Aidyn loved the understated adventure in Owl Moon and requested an owling trip of our own!
Language Arts: Setting
On the first day, we discussed the setting of the story. Aidyn listed off various answers: winter, nighttime, in the snow, in the forest. I also suggested other stories we have read and movies we have seen and asked him to name the settings until I was sure he understood.
Language Arts: Similes and Metaphors
On the next day, we read Skin Like Milk, Hair of Silk: What Are Similes and Metaphors by Brian P. Cleary and learned about similes and metaphors.
We had fun performing some metaphors like "icy glare" and "frozen stare." When we read Owl Moon again, Aidyn spotted all the similes and metaphors and yelled them out:
"...a train whistle blew, long and low, like a sad, sad song."
"And when their voices faded away it was as quiet as a dream."
"But I was a shadow as we walked home."
Language Arts: Hyperbole
We also discussed hyperbole when we read how they stared at the owl for "maybe even a hundred minutes." We came up with more examples like, "Aidyn took a million years to get ready" and "I waited forever for the rain to stop."
Social Studies: Relationships- Father and Child
Looking at the close relationship of the father and daughter in the story, we discussed Aidyn's relationship to his father and things he's learned from him. We continued working on a thank-you letter to Daddy from earlier this month.
Science: Owl Study
We read Gail Gibbon's Owls and learned about different species of owls, how they hunt, what they eat, where they nest, how they raise their young, among other interesting facts. I asked Aidyn to find his favorite fact for copywork and here's what he chose:
We also read Jim Arnosky's All About Owls for more owl facts.
On YouTube, we watched a National Geographic special called Owls: Silent Hunters.
Although we enjoyed rowing Owl Moon, we didn't do as much as I would have liked. We're still adjusting to having a new baby in the house, but check out the links below for more ideas for learning about owls:
