2022 Embryology in the Classroom  Hatching Classroom Projects

Incubating and hatching chicken eggs in a classroom is a hands-on learning experience teachers used with students from kindergarten to 12th grade in Kenton County during the spring of 2022.  Classroom lessons referencing chicken embryos taught complex systems such as nutrition and circulatory system, and basic skills such as data measurement, collection, and analysis. The project helped students learn biological concepts and develop a deeper understanding of life sciences (National 4-H Science Curriculum Embryology in the Classroom).  Examining embryos by candling at different stages and observing a beating heart were two of the lessons teachers referenced in their end of project written evaluation citing educational value.

Kenton 4-H agent (Kelley) and program assistants (Clark & Sturgill) facilitated the educational program for nearly 900 youth in 10 different schools and four different school systems.  A high school special education unit also participated in 2022 reaching an underserved audience.  The required orientation program for new incubator hosts was held for 4 teachers in 2022.  The orientation provided the opportunity to learn about incubating chicken eggs and reviewing educational activities in classrooms.  Materials review included embryo development, incubation, and incubator operation. Three former teacher hosts have secured their own equipment and now present the lessons in accordance with their specific school schedule. 

Experienced teachers have learned the value of maintaining humidity as well and the teamwork involved by youth assigned to keep daily logs of temperature and assure the egg turners are functioning as needed. 

Kenton County Cooperative Extension personnel also provided egg to chick information including research based CES resources and reading resources form the National Egg Board which included health information for youth.  The Kenton 4-H agent also secured fertilized eggs from different breeds of chickens.  Therefore the egg shells are different colors and youth also leave that all hatched chicks are not yellow.  

Written teacher evaluations cited the educational value as “keeping a journal about candling the eggs”, using the “chicken cards to learn about genetic traits-the chicks will hatch with…”, and “the experience of the seeing the hatching process…”.

100% of participating teachers plan to incorporate embryology in their classroom in 2023.  Hatched chicks were placed in forever homes with 4-H families involved in the 4-H poultry project during the 4-H Poultry Club meeting May 2022.   .