YOU BELONG TO A GROUP OF ROCK CLIMBING ENTHUSIASTS.   ON ONE OF YOUR EXPEDITIONS,  YOU ARE SCALING CLIFFS AND GRAB A LEDGE THAT STARTS HISSING AT YOU.  THIS SOUND SURPRISES YOU BUT, UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION, YOU REALIZE THE LEDGE HOUSES A NEST OF FOUR YOUNG OWLS.  ONE OF YOUR BUDDIES COMMENTS THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN A GREAT YEAR OF HUNTING FOR THE PARENTS TO HAVE 4 OFFSPRING.  ANOTHER BUDDY POINTS TO SOME LONG, HAIRY CLUMPS THAT ARE SCATTERED AROUND THE AREA AND TELLS YOU THAT THESE ARE CALLED OWL PELLETS.  ALL OF THIS INFORMATION MAKES YOU WONDER ABOUT OWLS SO YOU START ON AN INFORMATION QUEST.

IN YOUR QUEST, YOU FIND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ON OWLS SO YOU DECIDE TO LIMIT YOUR TASK TO 3 PARTS:

• PART 1 - CREATE A PELLET DISPLAY

• PART 2 - RESEARCH 2 OWL TOPICS AND       PRESENT AS A POWER POINT PRESENTATION OR A PYRAMID DISPLAY

• PART 3 - WRITE A 4 PARAGRAPH PAPER ABOUT THE 2 OWL TOPICS

OWL TOPICS  (CHOOSE 2)

• DISSECTION OF THE OWL PELLET

• FORMATION AND LOCATION OF THE PELLET

• HOW NATURE USES THE OWL PELLET

• FOOD CHAIN OR FOOD WEB

• INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT OWLS

• OWL MYTHS, LEGENDS, OR STORIES USING OWLS

• NESTING SITES AND HABITATS

• NOCTURNAL AND HUNTING ABILITIES

• HABITAT ADAPTATIONS

• OWL EYE COLORS

• OWL SOUNDS

• NORTH AMERICAN OWLS

NORTH AMERICAN OWLS

• BARN OWL                    

• LONG-EARED OWL

• WESTERN OWL             SHORT-EARED OWL

• EASTERN OWL             GREAT GRAY OWL

• SNOWY OWL               GREAT HORNED OWL

• ELF OWL                       NORTHERN PYGMY OWL

• SPECTACLED OWL        NORTHERN SAW-WHET 

• BURROWING OWL        CACTUS  PYGMY OWL

• SPOTTED OWL              NORTHERN HAWK OWL

• BARRED OWL                

     You will need an owl pellet and tools for separating the fur or feathers, bones, and teeth. Collect these for Part 1 of your project. Your tools are toothpicks, metal picks, and tweezers. Put all teeth and bones in a zip-lock baggie making sure that they are clean of all fur or feathers. 
     You will be given 3 days to complete the dissection. Then you may take another 3 days to glue the bones on to the card or stomach of your owl, to cover the card with Saran Wrap, and to choose an owl, color the wings and head, and connect these to the wrapped card.

     You will have 10 days to complete this section of the project.  This section includes your research and the pyramid presentation. Please make two selections from the "Possible Owl Topics" list, taking notes to use in Part 3 (your paper) of the project.   

    YOU SHOULD BE AN EXPERT ON THE TWO TOPICS THAT YOU CHOOSE SO USE ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU CAN. (resources are listed below)

     Notes are your most important ally in the quest of knowledge. These need to be neat and organized in order to use them successfully in your project. Read books, search the internet, and use the animal cards to find your information.  

• WILDLIFE FACT-FILE CARDS
• EAGLES, HAWKS, FALCONS AND OWLS OF AMERICA A COLORING ALBUM
• NATURE UNDERCOVER: HUNTERS AND PREY
• DESERT ANIMALS
• THE NATURE COMPANY GUIDES: BIRDING
• EYEWITNESS BOOKS: BIRD
• POSTERS
• INTERNET: http://www.owlpages.com

     After researching, you will then create the pyramid presentation. This part of the project is a pyramid with two sections. Both parts of the pyramid should include lots of pictures and interesting information created in a 3-D effect.

     The last part of your project is the written paper that is to include the information that you found during your research. This paper will be written in class. You will need to have 2 people edit your paper. I would like to see your paper, also. You need to write a four paragraph paper about the two topics that you selected. The paper needs an opening paragraph, two supporting paragraphs, and a closing paragraph. 
     The opening paragraph should introduce yourself and your two topics. This needs to be about 5 well developed sentences.
     The two supporting paragraphs need to include information about the two topics. Please, do not write about how you made the pyramid, only include information from the notes that you took. Each paragraph needs to be no less than 5 well developed sentences.
     The closing paragraph will be the summarizing paragraph. This should include something you learned during this project and something you liked about the project. This paragraph also needs about 5 well developed sentences.
     All of your English writing skills will be needed to correctly complete this section. You will be graded on grammar, complete thoughts or sentences, complete paragraphs, and words spelled correctly. Use all of your skills to develop this paper. Start with a rough draft or outline to organize your thoughts. 

    EDIT   EDIT   EDIT    EDIT    EDIT    EDIT    EDIT    

10

10

10

10

10

15

5

15

15

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