Around the Halls (Fall 2007)

Sixth-Grade Owl Pellet Study

Comparing the human skeleton to animals found in owl pellets

The students in sixth grade studied how bones form, different types of fractures, how broken bones heal, the effect of different liquids on bone strength, how bones move, how bones are connected to other bones, the different types of joints, and major bones in the skeleton.

To better understand the structure and form of bones in the skeleton and to make connections to the structure of the skeletal system of other mammals and birds, the students dissected owl pellets, collected all the bones they could find, and made a count of the different types of bones. Using the skull as a guide, they identified the prey animal and then organized the bones to make as complete a skeleton as possible.