Going Egg Hunting

Students learn characteristics of the Herring gull eggs.

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Objectives
Students learn characteristics of the Herring gull eggs.

Essential Questions

What do Herring gull eggs look like?

Alaska Values
Learning by doing: Observing and Seeing Connections, Respect for Nature and Land, Hunter Success, Practice of Native Traditions

Standards — CHILD Partnership
L10. Follows directions.
L14. Recalls people, places, objects and experiences and makes connections.
M4. Counts orally, counts objects, and names numerals.
PSH3. Shows self-control.

Promoting Culture Self Assessment

2. I select props for the dramatic play/housekeeping area that are culturally diverse, including those that reflect Alaska Native culture.

4. I ensure that toys and play accessories that depict people are representative of the various cultural and ethnic groups both within my community and the society in general.

6. I encourage and provide opportunities and experiences for children that support Alaska Native culture.

Tawara D. Goode – National Center for Cultural Competence Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research & Service June 1989 – Revised 2002, 2004, 2005, & 2009.

Center Set Up

Whole Group:
See below activity.

Materials

Grass nests
Painted eggs
Buckets
Grass
Paper
Herring Gulls (in kit)
Nests (in kit), Eggs (colored and dried)
Classroom doll (previous kit)

Lesson Activity

Engage

Whole Group Activity: Going Egg Hunting (time 20 min)
Prepare by hiding nests around the room. Gather students to a central area and demonstrate how to place eggs into the bucket while also working on math skills.

Put 1 egg into a bucket and ask students to guess or estimate, how many eggs will it take to fill the bottom of the bucket.

Fill the bottom showing students how many eggs it takes to fill the bucket. Count aloud.

Next, show how to put grass between the layers of eggs so that they don’t ‘break’. (ex 3 eggs, grass, 3 eggs, grass).

Count eggs as you fill up the bucket.

Explore

Touch, Agturu, Agtur, Vandanilchit
Divide the class into two groups. The “egg hiders” and the “egg seekers.” Establish rules that fit your classroom for the egg hunt. Examples: No hiding nests with eggs in cupboards; Eggs and nest must be at least partially viewable (no hiding in coats or bags); No pushing or shoving.

Remember to share or give everyone a chance to find eggs*its never a good practice to encourage finding the most- rather encourage those who share or help their classmates.

Give the egg hiders their nests and eggs and have them hide eggs. Distribute eggs so that nests have 1-2 eggs in each nest. Have egg finders close their eyes or turn their backs while egg hiders hide the eggs. Count aloud to 30 with the students so that everyone knows when the hiding is over and the seeking begins (may need longer depending on your class).

Once all the eggs have been found, have students then count their eggs in the bucket.

Then switch and have the ‘seekers’ become the ‘hiders’.

Explain

Talking, Niugtuk, Qalarte, Qenax
Discuss with students what went well in the game and what problems that may have occurred. Problem solve to help students with how to work together.

Elaborate — Extension Activities

Writing

Have students share a time they went egg hunting. Ask questions
to help drawing.

“How did you get to where the eggs were?” “Who was with you?” “Did you find any? What colors were the eggs?”

If students have not experienced egg hunting have them pretend. Ask them “Where would you go? How would you get there?”

Math

Set up two nests on a table and start by pretending with the plush gulls. Have the gulls swoop down and lay an egg in each nest. “Oh look what happened! How many eggs do we have?” “Yes! One egg in this nest and one egg in this nest. That makes two eggs!”

Have the gull fly around some more and lay another egg in one nest.
“Oh now look there’s another egg! How many eggs do we see in each nest now? Count 1..2! And in this nest there is still 1. Let’s count together and see how many in all! 1,2,3!” Continue to play and allow students to pretend to be the gull laying eggs and then counting them.

Another version of the game can be taking eggs away. If you have a predator animal (fox, bear, or use your classroom doll) have them come by and sneak an egg or two then count aloud again together. Allow students to take turns being the predator and sneaking away eggs. You can have students take guesses to how many eggs the predator took away.

Evaluate

Emerging

The student cannot focus on the game and does not follow the rules.

Developing

The student participates in just one part of the game, the ‘seeking’ or ‘hiding’.

Proficient

The student participates in ‘seeking’ and ‘hiding’ of eggs.

Advanced

The student follows rules and can count all their eggs found.

ChildCultural Heritage Improving Learning & Development

Funding provided by the United States Department of Education, Office of Indian Education - Native Youth Community Project and the State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, Pre-Elementary Grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the U.S. Department of Education, the Office of Indian Education, or the State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.