The Owl and the Lemming

As Owl swoops down and blocks the entrance to a lemming den, he is sure that he has a tasty meal in the little animal he has cornered. But this lemming is not about to be late. This smart little rodent will need to appeal to the boastful owl's sense of pride to get away.

The Owl and the Lemming
Written by Roselynn Akulukjuk
Illustrated by Amanda Sandland

Activities for You to Do

1. Inuit Crafts for Kids

• https://thecraftyclassroom.com/crafts/native-american-crafts-for-kids/inuit-crafts-for-kids/

2. Traditional Inuit Story

The oral history of Inuit is filled with many folktales. In this traditional story, a young owl catches a lemming to eat. Inuit stories are often instructive and, with this tale, children quickly learn the value of being clever and humble, and why pride and arrogance are to be avoided.

Can you think of any other morality, trickster, or underdog tales you may know? Consider stories such as Aesop’s Fables, the Monkey King, the Gingerbread Man, Anansi the Spider, the Three Billy Goats Gruff or the Three Little Pigs.
How is The Owl and the Lemming similar to the story you know? How is it different?
Discuss the ways the lemming tried to outwit the owl.
Read another story and compare/contrast.

The Cast and Setting

The North – This Inuit story depicts a scene of the Arctic Tundra, characteristic of the terrain in northern Canada. The Inuit are Aboriginal people in northern Canada, living mainly in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, northern Quebec, and Labrador.

Unlike other owls, snowy owls are active during the day and night. This helps them hunt during the summer when daylight is continuous within the Arctic Circle. They have excellent eyesight and hearing, which helps them hunt in the white snow and in dim light. Snowy owls are covered in feathers – even their feet! Although snowy owls feed on many animals, lemmings are their primary prey.

Lemmings are an important food source for many Arctic animals, like the snowy owl. They do not hibernate and stay active under the snow. They have short ears, legs, and tails to reduce heat loss. As told in the story, lemmings eat moss and other plants.

• In this story, who was the predator? 
• Who was the prey?

3. Learn About Endangered Arctic Wildlife

• http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/arctic/wildlife/

4. Code Nanuq (Polar Bear) using Scratch Jr. to walk along the flow edge looking for food.

5. I Can Make Art ... Like Andrew Qappik

• https://www.nfb.ca/film/i_can_make_art_like_andrew_qappik/

For facts and clips about the tundra, owls, and lemmings, consider using school library resources, as well as general online websites such as Hinterland’s Who’s Who:

• www.hww.ca