Remember I told you round 3 of my science obsession was coming soon? Well......
Our chicks have finally arrived and are growing fast!! We started our chicken life cycle unit 6 weeks ago and this was one of my most educational experiences yet! My classroom was FULL every morning before and after school with kiddos coming to see our first babies arrive! I am attaching lots of pictures so get ready!
Our chicks have finally arrived and are growing fast!! We started our chicken life cycle unit 6 weeks ago and this was one of my most educational experiences yet! My classroom was FULL every morning before and after school with kiddos coming to see our first babies arrive! I am attaching lots of pictures so get ready!
I surprised my students with eggs in March. They went on Spring Break and then came back with only a week left before they hatched. I planned it that way so they wouldn't lose interest waiting 21 days!
The chicks need to stay warm after hatching so they spent 3 more weeks under a heat lamp. They needed to get feathers first. My daughter named them right away. The first one she called "Chickadee", and the second one."Hamburger". I guess they looked like hamburger when they first hatched..LOL! We had 4 total hatch out of 12.
Here is a short video clip of the first chick who hatched:
They hatched on day 20 and 21. By day 23, I broke the rest open to show the students that they hadn't been fertilized.
We started an observation journal a few days before they hatched. They loved this part of the day because they could observe them and write about how they changed each day. And boy do they! One week later, they were already trying to fly!
Journals
Journals
They are growing up! Sniff!
I have feathers now!
We did a little comparing with chickens and ducks. We put together a Venn Diagram to show our learning. They made chickens and ducks to go with it.
If any of you have been thinking of hatching eggs with your students, I highly recommend it! They will love it!
Here is my Incubation Station Math and Literacy Unit. It has 141 pages of fun! It has detailed instructions on getting you started with hatching eggs and the activities are differentiated for the primary grades K-2. Just click the picture links to see more. It will be 20% off today only!
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Happy Spring and Happy Hatching!
We are hatching chicks in my room two. Ours have been in the incubator for 11 days. We used a candler to see inside. We are hatching 40. We have 7 eggs that don't seem to have anything. I know 40 seems like a lot but my classroom aide has a farm. There are 3 classes hatching eggs.
ReplyDeleteI've had hatching eggs every year for the last five years. It is always a rewarding experience for the students and for me, as well! I would add in to teachers considering hatching eggs in their classrooms - make sure you have a plan for what is going to happen to the chicks when they are grown. Since I began, I've had a few neighbors who will always take a chick or two but I always ask before I start the project.
ReplyDeleteYou don't want to end up with chicks and no place to have them grow!
I did this with my 2nd graders!! They were totally absorbed with the eggs for the whole 21 days :-) We had all 11 of our eggs hatch!! I have put your unit on my wish list for next year!! The only thing that I wished that I had was a document camera to put the hatching eggs under so everyone could see. The eggs were provided to us by the local 4H so after about 4 days they came and got the chicks.
ReplyDeleteKaren
Thanks Karen! Wished we had more fertilized! I have a document camera and it came in handy! I think next year I might keep a few:) I'm already talking to the hubby about building me a chicken coop this summer! I had already promised the chicks to a few parents and teachers:) Usually the farmers and ranchers will take any who didn't find a home.
ReplyDelete