. Includes a detailed, illustrated glossary with maps showing residence and breeding ranges.
It’s people versus owls in this laugh-out-loud story about one family’s love for a special little owl, from bestselling nature writer and Newbery Medal winner Jean Craighead George!
Borden Watson’s father is out of job, and it’s all the spotted owls’ fault. The birds are endangered, which means loggers, like Mr. Watson, are no longer allowed to cut down trees.
It doesn’t make sense to Borden. Why are owls being put first over the citizens?
But when Borden finds an owlet in the forest who needs his care, he brings it back home—much to Mr. Watson’s displeasure. Hilarious chaos soon ensues, as the tiny owl makes big changes in this logging family’s home, and makes his way into their hearts.
This heartwarming story is a great way for young readers to learn about important topics, like endangered species, conservation, and environmentalism.
A determined Owl builds strength and confidence in this medieval picture book about the real mettle of a hero: wits, humor, and heart. Since the day he hatched, Owl dreamed of becoming a real knight. He may not be the biggest or the strongest, but his sharp nocturnal instincts can help protect the castle, especially since many knights have recently gone missing. While holding guard during Knight Night Watch, Owl is faced with the ultimate trial—a frightening intruder. It’s a daunting duel by any measure. But what Owl lacks in size, he makes up for in good ideas. Full of wordplay and optimism, this surprising display of bravery proves that cleverness (and friendship) can rule over brawn.
One winter, as food gets scarce, a snowy owl finds himself forced to look in new and unfamiliar spots in order to find food and a place to call home. Based on a true story, A Snowy Owl Story describes, through the tale of one particular owl, the recent irruption of snowy owls all across the United States. Through this simple narrative, youngsters will learn about migration, adaptation, and respectful human interaction with nature. This unique title (first in a projected series of four board books) is written and designed specifically for a preschool market; few board books exist that tell conservation stories for this age range. Published in cooperation with Maine Audubon.
This is the true story about how one, little orphaned burrowing owl brought five children and their parents together on a mission to care for him as best they could back in 1967. While taking care of, Reggie, we learned that—there’s no such thing as an ordinary day with a burrowing owl around. This is not just a story for children, but the whole family and though our days revolved around Reggie, it was the unique way Reggie impacted ours and those around us ordinary lives which makes this story so special. We hope you will find it so as well."Populations of burrowing owls are declining in some areas due to pesticide use, poisoning of prairie dog colonies, and automobile collisions. Conservation concerns differ by region, and in various states they are listed as endangered, threatened, or as a species of concern.
Owl lives by himself in a warm little house. But whether Owl is inviting Winter in on a snowy night or welcoming a new friend he meets while on a stroll, Owl always has room for visitors!
Arnold Lobel's beloved Level 2 I Can Read classic was created for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.
Also, look at more ideas.
OWL UNIT STUDY RESOURCES
Resources for an Owl Unit Study
SCIENCE
Watch this video on the Great Horned Owl for a bird’s eye view.
Grab the Big Book of Birds for preschoolers through middle elementary (and maybe beyond), it is a great oversized book full of bird information and illustrations.
I found this fantastic free printable owl pellet bone sorting chart that you can use along with the owl pellets as you dissect them and carefully remove the individual bones.
This is a great way to identify which ones are which.
For younger learners try out Owl Eyesight – STEM Exploration for Kids.
Learn about the life cycle of an owl as you label each part of the cycle with the free life cycle of an owl labeling worksheets.
I enjoy adding books to our library that are good for more than one use.
LANGUAGE ARTS
For preschoolers I have this wonderful O is for Owl unit with plenty of hands-on activity ideas.
Have your middle or high school teen write a report on one species of owl including its habitat, how to identify it, and preferred prey.
One of my favorite children’s books is Owl Moon and it makes a great addition to read aloud for this topic.
MATH
Try out this Owl Matching Game for kids to help your child make the connection between the number of objects and the number itself.
Hoot Owl Hoot is a simple cooperative matching game that preschoolers will enjoy.
GEOGRAPHY
Owls are found in nearly every continent in the world from deserts to coniferous forests to the Arctic tundra.
Take out a map and have your child identify the habitat of several owls.
An ornithologist is a scientist who studies birds, including owls. Have your child research and list 3 different things that this type of scientist does.
ART AND LIFE SKILLS
This Owl Head craft does not have written instructions but I think the step-by-step photos are enough to create your own unique owl art piece.
This one goes under art but is also a fantastic life skill, simple sewing to create a Stuffed Winter Owl Heat Pack.
These paper bag owls take what would typically be a preschool project and raise it a few levels making it great for upper elementary and middle school.
How to Dissect Owl Pellets
You will need:
- Grab these large Barn Owl Pellets. When they are jumbo like this one, it’s so much more fun.
- Tweezers
- Skewer
- Magnifying glass
- Tray
First, owl pellets generally come sanitized and with instructions, but I wanted to give you more insight and ideas for approaching the dissection.
To make it inviting, spread out your pellets as well as the science tools on a tray.
Use tools like skewers and tweezers to carefully pull the pellet apart.
Remove all the little bone fragments.
Examine them a little closer using a magnifying glass.
Use a bone identification chart to match up the bones you find in the pellet.
You may find enough to reconstruct a little skeleton.
Be sure to wash up well afterward and if you want to keep your bones you can store them in a little vial on your science shelf, I have found similar to these at Dollar Tree in multipacks.
