The bird egg is a marvel of nature. What is more fascinating than to see a fully developed baby chick emerge from an egg? Just three weeks of incubating transforms a seemingly lifeless chicken egg into an active, living being.
This hands-on 4-H project offers additional science enrichment as part of the regular school program, or can be undertaken as an independent study. This program is designed to give youth the opportunity to hatch chicks in their own classroom. Students will learn to prepare the eggs and set up the incubator. During the 21 day incubation time, children will keep daily records of progress, turn the eggs, and test eggs for fertility.
Illinois will be utilizing a new embryology curriculum for grades 2 – 8 as part of the teacher training. It will include reference to an interactive web site, a new CD-Rom program, as well as a teacher guide with student worksheets.
Instructional Materials
4-H will provide a teacher guide for grades 2-5 and 6-8. Supplemental materials will be available for grade K-1. Additional resource materials including slides and a videotape will be available ON A LOAN BASIS ONLY from the University of Illinois Extension Office. 4-H will also provide fertile eggs and chick starter feed. Schools need to provide incubator and brooder box for hatched chicks.
Illinois State Goals & Learning Standards
A special workshop designed to instruct teachers on how to teach embryology will be held in early 2003 for new teachers at the Extension Office from 4:30 p.m. to 7:300 p.m. First time participants are required to attend this session. Pre-registration is required!
01A. Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.
01B. Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency.
01C. Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.
03A. Use correct grammar, spelling, puctuation, capitalization and structure.
03C. Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.
06B. Investigate, represent and solve problems using number facts, operations and their properties, algorithms and relationships.
06C. Compute and estimate using mental mathematics, paper-and-pencil methods, calculators and computers.
07A. Measure and compare quantities using appropriate units, instruments and methods.
10A. Organize, describe and make predictions from existing data
12A. Know and apply concepts that explain how living things function, adapt and change
12B. Know and apply concepts that describe how living things interact with each other and with their environment
13A. Know and apply the accepted practices of sciences
13B. Know and apply concepts that describe the interaction between science, technology, and society
