Life Cycles

Colm's Daddy very kindly offered to give us a small incubator that would 'house' a dozen eggs for hatching in 21 days.

The temperature had to be maintained for 24 hours before placing in the eggs, along with some water to keep the humidity correct.  

Finally the 12 eggs were placed in the incubator and we drew up a 21 day calendar that could be marked off each day and the children's observations recorded.

So just as in the storybook of Dora's Eggs, the children watched these motionless, pale brown, non-changing eggs for the next 20 days.   The children were able to experience the feelings of loneliness and saddness that Dora felt as she made her way back to the hen house after seeing all the other animal mothers playing gleefully with their babies.

But on the 21st day, one of the eggs began to have a very small crack and we could hear a tiny noise coming from the egg also.   It was very exciting but lots of children went home that day wishing and wondering would there be a new born chick hatched by morning.  My 13 year old daughter Laura was even more excited (and me too) and checked the hatching eggs every 20 minutes or so.    Soon midnight was closing in and both of us peered into the incubator for over an hour watching the chick peck its way out of the shell.  Amazing!

The next morning was so exciting. Just like Dora, we could not wait to show off our babies. As the children arrived into preschool and went about their work, one of them went over to the incubator and squeeled with delight.   'It's a chick, it's a chick, come over everyone and look.'  Carefully the lid was lifted and there was 'Chick Chick' chirping and staggering about and over the other unhatched eggs of which many more were showing cracks and holes.   Before the end of the session another one had hatched and we were all looking forward to the Afternoon Group coming in to find their surpises. 

Colm's Dad returned each evening to take the eldest chick back to his farm to place into an infra red environment but continually send us photographs of updates.   Before we closed for the Easter holidays on Holy Thursday six of the twelve eggs had hatched, 3 black and 3 yellow.  They were all given names by the children and we are looking forward to having them back into the classroom for a day or two before they go off to various families who will have their own eggs for tea in a few weeks.     Thanks Colm and Gerry for a wonderful experience for all of us at Kentstown Montessori School

Linking all this learning and development that occured for the children with the early years curriculum framework, Aistear, we can see how the children became active learners, played and used hands-on experiences, their learning was relevant and meaningful while also introducing new language, opportunities to communicate and express their thoughts, ideas and feelings.  The learning enviroment involved the whole community of parents and teachers who were 'taken in' to witness what their child was discovering and witnessing.   They were given appropriate responsibilties of caring for their environment and the environment of others, furthermore, their learning was more meaningful, motivating and enjoyable because the activities and experiences were based on their interests, their culture and their strengths.  The children developed skills and strategies for observing, questioning, investigating, understanding, and problem-solvling and came to see themselves as explorers and thinkers.   They used the written word, numeric symbols, linked picture books with their experience and most of all had fun.........then they may be asked for they did at school today and their reply is usually 'NOTHING'.