First, students will state their purpose in dissecting the pellet. Then they will hypothesize about what the owl ate prior to regurgitating the pellet they are about to dissect. Next, they will decide what procedure or methodology to use in carefully dissecting the pellet so as to ensure that they retrieve all skeletal remains in good condition. After the bones have been retrieved, they will be identified and catalogued. The bones are then used to reconstruct the skeleton of the prey eaten by the owl.
Students then attempt to identify the prey.
Finally, students will summarize their experience, draw a conclusion as to what the owl's diet is like, and generalize or apply their findings to the owl family and its environment. Each step must expressed in written form and edited. First, students will form cooperative research teams at the local, national, or international level utilizing the NSRC's Electronic School District. Next, students choose a topic of study in which they have a personal interest and complete a Scientific Research Contract. The topic must be related to the curriculum content or thematic unit being studied.