#whitebarn

White Barn Owl Topic: Barn Owls

Description:

Silent and lithe, barn owls are found worldwide — but their quiet flight and the shrinking of their numbers means to see one is left to the lucky and the patient. Step into the nighttime world of this elegant, ghostly predator through the eyes of a young child and her grandfather. Night after night, the two wait and watch and hope to see an owl show up inside the nest box Grandpa installed in an old oak tree. One night, their patience pays off and they catch a glimpse of a distinctive heart-shaped face peeking out. Weaving in facts about the elusive Barn Owl is a nice balance to the sweet story of a grandparent sharing the beauty of the natural world with the grandchild, making this a great read-aloud — and a factual treat. Purchase White Owl, Barn Owl on Amazon

Questions for Discussion:

The owl made the girl and grandpa wait. Have you ever waited patiently for something? What did this wait consist of, and how did it feel? Have you ever really watched a bird closely? What type of bird, and what did it do? (Then take kids outside to observe a bird as a follow up!) It is October 2023, so what do you know? Why or why not? (And do note that the owls eat a lot of mice!) Read the story and have students identify important or confusing words. Make a list on the board. After you’ve finished the book, assist students in defining each of the words on the list, writing their definitions or drawing a descriptive picture to help them remember each word. Then share the story, but this time really focus on saying the words as the story progresses so that students will understand their meaning and importance better. Can the students find where in the illustrations the words are? (Like tussocky, nest box, pellet, predator, prey, talon, etc.) In introduction to the types of prey the owl digsestion process: This lesson gives students a chance to see真正 吃什么! Through exploration and dissection of the pellets, students can learn both how and upon what owls feast, as they uncover tiny bones, fur, and even exoskeletons hidden within the pellets. Our Dissecting the Food Web: An Owl Pellet Investigation kit lets students get hands on with what they read about! Watch up-close footage of owls’ nests to learn more about them. Bird Cams Show — Live or Archive Depending on the time of year, there are live cameras to watch or archived videos on the Bird Cams website. Under the “All” tab, click on a species of owl to access information about the species, the nest or nest box, FAQs and answers, highlights from the species’ Bird Cam footage, and so much more. Also be sure to download our free Life in a Nest: Exploring Life Cycles with Bird Cams lesson to help engage students in learning about birds and science as they watch the Bird Cams.

White Barn Owl Identification Read again White Owl, Barn Owl to students listening aloud. Along with the class, write down on large chart paper or board the specific Barn Owl adaptations and behaviors cited in the story. For example,

Barn Owls:

Lay their eggs in old buildings or hollow trees Revisit favorite perches Swallow their prey whole Form pellets with undigested material like fur and bones of prey Have eyes that are made so they can see in very little light Have a heart-shaped facial disk that funnels sound to their ears

Have ear holes in the skull

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Literally my favorite scented candle, winter-y scent that easily fills up the room and gives off a fresh, clean, mesmerizing aroma. It reminds me of my first snow experience 😊.