Shaping young naturalists, owl pellets dissection to train high-school students in comparative anatomy and molecular biology

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ABSTRACT It is well known that allowing students to put theory into practice is beneficial to consolidate knowledge and to better memorise the topics that are discussed in class. Furthermore, practical work is a valuable asset to stimulate students’ attention and represents one of the keys to the success of the scientific experience in school. Didactic activities involving owl pellets are common in many English-speaking countries, with owl pellet dissection kits designed for classrooms also available for purchase online. This kind of activity, however, is not common in many other countries, Italy being one of them. In fact, as reported by the tests, none of the students that attended the activities had previously worked with owl pellets, but they were nonetheless particularly fascinated to learn more about the biology and ecology of owls and their preys. The experience was proposed to students that attended the last three years of high school. Students from each cohort carried out different parts of the experience to create an organic flow of three different activities that have been presented to the students during their progression in high school years. Along with the practical work, students were asked to take multiple-answer tests before and after the experiences to evaluate the level of knowledge before and after the laboratory phase. Overall, students responded positively to the project, considering it a valuable supplement of their cultural background.