My students need to experience the real world of agriculture with this incubation project. Students can explore the complexities of embryology, growth and development, and what a growing cell needs to survive.
Our science classroom is full of diverse learners eager to understand the world around them. Students are at varying levels of ability from those who could teach the class to those who need extra support for learning disabilities or for those whose first language is not English. Our schools serve families from a number of countries with over 80 different languages spoken.
Science can be a challenge for those students who are functioning below grade level in reading and comprehension or who come from poverty.
Their academic and life struggles can cloud the learning experiences in the classroom. Their curiosity about inheriting the genes of their parents and how plate tectonics builds volcanoes doesn't overshadow the complexities of the topics. Students require real world, hands-on experiences in the classroom to help them acquire the life long skills and knowledge for success. Our limited budget does not always provide the necessary materials needed to do this. This is why DonorsChoose is so important to my classroom.
My Project
The students will study the growth & development of a variety of fertile bird eggs during the incubation process. They will learn what the mother hen does during this process and how we will simulate this in the classroom. Students will track daily development, temperature and humidity to ensure a successful hatch. During the project, students will learn about the function of the egg in development, what influences development and hatch rate, how genes are passed from the parents to the offspring, and how to care for the chick after hatching.
Students will not only act as scientists collecting data and making observations but they will also learn about animal husbandry and agricultural careers.
This real experience will be etched in their middle school memories for a life time of knowledge. An added benefit is the positive interaction with a living thing that will hopefully nurture compassion and awareness for life.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Jordan and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.