Video: Science Teachers Hatch Hands On Classroom Project

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A lesson that is sure to keep students’ attention has been hatched at one elementary school.   As WCBI’s Allie Martin reports,  the project allows students to witness the incubation cycle of a chicken and apply what they learn to a variety of subjects.

For the past 20 days,  students in Crystal Wilson’s Science Class at Milam Elementary have seen their lessons come to life, literally.

The name of the lesson is “Incubation Incorporation.”

“We are incorporating, all of the subject areas, science research, world history, we will look at different countries, how do they use chickens and eggs.  We have done a lot of calculations with math, collecting data on a data chart, writing up conclusions,” Wilson said.

This hands on classroom project began with 38 eggs from free range chickens.  As of Tuesday morning, 33 eggs were in the incubator. Throughout the past three weeks,  a device called a “candler” has been utilized to help see whether there is any life inside the egg.

“We had a few bad eggs, called bad eggs, they were just like a rotten egg,” Wilson said.

Students also learn about DNA in chickens and how that determines their breed.

The science students say they have learned a lot.

“I didn’t know they had a tooth on top of their nose to poke a hole through the egg,” said Tyric Fort.

A $4,000  grant from the Association for Excellence in Education funded the project.

“The materials are very costly, able to get the breeder kit, lots of  books and resources and the candling kit.  Last year I used a flashlight,” Wilson said.

Those resources will be used by all science classes this spring as the entire school gets to take part in the incubation project.

By the way, the baby chickens will be taken back this Friday to the two farms which supplied the eggs.