Chickens in the Classroom

[cnicho05]

Hello,

I am a teacher who is hosting a "Farm" day this year during the operation of our Summer Camp Program. I have several local families who are bringing in animals and I plan on bringing in my Rhode Island Red's. I wanted to know if anyone had any good ideas for what I can talk about, any resources I could bring, activities I can do, etc.

I have a few weeks to plan this so I have the time to get almost anything prepared...

Thanks in advance...

 

[Gayleyy]

You could grab some eggs at different ages and do the float test, explain why old eggs float.

 

[countrygirl345]

I don't know what you were planning on, but you should keep all animals seperate to keep from spreading disease. Maybe explain the parts of a chicken and what they eat and where they sleep and whatnot.

 

[Gayleyy]

Maybe if you have had chicks, have a slide show of development. You could discuss the benefits of fresh eggs/meat over store bought. Everyone is always in awe when they find out how old store bought eggs are.

 

[countrygirl345]

Maybe if you have had chicks, have a slide show of development. You could discuss the benefits of fresh eggs/meat over store bought. Everyone is always in awe when they find out how old store bought eggs are.

this sounds dumb, but how old are they?

 

[Adair Peeps]

My wife just sent me this link this morning which seems to be just what you need:

http://www.apa-abayouthpoultryclub.org/educational_material.htm

Check out the link for "Fun Egg Games and More".

 

[Alice28]

When I was in kindergarten my teacher brought in an incubator and we got to watch the eggs hatch, then we got to go to her farm and steel an egg from the chickens! I can still remember her class, she was great! I thing doing the egg cycle and development of the chicken is a great idea. I remember a book from when I was little (don't remember name though ) but it showed they eggs at different stages inside the chicken! I remember how crazy that was to me and having it explained that chickens can lay an egg a day so that means inside are eggs at all different stages. I know you can get posters for children that explain and show chickens developing in an egg and how they change each day and grow. Good luck! Maybe years and years later you will have a student who remembers you as well as I remember my teacher

*ps, I second that.... How old are store eggs?

 

[Gayleyy]

this sounds dumb, but how old are they?

No older than 21 days old at the date of packing, that is 3 weeks, then you add shipping and sitting in the cooler at the store. So the eggs would be around a month old or older when you get them home. Then you add on how long they sit in the fridge after you buy them, I think the expiration date is somewhere around 4 weeks, or 30 days. So by the expiration eggs can be about 2 months old. Chicken people are not shocked by this, but people who do not keep them, or ever have are usually in awe.

 

[Alice28]

That's crazy! I'm not shocked because they ship eggs so obviously there not fresh. My aunt has chickens and it's amazing how much better fresh eggs are. We can't wait for are ducks to start laying.