Owl & Mouse

SUMMARY:	Learn more about owl's biology, especially their amazing hearing in an interactive game. This lesson is part of a series. Select this text to learn more about the series and how to extend its usefulness.
OBJECTIVES:	Students will learn about owl's unique adaptations to night hunting.
SUBJECTS:	Science
GRADES:	K - 5
LENGTH:	Quickie

Background: Owls have amazing, highly developed hearing. Owls' ears are placed asymmetrically on their heads, one slightly higher than the other. This increases their ability to distinguish sounds, where they are coming from, and how far away they are. This is particularly helpful for owls when they are hunting at night. Barn owls are believed to have better hearing than any other animal and can even hear a human heart beat.

Materials: A blindfold and an open area to play in.

How to:

1. Have all the students stand in a circle. The students represent the forest. They should plant their feet like trees in the ground and not move or make a sound.
2. Pick one student to be the owl. This student is blind-folded and stands in the middle of the circle.
3. Pick one or two students to be mice. They are not blind folded but are also in the middle of the circle.
4. Explain that the goal is for the owl to catch a mouse by only using sound. The owl says "Owl." Every time the owl says this the mouse must respond with "Mouse." As in the game Marco Polo, the owl has to find the mouse by listening to where its voice is coming from. Once the owl catches the mouse, pick a new owl and mouse. The trees are there as a buffer to keep the owl contained and from bumping into anything. It should be enforced that this is strictly a walking game.