Project Overview

Third Grade students at Delaware Ridge Elementary School in Kansas City, Kansas developed and maintained detailed science notebooks as they studied five species of owls that are native to Kansas. Working as scientists, the students learned about the owl's habitats, traits, life cycles, and relevance. They also focused on how human impact has changed the way that owls survive and the students were asked to take a stand on how they feel about how humans impact the environment.

The students wrote opinion papers based on the question; “What physical trait is most important to owls for survival?”  Using their science notebooks for recording, the students collected evidence on owls from primary resources, experts, and fieldwork at a local nature center.

The school is in the development of a nature trail on part of their campus. Working with the art teacher, students worked on multiple drafts of scientific illustrations of the five local species of owls. Through the revision process, the students refined their work, but also selected five samples of writing and five scientific illustrations to be printed on metal
signs that would be permanently placed along the school nature trail.