Introduction
Congratulations!!
You've made it to one of our favorite fourth grade units -
Discovering Owls!!!!
Click on each of the tabs at the top of this webquest to work through the unit.
Task
You have each been given a "Discovering Owls" packet.
Use the info in this Webquest to complete the packet and to learn some really cool things about owls.
Click on the process tab to get started...
Process
The Discovering Owls packet is divided into different sections / pages.
Use the following resources to help you with each section / page of the packet.
In addition, there are some great nonfiction books on owls available in your classroom to help you complete your packet.
Barn Owl Science - Illustrate a Food Web
Use the following website to help you complete the barn owl food web. Remember to label each animal based upon what it eats.
http://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/owl-facts-for-kids/owl-food-chain/
The Elf Owl and His Desert Food Web
You will be answering questions based upon the food web that is on this page of your packet. The website below will give some additional information if you need it.
https://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/long-fact-sheets/elf%20owl.php
Texas Owl Food Web
There are six owls that are native to Texas:
Common Barn Owl, Elf Owl, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl,Eastern Screech Owl.
You have already learned about the food web of the Common Barn Owl and the Elf Owl so remember to choose one of the remaining four to create your food web.
The following websites will help you gather the info that you need:
Barred Owl:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/id
http://houstonarboretum.org/2015/05/owls-of-houston/
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Strix_varia/
Great Horned Owl:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/id
http://houstonarboretum.org/2015/05/owls-of-houston/
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Bubo_virginianus/
Burrowing Owl:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/id
https://circleoflife.wikispaces.com/Burrowing+Owl
http://www.defenders.org/burrowing-owl/basic-facts
Eastern Screech Owl:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/id
http://houstonarboretum.org/2015/05/owls-of-houston/
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Otus_asio/
Inherited vs Learned Behaviors of the Owl
The website below has great inforation on the behaviors of owls
http://www.owlpages.com/owls/articles.php?a=2
Owl Pellets
The link below has some great information on owl pellets and a video of an owl actually regurgitating a pellet
http://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/owl-facts-for-kids/owl-pellets/
Here is a link to another website with good information on owl pellets.
http://www.carolina.com/teacher-resources/Interactive/basic-information-on-owl-pellets/tr11103.tr
Birds of Prey and Owl Adaptations
The databases in MackinVia has a lot of great information on Birds of Prey and Owl Adaptations.
Click on the link below:
Login with the following information:
School: Fisher Elementary Frisco, TX
Username and Password are the same ones that you use at school.
Click on the word GROUPS in the red box on the left and then click on Fourth Grade Owl Research. There should be four resources shown.
To open a resource - click on the green box that says Open Now to the right of the database title.
The following resources will be most helpful:
Britannica School - type "bird of prey" in the search box
World Book - type "birds of prey" in the search box to answer the first few questions. Type "owls" in the search box for owl adaptations.
Owls Book by Julie Lundgren. Open Now will bring you to the general information about the book. You must click on the Table of Contents and then the cover of the book to actually open the book.
Life Cycle
The link below will take you to a short informational text being read aloud. It has great information on the young life of owls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXfy4Cb9thQ
The link below is another excellent resource regarding the life cycle of owls.
https://docs.google.com/a/friscoisd.org/file/d/0B1-BPRqEouLnRlVGQ0lMU2Vwbjg/edit
In addition - PebbleGo in MackinVia (see directions on how to access under Birds of Prey and Animal Adaptations) has some good information on the life cycle of owls
Texas Owls - Whoooooo Lives Here?
There are six owls that are native to Texas:
Common Barn Owl, Elf Owl, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl,Eastern Screech Owl.
The following websites will help you gather the info that you need:
Common Barn Owl:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Owl/lifehistory
http://www.owlinstitute.org/barn-owl.html
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Tyto_alba/
Elf Owl:
http://www.owlinstitute.org/elf-owl.html
http://www.owlpages.com/owls/species.php?s=2230
http://www.owlworlds.com/elf-owl/
Barred Owl:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/id
http://houstonarboretum.org/2015/05/owls-of-houston/
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Strix_varia/
Great Horned Owl:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/id
http://houstonarboretum.org/2015/05/owls-of-houston/
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Bubo_virginianus/
Burrowing Owl:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/id
https://circleoflife.wikispaces.com/Burrowing+Owl
http://www.defenders.org/burrowing-owl/basic-facts
Eastern Screech Owl:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/id
http://houstonarboretum.org/2015/05/owls-of-houston/
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Otus_asio/
Owl Moon
Click on the link below to listen to the book Owl Moon:
Evaluation
Your completed packet will be turned in for a grade.
Remember that you are graded on the quality of work that you produce and the accuracy of your information so make sure that you use your resources and you are proud of what you turn in.
Conclusion
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have completed this unit on Discovering Owls!
We hope that you had fun completing this packet and that you learned some interesting things about owls.