IN CLASSROOM EMBRYOLOGY!IN CLASSROOM EMBRYOLOGY!

EGGCELLENT ADVENTURES4H368IN CLASSROOM EMBRYOLOGY!An Intracurricular Guide to ChickenEmbryology.1

EGGCELLENT ADVENTURES4-H EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING MODELCurrent research points to the advantage of authentic instruction that involves “active knowledgeconstruction” by learners, relevance, active feedback on learner progress, ongoing opportunities to rethink and reflect, and highly interactive learning activities (Eccles & Gootman, 2002). For decades, 4-H YouthDevelopment has been using active knowledge construction processes through a process called experientiallearning.WHY USE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING? Multiple senses can increase retention. Multiple teaching methods can be integrated to maximize creativity. Child-centered learning becomes the focus. Discovery of knowledge and solutions builds competence and confidence. Students can learn life skills that will be used, in addition to subject matter content. Learning is more fun!4-H Youth Development relies heavily upon the five steps of the experiential learning model to teach lifeskills (Figure 1). The sequential steps of the model help students identify what they have learned from a 4-Hexperience or activity and to apply that learning to other experiences or situations.This model requires that the “teacher/leader” be very clear about the skill or concept targeted and that theexperience and the processing questions are designed to support that learner goal. The experiential learningprocess engages the learners in all phases of the activity, resulting in the ability to generalize this learning tonew situations.3

EGGCELLENT ADVENTURESTABLE OF CONTENTSEmbryology 101. 6Eggceptional Products.49Chick Journal. 7Baby Chick. 52Basics of Embryology. 9Eggcellent Vocabulary. 54Schedule During Incubation. 10Cooking With Eggs. 56Planning And Scheduling Checklists Teacher.11All About Eggs Word Search. 62Planning And Scheduling Checklists Student.12Eggciting Criss-Cross Puzzle. 63What Is Embryology?.13Make-A-Word.66Parts of The Egg.15Fact Or Opinion.69Chick Development. 18Pecking Order. 72Chick Growth. 20Eggs-Traordinary Fractions. 74“21 Days” Song. 23Eggciting Writing. 77Egg Production. 24Eggcellent Vocabulary. 78Candled Egg. 26Create An Egg. 79Pick-A-Chick. 27Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch.80Chicken Breeds Part 1. 28Vocabulary.84Chicken Breeds Part 2. 30References.86The Little Red Hen. 33The Magic Egg. 36The Magic Egg Worksheet. 37Eggciting Fractions. 38What Is The Temperature?.41What Happened?. 43Egg Word Search.465

EGGCELLENT ADVENTURESEMBRYOLOGY 101WHAT IS CHICKEN EMBRYOLOGY, ANDHOW CAN I INCORPORATE IT INTO MYCLASSROOM?Embryology is the study of how embryos grow anddevelop. What kinds of things grow and develop fromembryos? All plants and animals develop from embryos.Just as a lima bean is the embryo of a lima bean plant, afertilized chicken egg is an embryo of a chicken.is a very rewarding experience for both the instructorand students involved. This unit requires taking care ofchicken eggs, an incubator, and eventually baby chickens.The eggs and incubator require frequent monitoring,and once the chicks hatch they require special care aswell. In addition, when the experience is over, teachersare responsible for cleaning equipment and returningeverything just as it was given to them.Eggcellent Adventures in Classroom Embryology is aboutlearning through experience. Students see firsthandhow a chicken develops in an egg through a seriesof activities. Students can observe the growth fromcandling sessions that show the development of thechick; the students can record data, make predictions,and conclude what they think the final outcome will be.In most cases, when a teacher signs up to teachchicken embryology in the classroom, they set up theincubator, set the eggs, and wait for them to hatch—that is the experience. This guide, however, has lessonsto incorporate into a daily plan in order to make thechicken embryology experience an intracurricularexperience. The lessons follow Florida Sunshine StateStandards and incorporate activities from varioussources. Each lesson contains an experience, instructionson how to do the experience, background informationif needed, and reflection questions. There are a totalof 31 lessons for the unit, or approximately two lessonsfor each day of in-class instruction. Overall, the lessonsaddress agricultural literacy and science concepts, butthey also address math, language arts, and visual arts.HOW LONG IS THIS UNIT? WHAT DOES ITREQUIRE OF ME AS A TEACHER?From start to finish, it takes chicks approximately 21 daysto hatch. Typically, a unit on chicken embryology is aminimum of 15 instructional days. The lessons will onlyinclude the days that students are in the classroom. Theunit can also be made longer as desired.As the teacher, this project comes with a great amountof responsibility, but don’t let that scare you away! This6Chicken embryo at day 16Source: ck-embryo.html

EGGCELLENT ADVENTURESCHICK JOURNALUSING A CHICK JOURNALA chick journal is a great way for students to documentand record what they learn over the period of theproject. A chick journal can be as simple as a pocketfolder with fasteners to hold worksheets/sheets ofnotebook paper from activities. It can also be as fancy asa printed-up workbook with the lessons included. Thisis all flexible based on the needs and resources of theclass.4. Post-Letter — This letter goes home to families totell them that the embryology experience may beover, but there is more in 4-H that is available!5. Evaluation — This evaluation is tool geared todemonstrate the outcomes and impacts that theembryology program has in the classroom. Withoutan evaluation, how can we prove that the program isgood?It is encouraged that the students are incorporatingwhat they are learning in the varying subject areasthroughout the project for retention. In addition, thechick journal is a great way for students to show theirparents what they are doing in class. Having studentsuse the journals is a great way to focus their enthusiasmabout the project. For example, students constantlywant to check the incubator and eggs. Having themdocument the results daily will not only help you as theteacher to remember data, but, if the students havea task they are to complete, they may be less likely tointerrupt other classmates and/or the teacher about theincubator.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE FORTHE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCEThe following resources are available l1. Classroom Poster — This poster is a great way tolet the school know that you are participating inthe embryology project. Post it on your door to leteveryone know!2. Postcard — This postcard is to be sent home withstudents to let their families know what the studentsare doing in the classroom.3. Safe Handling Poster — This poster is a guide tohelp students and teachers remember the safehandling procedures when it comes to eggs andchickens.7

EGGCELLENT ADVENTURESSAMPLE SCHEDULE FOR EMBRYOLOGY LESSONSDAY123456789101112131415LESSONINTRODUCTION TO EMBRYOLOGY*WHAT IS EMBRYOLOGYPARTS OF EGG**CHICK DEVELOPMENT**CHICK GROWTH**21 DAYS SONG**EGG PRODUCTION*CANDLED EGG**PICK-A-CHICK**CHICKEN BREEDS**THE LITTLE RED HEN**THE MAGIC EGG**EGGCITING FRACTIONSWHAT IS TEMPERATURE?**WHAT HAPPENED?EGG WORD SEARCH**EGGCEPTIONAL PRODUCTSBABY CHICK**EGGCELLENT VOCABULARY**PECKING PROTEINEGGCITING CRISS-CROSS PUZZLE**MAKE-A-WORD**FACT OR OPINION**PECKING ORDEREGGSTRAORDINARY FRACTIONSEGGCITING WRITINGEGGCELLENT VOCABULARY II**CREATE AN EGG**DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCHEVALUATION*** SUBMIT TO AGENTWHOTEACHESTIME45 MIN–1 HRAGENT1 HOURTEACHER20 MINTEACHER1 HOURTEACHER1–1.5 HRAGENTTEACHER45 MINTEACHER1 HOURTEACHER25 MIN–1 HRTEACHER45 MIN–1 HRTEACHER30–45 MINTEACHER30 MIN–1 HRTEACHER30–45 MINTEACHER1–1.5 HRTEACHER1 HOURTEACHER1.5 HOURTEACHER*Indicate lessons that ensure basic information for embryology. ** Indicates lessons that go with chick journal.8

EGGCELLENT ADVENTURESBASICS OF EMBRYOLOGYBASIC INFORMATION ON CHICKENEMBRYOLOGYit is not strong enough to get out of the shell, it is notstrong enough to survive!It takes 21 days for chicks to hatch.It is imperative that chicks stay in the incubator untilthey are completely dry and fluffy.Hatching rates all depend on the factors of temperature,humidity, egg position and air exchange being preciseand maintained. Temperature: The temperature for a forced-airincubator is 99.5 F, and the temperature is 101 Fto 103 F for a still-air incubator with the bulb ofthe thermometer at the TOP of the eggs. Be sure that the incubator is not in directsunlight or drafts or subject to otherconditions that may alter the temperature.The best room temperature for incubators isbetween 75 F and 80 F. Humidity: Humidity helps the eggs from dryingout. Relative humidity should be 60% for thefirst 18 days and then increased to 65%–70%. Thisis important so the chicks can hatch.Do not let students handle baby chicks. Handlingincreases the risk for their survival in the first few days.Depending on the embryology program, theincubators, egg turners, brooder boxes, andother supplies may be provided. In manycases, only incubators are provided to theclassrooms. If you plan on participating inthe program frequently, it is suggested thatyou invest in your own supplies to ensurethat all the equipment is always functioningat its best. Egg position: The more pointed end of the eggshould point down (the air cell should be at thetop). Eggs must be turned routinely throughout theday so that the developing embryo does notstick to the shell. Turning the eggs in differentdirections prevents twisting of the embryonicmembranes. An odd number of turning timesprevents the eggs from being in the sameposition each night. This can also be easier ifan egg turner is used (an egg turner should beremoved on the 18th day). Air exchange: Make sure that all hands arewashed before handling the eggs. Oils fromhuman skin can reduce air exchange.Using lights to see inside eggs, or candling, should occuron or around days 7, 14, and 18. Always keep in mind, notall eggs will hatch. In addition, not all chicks will hatchout all the way. Do NOT help a chick out of its shell. If9

EGGCELLENT ADVENTURESSCHEDULE DURING INCUBATIONDAY 0–1The first 24 hours. Cells start dividing the germinal disc, circulation system, digestive system,vertebrae, and nervous system begin.DAY 2Eyes are appearing, visible vertebral column, ears begin, embryonic membrane forms toprevent sticking, and heartbeat begins.DAYS 3–4Allantois begins to form. Limbs, lungs, outer/middle ear begins to form. The tongue andesophagus start to form; the embryo separates from yolk sac; kidney begins; gizzard and largeintestine begin to form.DAYS 5–6Reproductive system begins, first cartilage present, appearance of beak, voluntary movement,allantois and chorion lay against shell.DAYS 7–10Digits appear, comb begins, egg tooth begins, feather tracts appear, mouth opening appears,beak begins to harden, digits are completely separated.DAY 11Abdominal walls are established. Intestine becomes morevisible, down feathers begin to appear. Comb and wattlesare visible. There are scales and claws on toes.DAYS 12–13Allantois completes enclosure of egg contents. Thecartilaginous skeleton is almost complete.DAYS 14–15Embryo begins to turn head toward large end of egg. Ossification (hardening) of the bonesbegins. Intestines can now be seen in the yolk sac.DAY 16Beak, claws, and scal

egg word search** 45 min–1 hr teacher 10 eggceptional products baby chick** 30–45 min teacher 11 eggcellent vocabulary** pecking protein 30 min–1 hr teacher 12 eggciting criss-cross puzzle** make-a-word** 30–45 min teacher 13 fact or opinion** pecking order 1–1.5 hr teacher 14 eggstraordinary fractions eggciting writing 1 hour teacher 15