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
- In large mixing bowl, crumble shredded wheat and stir in coconut and sugar. Pour melted margarine over mixture and stir.
- 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.
- 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.
_ 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: