Hatch The Chicken Project

Throughout the month of March and April our class spent some time learning about how chickens develop and grow from egg to chick. We received our eggs from Rent the Chicken and couldn't wait to get started!

At first we couldn't see anything inside the egg using the candler, but after a week or so we began to see the chicken embryo! The children were very excited to observe the development.

C: The eggs are in the egg-u-bator! (3.5 Using Descriptive Language to Explain, Explore and Extend, ELECT page 39)

We watched and waited; noting all the changes we observed when candeling our eggs. After 21 days our baby chickens began to hatch! K (age 4) and her mom noticed the first pip in one of our eggs (4.5 Observing, ELECT page 53)

It was almost a full day after that first pip before baby Bella (our first chicken) emerged. She had to work very hard using her egg tooth to break out of her shell. Shortly after the rest of our fuzzy little friends were born! We were so excited to meet them.

We worked together to count the chicks; there were six! (4.12 Counting, ELECT page 55)

The baby chickens made lots of peeping sounds. Soon the children were all able to identify the sound. (3.10 Phonological Awareness, ELECT. Page 50)

The baby chickens brought so much joy and enrichment to our program.

Watching the baby chicks grow and having the opportunity  to play with them was wonderful for the children; they loved to have the chickens out at the end of the day. Even baby A demonstrated gentle hands and great impulse control (2.2 Self-regulation, ELECT page 36)

Saying goodbye was hard, but we had so much fun with our baby chickens!

Opportunities and Possibilites

We learned so much during our observation of the baby chickens growth. The children have been asking more questions about eggs and I think it would be interesting to do the rubber egg experiment (placing an egg in vinegar until the shell softens). We can also begin watching for nests in the trees and baby birds as the weather begins to warm up.

The  children may also be interested in a class pet. We are beginning  to research options and we are deciding  between a beta fish and a guinea pig; we are learning about both animals and deciding which is the best fit for our class.