“What’s Wild?”

Background

It’s time to explore the difference between wild and domesticated animals! Animals that are wild are called wildlife. Wild animals are animals that take care of themselves without depending on people. This means that they get their food, water and everything they need to survive on their own from the environment. Domestic animals are animals that rely on people to provide food, water and shelter for them. Domestication is a process that takes place over a long period of time and involves selectively breeding animals for the traits that we want.

The difference between wild and domestic animals may be confusing for children at times. For example, animals that live zoos are wild animals but their needs are provided for by people. These animals are a special example of those animals and are not how most of the animals of that species live. Encourage children to think about how most animals of the same species live.  Another example is dogs and cats that have been abandoned and are left to care for themselves. They are still domesticated animals; they are just no longer under the care of a person and are no longer tame.

Neighborhood Animal Walk

Start by asking children what comes to mind when they hear the words “wild animal”?  What are some wild animals that they have seen or know about? Can they think of any animals that are not wild? What is the difference? Do any of them have pets or know someone who has a pet?

Take children on a walk through the neighborhood around the school.  Watch for animals. When you see animals ask the children: Is that a wild animal or a not wild (domesticated) animal? Why do they think so? What is the animal doing? Keep a record of the animals that you see. Record the children’s observations.

Classroom (or outdoor space)

Read aloud to the children the two “A Day in the Life” stories on page 73 of the book Growing Up WILD. Have children act out the stories or use a felt board or other visual to make the stories come to life. Discuss the differences in the two animals’ lives. Ask: How does the dog get what it needs? How does the squirrel get what it needs? Which of the animals is the wild animal? What is the difference?

Provide an assortment of plastic and/or plush animals for children.  As a class sort them into baskets according to whether children think they are wild or domesticated. Some animals may fit into either basket (mice, rabbits) so you may need a third basket for animals that can be either.

Provide the felt board and sorting animals for the children during center time to explore and play with. Listen to the stories they make up with the felt board.

If you have a classroom pet allow children to take part in the care of the pet. If they cannot directly take part in the care of the animal they could help the teacher remember, gather supplies, or take turns observing the pet for the day.

For this and other great activities use Growing Up WILD’s “What’s Wild?”!

Book List

Auch, A. 2002. Tame and Wild (Spyglass Books Series). Spyglass Books.

Brett, J. 1989. Annie and the Wild Animals. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Child, L. 2007. I Want a Pet. Tricycle Press.

Giogas, V. 2007. In My Backyard. Sylvan Dell Publishing.

Greydanus, R. and L. Sweat. 1989. Let's Get a Pet (First-Start Easy Reader). Troll Communications, LLC.

Keats, E.J. 2001. Pet Show!. Penguin Group (USA).

Mastin, C., and J. Sovak. 1997. North America Wild Animals. Grasshopper Books.

Meyer, K. 2006. Wild Animals of North America: A Poster Book. Storey Books.

Rockwell, A. 1992.  Our Yard is Full of Birds. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishers.

Ruurs, M. 2007. In My Backyard. Tundra.

Thornhill, J. 2004. Wildlife ABC and 123: A Nature Alphabet and Counting Book. Maple Tree Press.

Van Eerbeek, T. 2002. The World of Farm animals: An Early Encyclopedia for Beginning Readers. Balloon Books.

Wolf, J. and M. Hafner. 1996. Daddy, Could I Have an Elephant?. HarperCollins Publishers.

Owl Pellets

An owl pellet is a dense mass of indigestible food that an owl coughs up after digesting a meal. Owls are predators and eat small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Owl pellets may contain bones, fur, and feathers. They offer a wonderful look at what owls in general eat as well as an intimate look at what a particular owl has eaten.

Obtain sterilized owl pellets for your class. Allow enough pellets so that children are in groups of 2-3 per pellet. If you collect pellets yourself instead of ordering pre-sterilized pellets the pellets will need to be sterilized. Sterilize by wrapping pellets in foil and heating them in a 325° oven for 40 minutes.

Start by asking children if they have ever seen a bird eat? How did it eat? What did it eat? What kinds of foods do birds eat? Show them one of the owl pellets and ask them what they think it might be? Tell them it is something made by a bird. Tell them they get to be scientists and explore what the object is.

Give each group/pair of children a pellet as well as a paper plate, dissecting tools, magnifying glass, and small containers. Explain that they can touch, pull apart, and separate the object. Explain that the containers are for them to sort out what they find. As they are examining their pellets ask them questions about they find. What do they notice about the object? What is inside of it? What does it feel like? Allow them to share their ideas and observations. Continue to ask questions and make observations until they come to the conclusion that it is the leftover bones, fur, and feathers from a meal of a bird. Show them pictures of owls. Has anyone ever seen an owl? What did it look like? What do owls eat? Talk about predators. Ask why they think the owl coughed up the bones, fur and/or feathers?

Barn Owl Nest Box

Build a Barn Owl nest box (or several) together as a class. Then find a place to hang them. Check with your local County Conservation Board or local land owners. Plan a field day to help hang the nest boxes (or at least observe). Plan to revisit the site at a later date to check if it is being used. Perhaps partner with CCB or landowner to have someone check it regularly and give photos/updates to the class.

IDNR: County Conservation Boards

http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/DNRStaffOffices/ConservationLawEnforcement/CountyConservationBoards.aspx

All About Birds: Barn Owls

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/barn_owl/id

USDA Barn Owl nest Box and Instructions

ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/CA/news/Publications/wild_habitat/owl_nest.pdf

Missouri Department of Conservation How to Build a Barn Owl Nest Box (includes video and audio of Barn Owls)

http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/how/woodworking/how-build-barn-owl-nest-box

Shaw Creek Bird Supply Barn Owl Nest Box Plans

http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/plans_barn_owl.htm

Snacks and Crafts

Provide children with various craft supplies and various natural objects to make their own owls (do this craft outside if possible and allow children to gather their own natural objects). Some ideas are toilet paper or paper towel rolls (cut in thirds), press the tops down together to form the head and ears of an owl. Allow children to decorate as they want. Leaves, bark, fabric or paper scraps can be wings. Googly eyes, small stones, seeds can the eyes. Another idea is to use paper plates to make owls. Allow children to use their imaginations and see what wonderful owls they come up with! Display the owls in the classroom.

For snack time make owl toast. Cut the crust off of toast. Cut into a circle, cut another small half circle off of the top to form the ears of the owl. Use two banana slices with chocolate chips for eyes. Use a small triangle of a graham cracker for the nose. Enjoy!

For this and other fun ideas for exploring owls with young children use Growing Up WILD’s “Owl Pellets”.

Links

Virtual Owl Pellet Dissection

http://www.kidwings.com/owlpellets/flash/v4/index.htm

NWF: Legends of the Guardians Owl Activities

http://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/About/NWF-Movies/LOTG_KidsGuide.ashx

Owls made with a paper towel roll

http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2010/10/owl-family-play-set.html

The Owl Pages

http://www.owlpages.com/

Wikipedia: Owls

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owl

Owl pellets for sale

http://www.pelletsinc.com/

Owl Book List

Arnosky, J. 1999. All About Owl. Scholastic, Inc.

Bailey, J. 1990. Life Cycle of an Owl. Scholastic Library Publishing. Butterworth, C. 1990. Owls. Steck-Vaughn. Frank, R. 2004. So What, Saw-Whet? Hummingbird Mountain Press. George, M. 1998. Owls. Child's World, Incorporated. Gibbons, G. 2006. Owls. Holiday House. Gibson, D.C. 2001. Owls and Their Homes. Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated. Hiscock, B. Ookpik: The Travels of a Snowy Owl. Hoffman, J. et al. 1993. Mouse and Owl. School Zone Publishing Company. Johnston, T. 2001. Barn Owls. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc. McDonald, M. 1997. Whoo-oo Is It? Scholastic, Inc. Richardson, A.D. 2002. Owls: Flat-Faced Flyers. Capstone Press. Riley, J. 2004. Quiet Owls. Lerner Publishing Group. Townsend, E.R. 2004. Woodland Animals: Owls. Capstone Press. Waddell, M. and P. Benson. 1996. Owl Babies. Candlewick Press. Yolen, J. 1987. Owl Moon. Philomel.