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Impact Report

For plan Youth Development (Colfax County)
Date October 31, 2007, 9:25 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report “Egg-to-Chick” One school enrichment program, the embryology program Egg-to-Chick, was conducted with fifth Grade Students in two separate classes from Kearny Elementary school in Raton. The students were provided the egg-to-chick program at the request of teachers and administrators. Egg-to-Chick reached 47 fifth grade students. Previous success in hatching eggs prompted these classes to participate again this year. Egg-to-Chick curriculum introduced the concept of embryology using fertilized chicken eggs. The agent gave a presentation to each class about the delicate structure and composition of an egg, fertilization, embryology, chick development, incubation and general care of eggs and chicks. The agent put together packets for the teachers that included a workbook with exercises to do in the classroom along with general information on what to expect through out the project with the eggs, also included were vitamins for the water, feed, newspapers, and a brooder kit to have for when the chicks hatch. Improvements to visual aids and new hands on diagrams helped to make difficult sections of embryology easier for young minds to understand. A candling session was also incorporated into the program where the agent shines a light through the egg and allows the students to visually experience the embryonic development of the chicks. At the end of the incubation period, the agent returned to the classroom for student presentations on how an egg became a chick and so they could practice for parent’s night. The kids were divided into groups and were responsible for putting together a power point presentation of everything that they had learned in the 24 day program and presented it to the 3rd and 4th grade students and to their parents for parent night along with showing them their chicks that they were taking care of. The fertilized eggs, which were donated by a local farm, were left in the care of the classroom for the incubation period of three weeks, leaving the students responsible for incubator regulation. The program ran from April 10th to May 4th, utilizing the agent for 10 hours total. Hatching success was near 80% and all chicks were sold and the money donated to the Colfax County 4-H Council at the request of the egg producer. The donor of the eggs is already on-board for next year. The result of the Egg-to-Chick program in Colfax County was desirable. “I want to hatch a chick again next year”, “Thank you for showing me how to candle and egg, please come back next year”, and “I know about chickens because I have some at my house, but you taught me more about why my chickens eggs don’t hatch” were some of the comments on the evaluation forms. The students gained knowledge about biology in a fun, entertaining manner. They were also given the opportunity to take responsibility for the life of another being.