Sunday, May 31, 2015

Owl Pellet dissection in Room 205

Keira finds something Sharp
Look no Gloves!
Go Girl!




Building a Skeleton

Complete vertebral column
How cool!

I think this is a Vole

Cora showing Mr. Lyons
her mandible bone from a
rodent

Chloe with expert precision


Alex and  Dylan digging on in

Caleb and Friends looking closely



Kate, Ryan and Pedro
looking at bones


Students had a special treat  when they came back from the Reservoir field trip. Each class had two
Owl Pellets to dissect. Using a Dichotomous Key, they dissected  the pellets with toothpicks and forks.Carefully they pried away the fur to find bones from the owl's prey. 
They used deductive reasoning to figure out what type of mammal the Owl had consumed.  
This was simply Amazing to watch!!
One of my Favorites.
Mrs. Doherty and Mrs. Cunha's classes rotated in to my room for this scientific experience.
Many students were leary of touching the pellet thinking that it was poop. I explained to them that it wasn't and eventually with the help of some surgical gloves all students enjoyed this hands on activity.