I have used Owl Moon (the 1987 Caldecott winner by Jane Yolen) in my classroom the past few years. It is an excellent resource to help teach students many facets of author's craft; specifically figurative language!
Some may consider picture books too simple for upper elementary classrooms. However, some brilliant literature presented in a picture book format can lead your students to a deeper understanding of the elements of literature. Owl Moon is such a book. There are some excellent examples of simile, metaphor, and personificaiton in this picture book.
Yolen brings the reader through a unique encounter during the dead of winter. A young child heads out in the middle of the night to go owling with their pa. Told using a combination of figuative language and sensory details, along with visually stunning illustrations, readers are transported to a brisk winter night as the duo seek a Great Horned Owl.
My Owl Moon literature study typically takes 5-8 days.
Before the Reading
Whether a picture book or a novel, I like to use a pre-reading probe and have students discuss a few different questions that relate to the book. With Owl Moon, I will only show the cover to the students - no flipping through the pages!
Discussion questions help get the students thinking about the plot or themes they will encounter in the book. A question such as: "What do you know about owling?" helps generate any ideas the students might have but it also prepares them for when they hear the word later on while listening to the book.
This is also a great time to review some figurative language. If you and your students have already worked with simile, metaphor, and personification, take a few minutes to go over these terms and remind students of how authors work them into a story and which key words to listen for.
During the Reading
For the first read, I do not show the illustrations. I ask students to close their eyes and allow Jane Yolen's words to create the pictures for them in their minds. I also ask them to listen for sensory details. At the end of the first reading, students take note on the sensory details. We share out and oftentimes will make an anchor chart of the details the students heard.
One optional activity I've done in the past is to ask students to choose the most detailed portion of the reading. During which part did they have the most vivid visualiztion? Then, they draw! To make it extra fun, I ask students to draw on blue construction paper using white chalk.
Once students have had an opportunity to create their own visuals for the book, I will read it again. For the second reading, I show the illustrations and students will listen for the figurative language. Students will have been introduced or reviewed simile, metaphor, and personification prior to the second read.
Option: you can show students a YouTube vidoe of this read aloud. The version linked below does not show the text- it gives students an opportunity to focus on the illustrations.
Read Aloud Version on YouTube (does not show text)
If it is the first time I have taught simile and metaphor, I break it up over two days. Simile the first day and metaphor the second. Using two days helps reduce the students' cognitive load and gives their brains an opportunity to "wire" the first term into their brains correctly before moving on to the second.
Teaching both terms in one day can confuse some learners. It's better to take the time and teach them on different days. Once the terms are incorrectly "wired" it can take significantly longer to correct the pathways.
Read more about cognitive load here --> Reducing Student Cognitive Load
During the second read, students take notes on the figurative language. This can be broken up in different ways: have students work in pairs/small groups, assign specific figurative language to students or groups, or ask students to focus on particular sections of the text. You may want to assign one group to simile, one group to metaphor, and one group to personification. Go over the figurative language and make anchor charts.
Once we have a list of the figurative language in the book, I like to have the students break down the language. What words does Yolen use and what is the message she is trying to convey?
Students break this down using a simple chart labeled with "Figurative Language" and "Simple Language". This chart comes in handy later on when students are asked to transform their own writing from "simple" to "figurative". The chart can work both ways; start with the figurative and consider the simple. Or, start with simple and draft the figurative.
Although the main focus of this unit is typically the figurative language, I also like to include lessons that strengthen comprehension, character study, and short (written) response. I use Evidence Charts and Character Mats to help students dig into the text and use text evidence to support their ideas.
After the Reading
If I want to extend the students' learning, I have them write their own narrative. I give them the same organizers that we used to break down Yolen's story. The familiarity with the formats and how they can be used to organize and draft helps those students who struggle with writing tasks.
I start with asking students to think about a special experience they have had with another person. They then draft out the experience using a Begining-Middle-End chart. Once students have a good base to work from, they work toward revising their narrative using sensory details and figurative language.
When I am leading my students into some complicated math algorithym I start will small numbers. I keep it simple so when the numbers get bigger, hopefully the algorithym has been learned and it's simply a matter of applying the same steps using bigger numbers. The same process can be used with picture books in upper elementary classrooms- shorter texts that give students a look at rich, beautifully crafted language and an opportunity to break down that text to fully understand how it enriches a story. Picture books can help students identify and practice the more complicated parts of our language and author's craft when the text is less intimidating; and Owl Moon is a perfect choice.
You can find everything you need to teach a literature study using Owl Moon in my TpT store here.
Free Figurative Language Resources
For FREE simile, metaphor, and personification printables for the book Owl Moon click here.
Click below to visit and explore other winter mentor texts!