Owls swallow their prey whole or in chunks and regurgitate pellets of undigested material, including bones and fur. Owl pellet dissection allows students to investigate and identify bones, compare and sort the skeletons of prey, and learn about the characteristics and habits of owls. This is an excellent introductory-level dissection activity to reinforce basic science process skills. The activity supports 3-dimensional learning and builds toward the following:

• NGSS Scientific and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Constructing Explanations
• NGSS Core Idea: Life Science 2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics