Hoot, Hoot!
Whoo’s ready to learn about owls? Explore the fascinating world of these feathered nighttime hunters with fun owl activities for preschoolers! From owl facts and stories to counting games, fine motor activities, and a tasty owl snack, this mini lesson plan is filled with hands-on learning opportunities.
Owl Poems for Kids
Add a little poetry to your owl theme with this short owl rhyme. Read it aloud together, encourage children to repeat the lines, or add simple hand motions to turn it into an interactive language activity:
Ten Little Baby Owls
One little, two little, three owls peeping,
Four little, five little, six owls sleeping,
Seven little, eight little, nine owls waking,
Ten little owls say, “Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!”
One little, two little, three owls looking,
Four little, five little, six owls listening,
Seven little, eight little, nine owls flapping,
Ten little owls fly in the night!
One little, two little, three owls yawning,
Four little, five little, six see morning,
Seven little, eight little, nine owls settling,
Ten little owls are fast asleep!
10 Owl Fun Facts
- Owls have great night vision.
- Owls have excellent hearing that helps them find food.
- Owls cannot move their eyes around like we can.
- Owl heads can turn almost all the way around.
- You can’t see an owl’s ears. The ‘ears’ we see are just feather tufts.
- Owl feathers have soft edges that help it move quietly.
- Most owls live in trees but some live in burrows in the ground.
- Not all owls hoot. Burrowing owls make a sound similar to a rattlesnake.
- Burrowing owls often make their homes in holes dug by prairie dogs and other animals.
- Owls are helpful to humans by catching small rodents like mice.
Watch & Learn
- All About Owls For Kids Learn about different types of owls, see owl pellets, and listen to sounds owls make. See cute fluffy owlets (baby owls) and great horned owls, eastern screech owls, barred owls, scops owls and more! Learn interesting facts about owls like where owls live, how owls hunt, what different types of owls there are.
- Who Knew? Amazing Owl Facts Owl facts. Learn about sizes of owls, what they eat, how they hear and how they see.
- Owl Facts For Kids Learn about owl eyes, how they turn their heads, that they are predators and what that is, along with where owls live and the sounds that they make.
- What Are Owl Pellets? Learn about how owls digest their food and watch an owl pellet be dissected
YouTube Books
- Owl Babies by Martin Waddell tells the story of three little owls — Sarah, Percy, and Bill — who wake up to find their mother gone. As they wait in the dark woods, the baby owls feel worried, huddle together, and wonder when she’ll come back. This gentle, comforting story explores feelings of worry, patience, and the comfort of being together. Perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and bedtime reading.
- Brave Little Owl by Penny Little. Little Owl is teased by her brothers when her every attempt at flying ends in disaster. And all she wants is to make her Grandma’s birthday perfect by showing her how brave she is. Her friends try to explain that lots of things can seem scary at first. But it takes some kind words from Grandpa to really help Little Owl face her fears.
- Little Owl’s Snow by Divya Srinivasan. Little Owl experiences his first snow and first winter! The story is a great introduction to the changing of the seasons.
- Knight Owl by Christopher Denise. Owl dreamed of becoming a real knight. With hard work and grit, he achieved his dream. But, one night, during Knight Night Watch, Owl comes face to face with a dragon. Will his fast thinking and internal fortitude keep him from being a midnight snack?
Hands-On Learning
Owls Cut and Paste Activity
Practice scissor skills and fine motor coordination with this fun owl cut and paste activity! Children will cut out stars and a moon, snowflakes, mice, and grasshoppers, then glue them around the matching owls. Along the way, they’ll learn about four different types of owls: Great Horned Owls, Snowy Owls, Barn Owls, and Pygmy Owls.
Owl Matching Worksheets
Help preschoolers develop visual discrimination and matching skills with these adorable owl matching worksheets! Children will look carefully at the different owls and match the ones that are alike. Includes both color and black-and-white versions for extra flexibility.
Owl Counting Clip Cards
Make counting fun with these owl counting clip cards! Children count the owls on each card and use a clothespin to clip the correct number. This hands-on math activity helps develop number recognition, one-to-one correspondence, counting skills, and fine motor coordination.
Recipe
Awesome Owl Face — a rice cake snack
Ingredients:
- 1 plain rice cake
- 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 2 banana slices
- 2 raisins for the eyes
- 1 small piece of banana for the beak
Directions:
- Spread peanut butter over the rice cake.
- Place two banana slices near the top of the rice cake to make the owl’s eyes.
- Add a raisin to the center of each banana slice for the pupils.
- Cut a small triangle from another banana slice and place it below the eyes for the beak.
- Enjoy your awesome owl snack!
Note: Substitute ingredients as needed for food allergies and adjust food sizes to suit children’s ages.
I hope these owl activities bring lots of fun and learning to your preschool day! Whether you’re exploring owl facts, practicing counting, or creating an adorable owl snack, there are plenty of ways to keep little learners engaged while discovering these amazing birds.
Which owl activity will your little learners enjoy most? Will they have fun with the cut-and-paste worksheets, practice counting with the owl clip cards, or make their own Awesome Owl Rice Cake? I’d love to hear which activities you try! Share your favorites in the comments below.
