Owls in the Family

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

What type of support can an animal offer in times of difficulty or need? For example, how do pets support people?

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question introduces a central theme of the novel: The Relationship Between People and Animals. Mowat’s novel highlights the special relationship that humans have with animals, particularly in the ways that animals provide love, support, and friendship. In the novel, the protagonist befriends unusual animals, including owls and gophers. Although his parents are initially skeptical of Billy’s new adopted pets, they recognize the importance of Billy’s friendships with local Canadian fauna and support Billy by allowing him to house and feed his animals. After students have the chance to answer the prompt independently, they might meet briefly in small groups to share and compare responses.

• The National Institutes of Health discusses “The Power of Pets” as a benefit for human health.
• The topic of Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) may come up in individual responses or small group discussion. This article from the University of Massachusetts Medical School explores the role of ESAs in society and details how they differ from service animals.

Short Activity

Author Farley Mowat writes his novel in the landscape of rural Canada, referencing much of the flora and fauna of Saskatchewan. Working in small groups, select one of Canada’s 13 regions and provide a basic overview of the wildlife there. Use the following questions to guide your research:

• Name the region and capital. How many people live there?
• Where is the region located geographically? Describe the landforms and geography.
• What are some of the major wildlife species in the region? Are any of them endangered?
• Generally, how do people interact with the wildlife that is common to the region?
• How can the novel’s theme of The Relationship Between People and Animals be connected to the information you have discovered?

After preparing your information, practice and deliver the presentation with your group. Be sure to include any relevant visuals and/or media.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Activity invites students to consider the setting of Mowat’s novel through group work and a presentation. Each group should select one of the 13 regions of Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador; Prince Edward Island; Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Quebec; Ontario; Manitoba; Saskatchewan; Alberta; British Columbia; Nunavut; Northwest Territories; or Yukon Territory) for their presentation. Students might jigsaw the research tasks in order to compile notes for the presentation.

• The Government of Canada’s official website provides information on “Canada’s Regions.”
• Fresh Tracks Canada provides an overview of “Canadian Wildlife,” focusing on both major regions and notable species.

Differentiation Suggestion: This Short Activity is designed as an introductory exercise for students who may not be familiar with Canada. For classes who are already familiar with the region, the Short Activity can be amended to the following exercise: Select an influential Canadian author for a presentation. Provide a general background of this writer and choose one of their texts from which to read an excerpt during your presentation. In particular, consider the ways in which this author may interact with the themes The Relationship Between People and Animals, The Payoff of Hard Work and Determination, and The Meaning of Family.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

How would you characterize your relationship with nature? Consider the amount of time you spend outdoors and your personal interests or hobbies. How does nature instruct people? What lessons have you learned from nature?

Teaching Suggestion: For Billy, animals are a part of his family; this applies not just to typically domesticated animals such as dogs but also to wildlife in their region, like gophers and owls. Billy’s relationships with these animals are part of his overall connection to nature and the setting of the book. Mowat’s novel shows ways in which a respectful relationship with nature can be beneficial for one’s overall health.