Eggciting Facts

Eggciting Facts

The Nature Friends program is for 4 or 5-year old children with an adult. The maximum group size is 20 child-adult teams. Programs are outside unless weather does not permit.

Story

Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones by Ruth Heller

Discussion

  • What are the parts of an egg? (Use felt board and parts of egg felt pieces)
  • Eggshell – used by the baby bird to form its bones, as the bones get stronger the eggshell gets weaker
  • Yolk – food for the baby bird
  • Air sac – pocket of air that the baby chick uses to start breathing before it hatches
  • Membranes – thin skins that help the egg breath, keep the egg from drying out
  • Egg white – contains mostly water, protects the chick so it won’t get germs
  • “What animals come from eggs?” (Show an example of each)
  • Insects
  • Fish
  • Amphibians – jelly like eggs that need to be laid in the water
  • Reptiles – tough leathery shells
  • You can make a reptile egg by soaking a chicken egg in vinegar for 1-2 days.
  • Birds – hard egg shell
  • Discuss how bird nests are different sizes and are made with different materials.
  • Show students the size of an eagle’s nest, than have students sit in the nest. Count the number of students it takes to fill it. Discuss that an eagle will make a nest of sticks and lays 2- 3 eggs.
  • Mammals – platypus and spiny anteater also lay eggs!
  • Show real eggs.

Activity: Egg Count and Sort

Count the numbers of plastic eggs in the basket. Sort them by color. Use flannel eggs on flannel board to have a child place eggs in order by size.

Craft: Egg Mosaic

Before program, clean several egg shells. Dye the shells with food coloring if you like. Give each child a piece of construction paper, pencil and glue. Ask the children to draw a shape. It can an outline of an egg or an animal or simply a shape, let them choose. Spread glue inside the shape. Add dry crushed egg shells to the glue. Let dry.

Snack

Bird Nests (serves 6)
(make before program if time is restricted to one hour)

Ingredients

  • 2 large shredded wheat biscuits
  • 1/4 cup coconut
  • 1 T brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup margarine
  • Jelly beans or yogurt covered raisins
  1. In large mixing bowl, crumble shredded wheat and stir in coconut and sugar. Pour melted margarine over mixture and stir.
  2. Place muffin cup liners in muffin pan. Press shredded wheat mixture into bottom and on sides of each cup. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until crisp.
  3. Fill nests with jelly beans or yogurt covered raisins.

Finger Play

Words Action
Ten little eggs, Hold hands up, fingers straight
All in a mound. Join hands together in a ball
Out come caterpillars, Extend and wiggle fingers
crawling all around.
Then they will sleep Lay head to one side on hands
and we all know why.
Soon they’ll become Hold hands up, fingers straight, wave them
butterflies

References

Cox, Nonie. Animals from Eggs. 1993

Activities provided by:

Polk County Conservation Board
Lori Foresman-Kirpes
Nature Friends is funded by Polk County Conservation Board, West Des Moines Park and Recreation, and the Des Moines Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.

 

Age:
_ 0-1
_ 1-2
_ 2-3
_ 3-4
✓ 4-5
_ 5-6

Category: Adult-Child

Iowa Early Learning Standards:
8.2, 9.3, 11.1, 11.2, 12.1, 12.3, 12.4, 12.6, 13.1, 13.2, 14.3

Related Kindernature Resources: Other Resources: