ACTIVITY 78: COUGHING UP CLUES

Challenge What can an owl pellet tell you about an owl’s diet?

How can you use this information to develop part of a food web?

ACTIVITY 78: COUGHING UP CLUES

Vocabulary:Food Web

Food ChainEnergy Flow

PredatorPrey

FOOD WEBS & FOOD CHAINS

What does the arrow represent?

Is this a food chain or a food web?

What’s the difference between the two?

REMEMBER!

1. Do not eat any food during class.

2. Be careful when manipulating the pointed sticks.

3. Wash all tables and hands with soap and water before leaving class.

DISSECTING THE PELLET:MATERIALS:

PELLET4 WOODEN STICKSPETRI DISH4 PAIR OF GLOVES

Follow the Procedure on page E-38.

ANALYSIS QUESTIONS

Work on Analysis Question 2 in your groups. Draw the food web on chart paper with markers. *Be ready to explain your web!

ANALYSIS QUESTION 3

Draw the graph in your journals. Work on a and b independently.

VIDEO: DIRTY JOBS: OWL VOMIT COLLECTOR http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/dirty-jobs-owl-vomit-collector.html

VIRTUAL OWL PELLET DISSECTION http://www.kidwings.com/owlpellets/flash/v4/index.htm

TEACHER LENS DEBRIEF Ordering Pellets AQ 3 is really tricky! Can also learn more about owl pellets and virtual dissection

on the Issues and Life Science page of SEPUP website. http://www.kidwings.com/owlpellets/flash/v4/index.htm

Vomit Collector Video http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/dirty-jobs/videos/owl-vomit-collector.htm

Would have students reconstruct skeletons and glue on cardstock – student sheet 78.1 is helpful resource. (Extra Credit Option)

Students could begin constructing food webs after this activity for research project.