Martin County elementary students learning embryology

Which came first: the chicken or the egg? This question has certainly been the subject of many lively discussions, and perhaps the question has even sparked some arguments.

While this is a question that a 4-H Agent does not tackle, 4-Hers are offered opportunities to learn about both chickens and eggs. Several elementary school students have watched chicks hatch in classrooms across Martin County.

The National 4-H Embryology Hatching helper’s guide uses the experiential learning model to teach children skills involving observing, comparing, measuring and communicating. This book walks youth through the growing processes inside eggs as the embryo grows.

Recently, five classes at South Creek Elementary School have completed the 4-H Embryology curriculum. Currently, there are two classes at Rodgers Elementary School working toward completing the 4-H Embryology curriculum before school gets out for summer.

Each class was given twelve eggs, an incubator, brooder box, heat lamp, chick feed, a feeder and a waterer. The classes cared for the eggs by monitoring the incubator’s temperature and humidity.

The teachers and students rotated each egg three times a day. After 21 days, the chicks began to emerge from the eggs. The students were delighted to watch the chicks as they began to move around and eat. The 4-H Embryology curriculum is hands-on science at its best.

Martin County 4-H provides everything needed to hatch the chicks in a classroom. If an educator is interested in the program, a representative from the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service in Martin County will deliver all the supplies needed and train the educator.

Summer youth programs that will meet for at least 21 days are invited to use the curriculum. To inquire about using the 4-H Embryology curriculum, call the Extension Office in Martin County at 252-789-4370 or email Shaun Wallace at cjwalla3@ncsu.edu.

4-H is the premier youth development program of the United States Department of Agriculture. Embryology is just one of a host of programs offered to 4-Hers both in and out of school. To inquire about other 4-H programs, call the Extension Office in Martin County at 252-789-4370 or email Shaun Wallace at cjwalla3@ncsu.edu.