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Owls - Exploring These Fascinating Creatures: Home

Grade Level

Kindergarten, 1st

Library Standards

AASL Standard: 1.1.2 - Use prior and background knowledge as context for new learning.

Time Frame

2 25 minute class periods

Author/Creator

This lesson was created by Marlana Howerton from Ezard Elementary School. 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Creative Commons License

Summary

This lesson introduces students to different types of owls, their behavior, and habits. The lesson includes watching videos, reading a book, and drawing and labeling an owl picture.

Materials

Learning Outcomes

Objectives: The students will be able to:

  1. Describe different characteristics of owls.
  2. Listen to and engage with a story about owls. 
  3. Draw a picture of an owl while following a directed drawing.
  4. Use background knowledge as context for new learning. 

I Can Statements

  1. I can describe different characteristics of owls. 
  2. I can listen to and engage with a story about owls.
  3. I can draw a picture of an owl while following step-by-step instructions. 
  4. I can use what I already know to help me learn new things. 

Instructional Procedures

Introduction

  • (Optional, but this is how our lesson came about.) Begin by letting students know that we will be having a school-wide assembly where four live Missouri owls will be brought in by the Dickerson Park Zoo to help educate us on their behaviors, characteristics, habitats, life cycles, etc.) 
  • Ask students if they have ever seen an owl before. Discuss what they know about owls.
  • Watch the first video, Owls in Missouri - Ask MDC (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GxxfVogSFA), together as a class. Discuss  the characteristics of owls. (ex. Feathers, wings, talons, beaks, head turning 180 degrees, habitats, sounds, etc.)
  • Introduce the book My First Animal Library: Owls and ask the students to listen carefully as you read it to them. (The book is on Epic! at (https://www.getepic.com/app/read/11459)

During Reading

  • Read My First Animal Library: Owls aloud to the class. Pause periodically to ask questions and discuss what the students are learning.
  • After reading the book, ask the students to describe the behavior and habits of owls.

After Reading

  • Watch the second video, How to Draw a Funny Cartoon Owl - Preschool (https://youtu.be/J4KCCwd2wF4), together as a class. Have students grab the materials they need to follow along to draw an owl. (paper, clipboard, pencil)
  • Ask the students to draw a picture of an owl as they follow step-by-step directions. Then, have students label the owls different parts, such as its wings, beak, eyes, and talons. If possible: Project the words so students can see the spelling when they are labeling. 
  • Review what the students have learned about owls.

Assessment

  • Observe the students during the video and class discussion to ensure that they are understanding the material.
  • Evaluate the owl drawings to see if the students are able to identify and label the different parts of an owl.
  • Monitor the students' engagement and comprehension while listening to "My First Animal Library: Owls".