Interesting note home from kindergarten

eaglesfan700 · March 2014

My DS is in a private K, the same school where DD does pre-k. They had an incubator with 12 eggs and all the kids (all grades) got to see the eggs hatch and help take care of the chicks, name them etc. The chicks are leaving the school today

However, one of the eggs did not hatch. That egg stays and the school will dispose of it. The letter we got is from the K teachers, saying they thought it would be an interesting learning experience to open the egg and see what stage of development the egg completed, or whether it not it was a fertilized egg

They are asking all the parents if they are ok with this (just for K, none of the preschool classes). I think it sounds cool, obviously he might have some questions for us but I feel confident we can handle it. What would you say?

LatteLady5 · March 2014

Diapers&Wipes said:

Sure! It sounds like a fascinating thing for the kids to learn about. What is the fear here? I'm missing something obvious.

Sad kids because of a dead baby chick? Is that the concern?

I think it's okay and could be potentially intersting for the kids to see.

meglew · March 2014

I think I would be fine with it. My first reaction is that DD might have some apprehension about it (she is also in K), but I am finding that I underestimate her at times. If the class does investigate the egg further, it might be helpful if the teachers communicate with the parents the findings and what was discussed to further aid in any questions your child may have.

eaglesfan700 · March 2014

I am guessing they are worried about it leading to "where do babies come from?" conversations?

bhuffman · March 2014

Sure! What a great learning opportunity!

eaglesfan700 · March 2014

I also wonder if this was a public K, would they be able to do this? Any teachers care to weigh in?

thechickencoop · March 2014

Yup, I think it would be cool. But that's coming from someone who enjoyed dissecting animals....

LoveBeingMama · March 2014

I'm guessing it will lead more into the question of why did it die, why didn't it grow, What happens to it now? Not so much the where do babies come from. I would think the whole project itself would lead to that question, but this part would lead to more death questions.

rosesandpetals · March 2014

No, I would not be okay with this. I seriously am imagining them opening it and there is all kinds of twisted looking corpse in there and giving the kids nightmares. Plus, the idea of "let's look at the dead chick" kind of freaks me out.

Laurakat81 · March 2014

I think it's a fascinating idea! I'd be okay with it but then again I've always really enjoyed science and "medical" stuff.

Arnegard · March 2014

I can see the point of doing it and I wouldn't mind.

I am with roses though. What if it had 2 beaks or something... 4 legs?

I am not an animal person and I was grossed out touching a living baby chick at Ag day here yesterday... so take my word for what it's worth.

joyfullyfound · March 2014

I'd say heck yes! That sounds fascinating!

Chapter79 · March 2014

I would be 100% fine with this

I think it's cool.

roxy_jj · March 2014

I would be completely fine with this and I'm pretty sure my kids would find it very interesting.

kcisthebombdotcom · March 2014

I'd be fine with it.

fancefpp · March 2014

I'd be fine with it. I would think they would open it up away from the kids then show it to them but I'd be ok either way

bumpuser8448316 · March 2014

For a kindergartner I would be fine with it.

AimeeL85 · March 2014

Michbot12 said:

I don't see anything wrong with it but I think the teachers should take a look before letting the kids check it out, just in case it is really creepy looking or has abnormalities like other posters mentioned.

This was my thought, too.

cmrand4 · March 2014

I taught 4th grade and did this project. we always had eggs that didn't hatch. I'd let my kids decide if they wanted to open them. They always did. We talked about the ethics of working with real beings and our responsibility. It was a nice age appropriate discussion at 4th grade. I think even kinders would learn a lot from this type of lesson. I don't think this is weird at all and I would be delighted that my kid's teacher was making science so interesting! Hope your kid enjoys it!!

notkateanymore · March 2014

Totally fine with me.

DaisyZH · March 2014

It would bother me. I know it probably sounds silly but I feel bad for the chick, it just seems weird to me to examine the poor little thing. I understand it would be a learning opportunity but I feel like kindergarten might be a bit young for that. I agree with PPs that opening the shell away from the kids first would be a good idea.

Despite my personal feelings unless others were bothered by it or DS was actively scared about it I wouldn't ask his teacher not to do it. I tend to be over sensitive, I'd prefer to do a burial or something for the chick which I recognize is a little odd. I wouldn't want to hold everyone back from it if they thought it was cool.

SallyAnneS · March 2014

roses&65335678 said:
No, I would not be okay with this. I seriously am imagining them opening it and there is all kinds of twisted looking corpse in there and giving the kids nightmares. Plus, the idea of "let's look at the dead chick" kind of freaks me out.

This was my first thought as well.

barnwife · March 2014

Thanks for a good idea! We are currently incubating a bunch of eggs. I don't think I would have thought about opening any that don't hatch.

And yes, the kiddos (3.5 and 2 yo) can look if they want. They've seen raccoons, bunnies, possums, and even chickens that have died. They are aware of the circle of life when it comes to animals.

eaglesfan700 · March 2014

CurlingRocks said:

I would absolutely let my kid do that activity. Hell, I'd volunteer to be room mom that day! I wish I'd taken more biology classes because that sort of thing fascinates me. I also think death is an important thing for kids to learn about at any age, and I think that is a very appropriate activity to learn about it. And since a dear friend of mine was in her late 20s before figuring out that chickens lay eggs to hatch their young, not just for us to eat, I think it is a good lesson in that, too.

This is kind of where I am - I want to be there and see it too! I don't get being upset about the dead chick - we eat chicken on the regular around here

fancynewbeesly · March 2014

I would be completely fine with it.

zbeesma86 · March 2014

Aw that's sad. & gross. & cool. Edit- posted before I was done!

nonoemily · March 2014

Umm, my first thought was that an incubated egg that doesn't hatch might stink really bad when opened. That would be a good outside project. Yuck.

trizzie · March 2014

This would lead to SO.MANY.QUESTIONS. from my kinder DS that I would not be okay with it. And not so much because of the type of questions it would bring, but because it would seriously be all we heard about for the next 2 months.

His teacher was given pet mice (EW) for the class last month. There were five and they all ganged up on one mouse and killed it. That's all I have heard about for the past month (of course, I told the teacher to let the remaining mice fight it out Hunger Games style so we could get down to one and go set it free in a field somewhere. She didn't love that idea).

NicoleWI · March 2014

At first I thought, sure ,great, why not? But on second thought, I'm not so sure. For my very sensitive and thoughtful five year old, that might open a whole can of worms I'm just not ready for. I don't think it's necessary to go that deep into things for kindergarteners. We did chicks when I was in kindergarten and I think looking at the egg that didn't hatch may have been confusing/upsetting for me.

jag101 · March 2014

I'm all about being brutally honest with kids when it comes to stuff like that. However, my super weak stomach, I'm sure it would turn me off eating eggs for a while.

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