Owl Moon Teaching Plan
Owl Moon
by Jane Yolen
Scholastic, 1987
On a cold winter's night, beneath a full moon, a young girl and her father trek into the woods to go owling. In a place filled with moonlight, mystery, and magic, father and daughter hope to catch a glimpse of a great horned owl. The poetic style of this 1988 Caldecott winner, along with the exceptional descriptions and illustrations, create a memorable evening in New England.
Behind The Scenes
Jane Yolen, who lives in Massachusetts, dedicates this book to her husband—who took all of her children owling. The story is filled with the sights, the sounds, and the feel of being outdoors on a cold winter's night in the northeast. It captures the excitement of going owling, and the thrill of actually seeing the owl.
Animal watching is a wonderful activity for adults and children to share. In each region of the country, there are exciting possibilites. In this area, whale watching and seal watching are also popular. In fact, Massachusetts is the home of the New Bedford Whaling Museum and the whaling cruise boats that leave from Gloucester or Provincetown.
Many Different Directions
On a map, locate Massachusetts. Point out places of historical significance—Plymouth, Old Sturbridge Village, Concord, Lexington, and Boston. Call attention to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Provincetown, and the Berkshires. Display maps, books, pictures, news clippings, etc. As a group, think of creative ways to gather and share information about this state.
Getting the Picture. Since this story is filled with such wonderful descriptions, use some memorable lines and phrases to create your own pictures. Enable students to make their own discoveries about how words can set the scene. On strips of paper, copy lines, phrases, or sentences from the story. Suggest that children select one strip... read the words, and create their own visual images. You might provide paper, crayons, markers, scraps of material or felt, etc., for the project.
Write a “How-to.” As a group, recall important story details that explain how to go owling. Tell how to dress, how to behave, the sounds to make, etc. Help children decide what's important and how to place these tips in the proper sequence.
Describe the Great Horned Owl. Use story details and information to compile a list of what you now know about this creature. Then, create a list of things you'd like to find out about this nocturnal animal. Students can work in pairs or small groups, to gather these facts. Then, they can share these findings with classmates.
We know
We want to know
Learn about whale watching. Since this is also something people do in the Massachusetts area, consider having someone come to class to share their own whale watching experiences. Ask students to imagine how they would feel as they waited to spot a whale. Talk about the thrill of actually seeing a whale swimming in the ocean. Then, fin out whether owling or whale watching would be more popular in your class. Ask, if they had their choice, how many children would rather go owling, and how many would rather try whale watching. Post the results.
Whale watching
Owl watching
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Owl Moon
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Owl Moon
School Library Journal
$16.99
Starred Review
As expansive as the broad sweep of the great owl's wings and as close and comforting as a small hand held on a wintry night... The visual images have a sense of depth and seem to invite readers into this special nighttime world.
1988 Caldecott Medal Book.
books;hardcover books;picture books | Ages 4-8
Ages 4-8 $16.99
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Owl Moon
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Owl Moon
by Jane Yolen and John SchoenherrA poetic narrative hauntingly evokes the darkness and silence of the night, as a young girl and her father venture forth into the woods in search of the Great Horned Owl. "This is a loving book that any reader, male or female, young or old, will want to make a part of their lives." - SLJ
$4.99
Paperback Book | Grades K-2
Grades K-2 $4.99
