If you've never done a unit study about owls in your homeschool, you MUST. It's such fun!
A homeschool day at a local nature center was all about Birds of Prey - more specifically owls.
We were fortunate enough to see a wonderful Birds of Prey demonstration, followed by owl pellet dissection, and then visiting several injured birds of prey.
We are big fans of Interest Led Unit Studies around here, and while we have joined Classical Conversations this year, I can still tell that we will have time for some quick and enjoyable unit studies throughout the year.
I wanted to share with you how we put together this little unit study.
*This post cotains affiliate links
I'm stressing to you -- it was EASY! There's no need to knock yourself out.
After doing a lot of interest led learning for the past four years I've reached a conclusion:
5 Ingredients for a Successful Interest Led Study
- student inspired/requested
- little or no written requirements
- a fun field trip
- great books
- documentaries
With that being said, here is how we approached a simple unit study about owls.
Owl Pellets
While we received our owl pellets (which are basically the regurgitations from an owl that contain a lot of cool rodent bones) at the nature center, you can also purchase a student owl pellet kit.
The Notebooking Fairy even has a notebooking page to go alongside your owl pellet dissection.
Our guide gave us a nifty little bone chart and told us all about the owl pellets and how the owls use a "tornado" to produce the pellets inside their body, then basically throw them up for our enjoyment.
It is really fun to get this little furry mass and crack it open - then use a toothpick to pick out the bones.
You might get lucky and find a shrew skull, and if you're even luckier there will be little teeth attached.
COOL.
After coming home from the field trip the kids of course were still interested in owls.
Additional Owl Resources
- Owl Moon - you can't study owls and not read this book!
- Owl: Fun Facts for Kids - a Kindle download - great little book!
- Avian Vomitologist - an episode from Dirty Jobs all about the lucky guy that collects owl pellets
- National Geographic Wildlife Wonders, Owls - The Silent Hunters
- DIY Clay Owl
- Draw owls - such a great printable from The Graphics Fairy
*All of these resources and more can be found on my Owl Unit Study Pinterest board.
Enjoy!
Have your kids had a successful interest led unit study lately? Tell me about it!